text:
Q: Anyone with a "visited: 5000 days, 5000 consecutive" in their profile? Back in May, 27th 2009, the Stack Overflow team introduced a little counter to monitor the consecutive days you visited the site.
And 30 days later (June 26th 2009), the first "Enthusiast" badges were awarded.
Today, February, 3rd 2023, is five thousand days later.
Today, 9th May 2020, is four thousand days later.
Today, 13th August 2017, is three thousand days later.
Today, 17th November 2014, is two thousand days later.
Today, 21st February 2012, is one thousand days later.
So I was just wondering if there was anyone else with that little value on their profile:

Before:

Because, for me, it was (and still is) worth every single day, as illustrated by the Oct. 2022 blog post "How to earn a million reputation on Stack Overflow: be of service to others", by Ryan Donovan.
Thank you (again), Stack Overflow and Stack Exchange team!

A: Ah, finally we can take a day off!

As promised:

And I made it to 2000.

What the heck, since I have a picture with my fancy hat and tie, I might as well keep posting these.  Happy birthday to BoltClock!

3000! If it were baseball, that would surely get us into the Hall of Fame. ;)

A: End of an era!  On English Language & Usage I had 3958 consecutive days until I somehow missed on Sunday.  The timezones got me.  I was on Saturday at 2pm my time (UTC-7) and then on Sunday at 9pm my time.  But that wasn't good enough for UTC+0.  What a bummer.

A: Regarding the question raised in revision 10:
'Anyone with a "visited: 3333 days, 3333 consecutive" in their profile?'
Indeed, there is somebody on Mathematics Stack Exchange.

(To avoid any concerns, I did get Asaf's authorization to post this here.)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Samsung Galaxy S5 Tab rumored for Aug launch
Kunika Mehta
Two months ago, Samsung announced the arrival of a new, more affordable member of the flagship Galaxy Tab S-series, which is the Galaxy Tab S5. However, doubts arose about keeping the signature S Pen, which has now been dropped because of the recent report
A reliable source has revealed that the flagship model is going to come with the S Pen. The source has also provided information about the launch time frame and the Galaxy Tab S5 is expected to come at roughly the same time as the Galaxy Note 10.
However, for the last five years, the flagship has always been launched in August, so changes are expected to be made in the tradition adopted by Samsung. The wait is only for 2 months now.
Notably, the report from the source also specifies some of the features of the upcoming Galaxy Tab S5. The tablet is going to boast a Snapdragon 855 chipset, 6GB of RAM and internal storage up to 512GB while skipping the 64GB variant.
Also, the last two Galaxy Tab S generations launched by Samsung were released with previous gen chipsets. Hence, it's nice to see Samsung bringing new tablets up to speed for the users.
Previous articleOnePlus 7 Pro is all set to launch in new Almond color avatar
Next articleZTE Tianxun Axon 10 Pro 5G Version will be Officially Released in July
Kunika is one of the youngest and newest members of Indiashopps and is a tech-savvy person. She can always be seen surfing the web and while she's not writing, she can be found gymming, watching movies or TV shows.
Where to watch Radhe Movie (2021) Online Free ?
How to Use Aarogya Setu App on JioPhone, Landline and Feature Phone?
OnePlus 7 Sale in India Begins June 4, Launch Offers Include...
Realme Q (aka Realme 5 Pro) Mirage White Special Edition Launched...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Julij (izvirno slovensko: mali srpan) je sedmi mesec gregorijanskega koledarja, z 31 dnevi. Julij je dobil ime po Juliju Cezarju, pred tem so ga latinsko imenovali Quintilis, ker je bil peti mesec rimskega koledarja, v katerem se se je leto začelo z marcem.

