Last Flight

So it comes for all of us. 

Not the greatest shot as I'll explain a little later, but it is me at the sticks of the mighty UC-12B Huron on short final to runway 23/05 at New River.  This was my last day to pilot a military aircraft, July 28 2009. 

Here's the ever necessary last flight wet-down.

  The fire trucks line up on each side of the throat area of mat-1 and provide a nice water arch for you, if you have not been too instrumental in any recent legal or disciplinary efforts. 

August 31 of this year was my last day in the Marine Corps.   All the ceremonies and speeches are done but I'd still like to use this space and time to look back a little and share with you some of the things we've seen and experienced over the years.  The job efforts appear to have paid off and I have been provisionally hired by a contractor recently.  There is still paperwork to be signed and so forth so I am not high-fiving myself in the forehead yet but the final table-slap should be soon.  Then I'll have a short notice before it's time to travel again for more training, a new aircraft and a new mission.  But until then, it's time for Smokin to dig up some old pics and share where we've been.  I hope you enjoy them.

July 28 2009.  The maintenance guys and TA line crew are only too happy to hit me with the ice water.  SSGt Hawkins laughs the loudest.  He's still down about 30 bones to me at Texas Holdem.

First beer after a year in Iraq.  Mar 2006.

Anyone who's had a ride on the freedom bird will recognize this bar.  It's in the terminal in Shannon International in Ireland.  A glass of Harp never tasted so good. 

Lest you think it's been one 20 year long bar crawl.  Here's Camp X-Ray Afghanistan in late 2001.

I think this was the most dangerous place Marine Corps Herc crews have flown into since Khe Shan.  Not because of enemy fire, but the pure challenge of the place.  A hard-pan runway in the desert, 4000' elevation, knee deep dust like baby powder, chem lights for the runway, no go-around capability.  I'm open to debate, if you've found a tougher spot, pipe up. Oh yeah, we did this without night vision goggles.
It was a very tough environment for Helo's too.
This was a Huey.  Luckily the crew walked away. 

More shenanigans.  A totally illegal motorcycle adventure in, of all places, Thailand.
Summer of 1994.  The cousins would approve.  The act, not the machine.
Ha Ha Ha mom!! It's me on a motorcycle!!!  And I rode it fast enough to give you a heart attack in a country with no ambulances, hospitals or helmets!  Smoking a grit and not giving a shit for parking regs either.  I think the bar was playing a Frankie Goes to Hollywood tune at the time.  It was an Aussie ex-pat hangout that had cold VB at the bar.  Where else would Herc pilot's hang out?  The Black and White Bar down the street would not rise to fame for 3 more years.

I hope to dig up some more of these gems soon because I like telling the story as much as anything else.  The big boys say you should post something everyday even if you just fart on the screen and I'm feeling it. 
Like Bagheera said to Baloo in The Jungle Book;
    Baggy:  Shh this will take brains, not brawn.
    Baloo:   Yeah baby, and I'm loaded with both!!

Comments

[Ron Layko]

Smokin,

I would love to hear more about the motorcycle adventure, as I'm sure your mom would too. It had to be good, it was totally illegal (a 'good time' adventure requirement). Congrats on the retirement.

CUZ

[mom]

Joe,

Yup, I hear about these "adventures" long after the fact. In a way, that's better than knowing you're off doing those lame brain things. At least you're still alive to tell about it. Thank the Good Lord for that. You know He protects babies, innocents, and idiots.

Also, love the last flight photos. I even like seeing those from Afghanistan, even though seeing and hearing about what you experienced is too terrible to think about.

However, I'm very proud of you for doing the job you did and despise anyone who would criticize the war effort.

[SJL]

Cuz, the high side of triple digits. Picture shooting through a scene of any vietnam war movie on a Honda VFR400 at speed. I took a year off the life of that bike in 20 minutes, probably mine too.

[Murph-Wa (Actual)]

Smokin-wa (Actual),

Congrats, old friend. Glad to have been a part of some of your memories.

Call soonest... would love to hear about your new provisional gig.

Fair winds, my friend... fair winds....

Murph

[Quality Weenie]

Congrats and Thank-You for your service Smokin!

[simone]

Thank the Good Lord for that