rockape roon
3 January 2005, 17:34
this tale was emailed to me from a fellow
rockape ginge armour
"This was during a posting to 501 SPG at RAF Greenham Common in 1983.
Some of us had just come back from the Falklands and as far as the C.O was
concerned, we had too much time on our hands. What with going straight onto
the shift system with the Yanks and us reminding them not to leave their
loaded M-16's and 203's around in the mess. Also for them to take them with
them when we left so they did not have some chivvy or canteen staff running
down the road waving said weapon around with the safety off.
Anyhow.
American First Shirt (like WO) says to Rock WO (like First Shirt but more
grumpy), over bevy in Rocks bar, "Our guys don't seem to gel with your
guys."
Rock WO replies, "Cos our guys think you Rangers are bunch of pussies."
Argument ensues until First Shirt passes out from alcohol abuse and loss of
shirt and trousers through a bet (don't ask), that it transpires that six
rocks will attend the Ranger course at Fort Bragg. North Carolina that
summer, on the pretext that we Rocks can teach Americans, our sense of
humour and how to do two or more jobs in one day.
Aircraft stops of from Mildenhall to Pope Airforce Base to pickup out going
mail and to their horror and surprise 1 x Sgt, 1x Cpl and 4 x Sac's.
Landed at Pope minus the Sgt. after a good look round found him on/in/under
the flight deck bunk. He somehow appropriated the bunk and someone's
Kentucky Bourbon (God he stunk).
Lonely Rocks on tarmac at Pope when a bus appeared just for us (methinks to
get us off station quickly) and whisks us to the home of the American elite
of the RANGERS - 82nd & 84th AIRBORNE.
Things go slightly wrong now.
Fort Bragg is Army we however are Air Force, and with no paper work, orders,
documentation nor bubblegum wrapper to convince them that we were not
illegal Russians trying to take out the base, nor would we harm nor destroy
any person nor defensive item that they tended to deploy toward us, (small
grope with female police officer seemed ok until found out).
OK, Fort Bragg did not want us, we were Air Force, we were British, we
smelled and we did not care. Back on the bus with a now trembling Staff Sgt
driver/escort we return to Pope, to a now informed and quivering Guardroom.
Guard one will not let us back in the gate, so we would not let him have his
bus back.
Guard two points weapon and asks for bus back, then asks Cpl for his weapon
back and promises not to point it at anybody again.
Guard three gets in this landrover thing and buggered off into the setting
sun.
After 2 1/2hrs wait we are asked to stop throwing stones at the fence as we
are draining the electricity supply to it and some officer was seeking
psycho-therapy as he was constantly hearing alarms going off. Before officer
is carted away, confirmation is received that 'allez got ya', BUT.
Pope did not want us as we were to be working at Bragg yet were willing to
do all administrate work. Bragg acknowledged that we were to be working
there, but we could not stay as we were Air Force, yet were willing to
supply all meals.
"Give us a tent", we say.
"Sorry, un-ethical", they say, "visiting dignitaries should be housed
accordingly".
Well I was lost. I didn't have an uncle ethical, I didn't know what a digni
was nor did I know who Terry was or if the digni's were his.
OK, Officer returns from Quack with news.
"A solution befitting our ranks", (posh this yank), "you will be given a
vehicle from the pool and housed as near as possible to both bases, for work
and admin purposes. We will also, as a token, supply you with 45$ a day for
food expenses".
Alls well that ends well eh.
Somewhere to stay, get paid for it and a car you can drive under water to
use. (They didn't say how big or deep the pool was though)
We returned after helping the Rangers through a series of crisis which
included:-
Shock, from finding out that we were staying at the Sheraton Hotel in
Fayetteville at there expense.
More Shock, jumping off the Balconies into the swimming pool, whilst pissed
as newts.
Broken ribs (theirs not ours), most of them were from laughing at us then
falling from cargo nets or slippery ropes. Dammed inconsiderate those grease
munkies.
Then even more shock, when they found out, after our return to the UK, that
we had charged all meals, gifts and err other extravagances to the hotel
bill.
Thanks Guys we had a wonderful time. cannot wait for the re-invite, its
probably held up by our poor inefficient UK postal system."
Sgt Dave W.
Cpl Paddy M.
Sac Ginge A.
Sac Geordie H.
Sac Chris F.