Prazniki in obredi
 4. julij - dan neodvisnosti (ZDA)
 6. julij - dan Jana Husa (Češka)

Meseci

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Morning Money
Delivered daily by 8 a.m., Morning Money examines the latest news in finance politics and policy.
Get the Morning Money newsletter
The spooky state of the race
By BEN WHITE
THE SPOOKY STATE OF THE RACE — Happy Halloween everyone! I'm dressing up as a tired reporter sick to death of this dismal, issue-free campaign. … The news that the FBI would review emails found on a laptop shared by top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin and her creepy, estranged husband Anthony Weiner walloped the political world. The news hit as Donald Trump was already drawing close to Hillary Clinton in national polls. We've always said wild card investigatory disclosures posed the biggest threat to a solid Clinton win. Well, we got one.
Will it be enough to swing the election to Trump? Probably not. But taking the focus away from Trump certainly helps the GOP nominee and threatens to undermine Democrats' chances for a wave that sweeps them to Senate control.
We don't have enough post-Comey polling to determine the national impact. And Democrats are attempting to make Comey's unusual decision this close to Election Day the issue. This could fire up some Democratic turnout but it's a major net negative.
Still, Trump's path to 270 is still really, super hard. He has to win Ohio and Florida, which seems possible. But then he also has to win a bunch of other states where he trails including some combination of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Colorado, New Hampshire and Nevada. Still a giant lift. And Clinton is competitive in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia and Utah, not what you'd call Democratic strongholds.
BRIEF MARKET MOVE — Compass Point's Isaac Boltansky: "The letter injected uncertainty into the 2016 election and briefly roiled markets with the VIX spiking as much as ~13 percent intra-day. … We continue to believe that the electoral math heavily favors Clinton taking the White House and maintain our ~90 percent odds of her victory. In our view, the most tangible impact of this development will be felt in down-ballot races.
"The 'Democratic Sweep' narrative already faced long odds and we expect the most recent email development to effectively end Democratic hopes of winning back both chambers of Congress. Odds still slightly favor Democrats taking the Senate, but we believe this email scandal will ensure that the House stays under Republican control."
ASIA STUTTERS EARLY — Reuters: "Asian stocks got off to a shaky start on Monday after a renewed FBI probe of … Clinton … The Japanese yen, seen as a safe-haven in times of uncertainty, rose slightly against the U.S. dollar. … Markets have tended to see Clinton as the candidate of the status quo, while there is greater uncertainty over what a victory for … Trump might mean for U.S. foreign policy, international trade deals or the domestic economy.
"The dollar surged 0.7 percent against the Mexican peso on Friday and extended those gains by another 0.2 percent to 18.9982 peso early on Monday. A Trump victory has been viewed as a key risk for the Mexican currency given his promises to clamp down on immigration and redraw trade relations with the country." Read more.
THE DAILY TRUMP — Trump campaigning Sunday night said of Clinton as president : "You could have 650 million people pour in and we do nothing. Think about. That's what could happen. You triple the size of the country in one week." Wait. What?
TOOMEY WARNS BANKERS OF WARREN WARPATH — POLITICO's Zachary Warmbrodt: "Sen. Pat Toomey is trying to leverage bankers' fears of Sen. Elizabeth Warren to rally support for his tough reelection fight. In a conference call with a pro-industry group Friday morning, the Pennsylvania Republican said Warren has frightened Democrats from pursuing regulatory changes that would help banks, according to a paraphrased summary of the call obtained by POLITICO.
"'While there are individual Democrats that support traditional banks and reform, there is little to no chance of reform passing if the Democrats take control of the Senate due to Elizabeth Warren's influence on leadership,' Friends of Traditional Banking Chairman John Boyer wrote in the email describing Toomey's comments." Read more.
ICYMI: GDP WAS PRETTY GOOD — POLITICO's Ben White (right before the Comey thing blew up the news cycle): "The U.S. economy grew at a nearly 3 percent pace in the third quarter of the year, a better-than-expected reading that dents … Trump's case that growth has stalled out. The faster pace of 2.9 percent may not hold up in the final quarter of 2016 but it offers a positive headline to … Clinton less than two weeks until Election Day … Republicans, even those still supporting the GOP nominee, view 2016 as a largely lost opportunity to frame the race as a referendum on the economy …
