The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Legion Hall Hey Rusty -- Fair Winds and Following seas to the Tuna Boat

I suppose you were well aware of this:

AAV Sundown.

As we have previously discussed, I was on my way to the recruiter's office to sign papers to enlist as an AAV driver when I got a letter from the Naval Academy ... Seriously, After classes that day, I was going to finalize things with the recruiter (civilian college had no appeal to me and I had already been accepted for an appointment to USMA, but who in their right mind would want to go *there???* so it was either USNA or Tuna Boats), the letter from Sen. Cohen's office came in the morning mail that very day.

I've always had an interest in AAV's. Been on board several for ship to shore rides Last time was from USS Frederick to Kaneohe Beach and I was in the troop commander's cupola fun fun fun.

Looking back on my less than spectacular 34-PAO career .... maybe I should have just gone on to the recruiter's office after all ... But then I wouldn't have met Peggy .... or probably not have started Stovebolt ....

Interesting trivia note: I once "owned" an LVTP-5. As base PAO, I had to sign for all the HQMC (Historical Branch) artifacts onboard MCB Hawai'i. One of those artifacts was the 5 out at the main gate. We once tried to field day the thing but got yelled at by the base safety office because the paint flaking off it was "HazMat"

LVTP-5--- - ---powered by a 6V-53 Detroit! "Screamin' Jimmy! Better than riding in a DUKW, I'm pretty sure!

Griz. Yes I’m very aware of the AAV sundown.

I started out as an M60a1 RISE mechanic 2141/45 at 1st Tank Bn then got a hot fill to Guantanamo Bay Cuba for a year. Then to Barstow. Then got sent to Tank Turret Course. To be a 2146. I worked on one Cupola before getting PCS from Barstow to Camp Pendleton. I was in Ordnance Maint Co, we had one M60. Pretty much everything worked except the manual elevation / depression. That’s a test question, it’s caused by a bad shuttle valve. I looked at the shuttle valve and found that the hole was blocked by a blank. I put on a shuttle valve and it worked!! I then cemented my proficiency as a turret mech. Shortly after that I was “chosen” to be an LAV mech. I lucked out and got a “hot” fill to the LAV Maint course, where I graduated with a 99.9% gpa (I missed one test question).
I was in five different units in five years. (Not counting schools).

After pinning on WO and graduating #1 in the OrdO Course, I moved from FSSG (where I Fumbled, Stumbled, Shat and Gtfoododge). I lucked out and scored a billet at the LAV operators course. Then spent 4.5 years in 3rd AABn. Then bounced all over Camp Pendleton for a total of 20 years. ( homestead much?). After a “hardship” tour at Camp Fuji, I was transferred back to Pendleton and assigned as the Regimental Ordnance Officer.
I was up for promotion to CWO5, and once I lucked out again, and got selected, I was transferred to the AAV school house until I retired in 2008.