Sac Jock M (where's me Pernod).
rockape ginge armour
"This was during a posting to 501 SPG at RAF Greenham Common in 1983.
Some of us had just come back from the Falklands and as far as the C.O was
concerned, we had too much time on our hands. What with going straight onto
the shift system with the Yanks and us reminding them not to leave their
loaded M-16's and 203's around in the mess. Also for them to take them with
them when we left so they did not have some chivvy or canteen staff running
down the road waving said weapon around with the safety off.
Anyhow.
American First Shirt (like WO) says to Rock WO (like First Shirt but more
grumpy), over bevy in Rocks bar, "Our guys don't seem to gel with your
guys."
Rock WO replies, "Cos our guys think you Rangers are bunch of pussies."
Argument ensues until First Shirt passes out from alcohol abuse and loss of
shirt and trousers through a bet (don't ask), that it transpires that six
rocks will attend the Ranger course at Fort Bragg. North Carolina that
summer, on the pretext that we Rocks can teach Americans, our sense of
humour and how to do two or more jobs in one day.
Aircraft stops of from Mildenhall to Pope Airforce Base to pickup out going
mail and to their horror and surprise 1 x Sgt, 1x Cpl and 4 x Sac's.
Landed at Pope minus the Sgt. after a good look round found him on/in/under
the flight deck bunk. He somehow appropriated the bunk and someone's
Kentucky Bourbon (God he stunk).
Lonely Rocks on tarmac at Pope when a bus appeared just for us (methinks to
get us off station quickly) and whisks us to the home of the American elite
of the RANGERS - 82nd & 84th AIRBORNE.
Things go slightly wrong now.
Fort Bragg is Army we however are Air Force, and with no paper work, orders,
documentation nor bubblegum wrapper to convince them that we were not
illegal Russians trying to take out the base, nor would we harm nor destroy
any person nor defensive item that they tended to deploy toward us, (small
grope with female police officer seemed ok until found out).
OK, Fort Bragg did not want us, we were Air Force, we were British, we
smelled and we did not care. Back on the bus with a now trembling Staff Sgt
driver/escort we return to Pope, to a now informed and quivering Guardroom.
Guard one will not let us back in the gate, so we would not let him have his
bus back.
Guard two points weapon and asks for bus back, then asks Cpl for his weapon
back and promises not to point it at anybody again.
Guard three gets in this landrover thing and buggered off into the setting
sun.
After 2 1/2hrs wait we are asked to stop throwing stones at the fence as we
are draining the electricity supply to it and some officer was seeking
psycho-therapy as he was constantly hearing alarms going off. Before officer
is carted away, confirmation is received that 'allez got ya', BUT.
Pope did not want us as we were to be working at Bragg yet were willing to
do all administrate work. Bragg acknowledged that we were to be working
there, but we could not stay as we were Air Force, yet were willing to
supply all meals.
"Give us a tent", we say.
"Sorry, un-ethical", they say, "visiting dignitaries should be housed
accordingly".
Well I was lost. I didn't have an uncle ethical, I didn't know what a digni
was nor did I know who Terry was or if the digni's were his.
OK, Officer returns from Quack with news.
"A solution befitting our ranks", (posh this yank), "you will be given a
vehicle from the pool and housed as near as possible to both bases, for work
and admin purposes. We will also, as a token, supply you with 45$ a day for
food expenses".
Alls well that ends well eh.
Somewhere to stay, get paid for it and a car you can drive under water to
use. (They didn't say how big or deep the pool was though)
We returned after helping the Rangers through a series of crisis which
included:-
Shock, from finding out that we were staying at the Sheraton Hotel in
Fayetteville at there expense.
More Shock, jumping off the Balconies into the swimming pool, whilst pissed
as newts.
Broken ribs (theirs not ours), most of them were from laughing at us then
falling from cargo nets or slippery ropes. Dammed inconsiderate those grease
munkies.
Then even more shock, when they found out, after our return to the UK, that
we had charged all meals, gifts and err other extravagances to the hotel
bill.
Thanks Guys we had a wonderful time. cannot wait for the re-invite, its
probably held up by our poor inefficient UK postal system."
Sgt Dave W.
Cpl Paddy M.
Sac Ginge A.
Sac Geordie H.
Sac Chris F.
Sac Jock M (where's me Pernod).