"'At every turn I urged him to talk about the economy and tax cuts, particularly business tax cuts, where there is virtual unanimous agreement to do something,' said Larry Kudlow, an informal Trump economic adviser. 'It was a tactical mistake not to and it was a strategic mistake because the economy is poor and the country believes we are on the wrong track and a lot of that is about the economy.'" Read more.
GE NEARS $30B DEAL — WSJ's Dana Cimilluca, Dana Mattioli and David Benoit: "General Electric Co. is nearing a roughly $30 billion deal to combine its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes Inc., creating an energy powerhouse that would give GE a cost-effective way to play any recovery in the industry. GE plans to contribute its oil and gas business and some cash to the new entity, which would have publicly traded shares and be controlled by GE" Read more.
GOOD MONDAY MORNING — Eight more days until the 2016 campaign is over. Unless … No we won't even go there. It's gonna be over. Anyone who mentions the 269-269 electoral vote scenario gets banned. Email me on [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @morningmoneyben. Email Andrew Hanna on [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @andrewbhanna.
THANK THE LORD … The World Series will continue (sorry Indians fans but we need more baseball) after the Cubs took Game 5, 3-2. Read more.
THIS MORNING ON POLITICO PRO FINANCIAL SERVICES – Victoria Guida on Hillary Clinton's support for a Fed plan to get tough on big banks -- and to get Morning Money every day before 6 a.m. -- please contact Pro Services at (703) 341-4600 or [email protected].
DRIVING THE WEEK — Trump campaigns Monday in Michigan, a state where he trails by about seven points and will not win without some kind of miracle. He's scheduled to be in Wisconsin on Tuesday … Clinton campaigns in Ohio on Monday, Florida on Tuesday and Arizona on Wednesday (all campaign schedules are subject to change this late in the game) … Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is in London and Oxford, England on Monday … FOMC meets Tuesday and Wednesday with no change in policy expected … Personal income and spending Monday at 8:30 a.m. expected to both rise 0.4 percent … ISM Manufacturing at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday expected to rise to 51.7 from 51.5 … ISM non-manufacturing at 10:00 a.m. Thursday expected to dip to 56.0 from 57.1 … October jobs report at 8:30 a.m. Friday expected to show a gain of 165K and 0.1 percent drop in unemployment to 4.9 percent.
NO BIG CENTRAL BANK MOVES THIS WEEK — Mohamed A. El-Erian: "The central banks of Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. will hold policy meetings this week. These three systemically important institutions are inclined to implement new policy measures, albeit different ones. Yet all three may end up keeping their policy stance as is. Their individual and collective dilemmas will illustrate the current policy funk facing the global economy, as well as the urgent need for a macroeconomic policy pivot on three continents."
CETA SIGNED — POLITICO EU's Christian Oliver, David M. Herszenhorn and Anca Gurzu: "The European Union and Canada signed a landmark trade deal Sunday, drawing a line under four months of political conflict across Europe that at times looked likely to scupper the pact.
"The deal is now expected to enter force on a provisional basis early next year, as long as it wins support from the European Parliament, which is seen as likely." Read more.
HOPE FOR TTIP? — Reuters' Robert-Jan Bartunek: "A much-debated trade deal between the European Union and the United States is not dead and negotiations will continue with the new U.S. administration after November's elections, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Saturday.
"'TTIP is not dead, but TTIP is not yet an agreement,' she told reporters after a ceremony in Brussels, in which Belgium signed its addendum to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada. 'The U.S. election will naturally bring the negotiations to a pause and we will resume after with the new administration,' she added." Read more.
OPEC TALKS FAIL — Bloomberg's Grant Smith and Elena Mazneva: "OPEC's internal disagreements over how to implement oil-supply cuts agreed to last month prevented a deal to secure the cooperation of other major suppliers.
"More than 18 hours of talks over two days in Vienna yielded little more than a promise that the world's largest oil producers would keep on talking. Discussions will continue in late November, just days before the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is supposed to finalize the accord that lifted oil prices to one-year highs." Read more.
RUSSIA SLASHES SPENDING — FT's Kathrin Hille: "Russia is preparing to slash government spending across the board over the next three years as it struggles to bring down a budget deficit swollen by lower oil prices and recession.
"The scale of the proposed austerity measures, at a time when Russia's recession is bottoming out but incomes continue to fall, illustrate how badly the country's public finances have been hurt by the oil price slide, which has also forced Gulf states to slash spending." Read more.
