No offence taken. Every tour of duty was an adventure and with most the lessons learned only manifested long after the event. Brawdy was a unique tour and my time in the system was very rewarding. To put it in a thumbnail sketch when all assembled to get hammered at the "FRIARS" I was the only male NOT wearing GLASSES.
Many of us had the pleasure of working with or for Bob VanAlstine. Back when he was an STG1 he was my LPO at Arg. I was a recent arrival from COSP and was affectionately termed a West Coast puke by Tex Moran, the section TPO. Van had assigned me to learn the array peculiarities and become familiar with some of the local frequently held look-a-likes that had been reported before. Tex had a sly grin on his face when he handed me a stack of gram cuts and told me to put the reportables in one pile and the non-reps in a second stack. After about a half an hour I gave Tex the two stacks and awaited his review. Van came over and asked Tex how I did. Tex rather sheepishly said not bad for a West Coast puke. I will never forget Van tearing into Tex for the slur. He won my loyalty and respect forever on that eve watch. Tex and I became good friends afterward and that was one of the best sections I ever worked in.
Talked with Van's son James yesterday. Van is doing well health wise. He said "Getting old sucks!" Also spoke with Gary Hart from those 1970-71 days at Arg. He said Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.