LONDON RULES FOR UBER DRIVERS — Washington Post's Karla Adam: "In a landmark ruling Friday that could impact Britain's wider "gig" economy, a London employment tribunal ruled that taxi drivers using the Uber ride-hailing app are "workers" and entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay.
"Uber said Friday it would seek to appeal the judgment, which applies to the two drivers who brought the case to court. But analysts said it could also open the floodgates to claims from other Uber drivers in Britain, as well as the thousands of independent workers in Britain's gig economy, in which temporary positions are the norm and independent workers perform short-term jobs." Read more.
VENZEULAN SHOWDOWN — FT reports: "Venezuela's political crisis comes to a head this week in a mass march on the Presidential Palace that raises the risk of a crackdown.
"The march, which follows opposition-led mass protests and a general strike last week, is slated to take place even as Vatican-mediated talks between the government and the opposition Democratic Unity coalition (MUD) began on Sunday." Read more.
AMAZON PRIME COMPETES IN CHINA — Bloomberg's Lulu Yilun Chen: "Amazon.com Inc. has started offering its Prime free-shipping service in China, ratcheting up attempts to compete with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. for the rising number of shoppers hankering after overseas goods.
"From Friday, Chinese Prime subscribers get free shipping on orders exceeding 200 yuan ($29.50) on millions of eligible overseas goods, the company said in an e-mailed statement. Domestic goods will also be delivered free and a membership costs 388 yuan a year, lower than the U.S. fee of $99. Amazon China representative Wu Shanhan said membership won't include access to any digital content." Read more.
INFLATION'S BACK (A BIT) — WSJ's Greg Ip: "After being given up for dead, inflation is gradually coming back to life. It's not roaring back. Indeed, it's still below the 2 percent level the Federal Reserve targets, one reason the Fed is almost certain to leave interest rates unchanged when it meets this week. But economic circumstances and attitudes of policy makers have shifted in the past year in ways that suggest the likeliest path of inflation is up, not down.
"Data released Friday showed that core inflation … reached a two-year high of 1.7 percent in the third quarter … Other data found stirrings of wage acceleration. The intellectual case for low inflation is also showing cracks. Central banks now openly entertain, and even welcome, inflation bubbling over 2 percent. This isn't bad news. To the contrary, markets and central bankers alike will be relieved that the world is no longer skirting a deflationary abyss" Read more.
TRADE SLOWING — NYT's Binyamin Appelbaum: "The volume of global trade was flat in the first quarter of 2016, then fell by 0.8 percent in the second quarter … The United States is no exception to the broader trend. The total value of American imports and exports fell by more than $200 billion last year. Through the first nine months of 2016, trade fell by an additional $470 billion. It is the first time since World War II that trade with other nations has declined during a period of economic growth." Read more.
CARNEY WANTS TO STAY — FT's Chris Giles: "Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, is ready to serve a full eight-year term, facing down Brexiter critics campaigning for him to resign ahead of time. Mr Carney has told friends that he is likely to make a statement on his future this week to put an end to damaging speculation.
"The governor is expected to confer with prime minister Theresa May and chancellor Philip Hammond before making a final 'personal' decision, potentially ahead of the publication of the BoE's inflation report on Thursday." Read more.
Mark McQuillian @mcqdc
Kate Davidson @KateDAvidson
Aubree Eliza Weaver @aubreeeweaver
Ben White @morningmoneyben
Victoria Guida @vtg2
Katy O'Donnell @katyodonnell_
Zachary Warmbrodt @Zachary
About The Author : Ben White
Ben White is POLITICO Pro's chief economic correspondent and author of the "Morning Money" column covering the nexus of finance and public policy.
Prior to joining POLITICO in the fall of 2009, Mr. White served as a Wall Street reporter for the New York Times, where he shared a Society of Business Editors and Writers award for breaking news coverage of the financial crisis.
From 2005 to 2007, White was Wall Street correspondent and U.S. Banking Editor at the Financial Times.
White worked at the Washington Post for nine years before joining the FT. He served as national political researcher and research assistant to columnist David S. Broder and later as Wall Street correspondent.
White, a 1994 graduate of Kenyon College, is married with two sons and lives in New Jersey.
Morning Money - POLITICO Archive
Wednesday, 1/12/22
View the Full Morning Money Archives »


Back of the Head: Parks and Recreation 2x14 - "Leslie's House"
Parks and Recreation 2x14 - "Leslie's House"
I never realized we'd never seen Leslie's house until this episode. For some reason, when she was planning her dinner party, I just assumed it would take place in Ann's house.
I miss Officer Dave, but Justin was a really good choice of a character 180 degrees from Dave as a Leslie love interest.
I also loved the Leslie logic of getting a government form that proves her party was a success. And the metaphor of Justin being a white stallion and Tom being a little brown pony. And Ron pressuring Leslie into five courses and then bringing deviled eggs.
You know who would have been a really interesting party guest? Councilman Dexhart.
The Office 6x13 - "The Banker"
Community 1x14 - "Interpretive Dance"
Parks and Recreation 2x13 - "The Set Up"
Community 1x13 - "Investigative Journalism"


Below you may find the The 1836 election for president of Texas pitted Sam Houston against him which is part of the Jeopardy Archive. In case the question or answer is wrong or something is missing do not hesitate to contact us and we will be glad to help you out. If you are looking for our Jeopardy Finder you can access it here.


You wear your underwear more than any other clothing, they're a second skin. That's why we believe that your boxer briefs should be breathable and comfortable enough that you never notice them. We also think underwear should be tough enough to withstand mens most exerting activities. Our sole focus is to make the greatest sustainable underwear ever, and we take our task seriously. We've tried all kinds of fabrics, including cotton, modal, and synthetics, but found nothing compares to the natural breathable softness of bamboo viscose.
"Great underwear! Crazy comfortable! And my wife loves them too – I constantly need to remind her that 'my eyes are up here'"
"They're the softest underwear I've ever had. What a difference over store-brand. I'll never go back!"
"These are my favorite gitch, I truly think everyone should have Buddha Boxers."
"I keep looking at the label to make sure these boxers aren't 50% air"
Bamboo viscose has less tiny barbs than other fabrics, giving you a natural softness.
Bamboo viscose is so breathable, it feels like you're going commando.
Bamboo viscose is great at wicking away moisture, keeping you dry and comfortable.
All US and Canada orders include free shipping. Orders usually arrive within 2-3 business days.
If you're into hiking, you'll invest in some good hiking shoes and apparel. If you play video games, you spend money making sure your PC has the best ergonomic peripherals, or your living room has an awesome setup. Why not ensure that you got your twig 'n berries covered in the most comfortable, breathable underwear to keep you focused on whatever it is you're working on? Good air circulation and being super breathable is key to our comfortable underwear. We removed the fly and its extra layers of fabric and stitching to enable greater airflow, making Buddha Boxers perfect for anyone sitting at their desk all day or getting out and exercising.
Did you know it can take more than 2000 litres of water to grow enough cotton for 1 pair of boxer briefs? Cotton is a very thirsty plant that requires a lot of different chemicals to profitably grow. Growing thirsty cash-crops like cotton on arid land indirectly contributes to a variety of negative ecological consequences like the Colorado River not reaching the ocean, and chemical runoff dramatically altering ecosystems down stream.
Bamboo doesn't need any irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizer to grow.
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, making bamboo farms highly productive and sustainable.
Bamboo grows in a wide variety of climates, making it versatile to grow.
Bamboo is a grass, its roots stay in the ground while it's harvested, reducing soil erosion and eliminating the need for fertilizer.
We put a giant effort in researching every option when designing Buddha Boxers. From the breathable bamboo viscose, the flatlock stitching, and premium waistband, our comfortable, sustainable trunks were designed to support without getting in the way.
Sustainable, ecological, breathable, comfortable, strong... With so many benefits, it was impossible for us to not create Buddha Boxers. Not only do you get the peace-of-mind of an ecologically-friendly, sustainable fabric source, but you get free and fast shipping to US and Canada.
These are easily some of the best underwear I've ever owned!
-As breathable as the athletic compression shorts/underwear you find in stores from other brands, but are much more comfortable. They don't ride up easily either, but don't cling to the thighs as tightly as athletic shorts.
-The feel on the skin is somewhere between silk and cotton – It's easy to forget you're even wearing them, which is something I've never been able to say before!
-Very bright and colourful – they definitely stand out!
-There's no branding on the waistband, so you don't feel like a walking advertisement if you dislike that.
Overall, I'm very impressed! I've ordered a second pair and see myself owning more in the future.
Awesome briefs. I never knew that fabric could be made from bamboo even if they weren't as comfortable as they were that's a big plus that's very sustainable. Stitching and seams are top-notch and they are very comfortable. Usually some of if not the best boxers I own.
Love these wonderful boxers!!! Color is lasting (even after wash), very flexible, and material is skin-friendly.


Cardrona is a relaxed and friendly Ski Area that has been putting smiles on skiers and snowboarders for 35 years. Explore it all – wide open beginner trails, pristine groomers, fun freeride terrain and world class parks and pipes. Discover Cardrona in the Southern Alps between Wanaka & Queenstown.


text:
Julián Casanova Ruiz was born on 1956 in Valdealgorfa. He is a Spanish historian. He teaches contemporary history at University of Zaragoza, and has been a visiting professor in US, UK and Latin America universities as well as a recurring visiting professor at Hungary's Central European University. He is currently a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, University of Michigan. He's a columnist for El País and frequent talk show guest at radio station Onda Cero.

In 2008 he was nominated to join the panel of experts in the first judicial investigation (conducted by judge Baltasar Garzón) of the Francoism crimes.

Bibliography
The Spanish Republic and Civil War, Oxford University Press, 2010.
Twentieth-Century Spain: A History, eds. Carlos Gil Andrés and Julian Casanova. (Cambridge University Press, 2014).

 Translated as Anarchism, the Republic and Civil War in Spain: 1931–1939 by Andrew Dowling and Graham Pollok in 2005.

_ (2021) A Short History of the Spanish Civil War, revised edition, Bloomsbury, 2021; España partida en dos. Breve Historia de la guerra civil española, Crítica, 2022.

References

20th-century Spanish historians
Academic staff of the European University Institute
Historians of the Spanish Civil War
People from Bajo Aragón
1956 births
Living people
21st-century Spanish historians
Academic staff of the University of Zaragoza


If you're looking for a truly rare and great bottle of Red Burgundy for cellaring, look no further than this fantastic example of Chambertin Clos de Beze from Ponsot. Burghound flipped for it, saying There is a firm mineral streak that adds a sense of lift to the beautifully well-delineated, muscular and vibrant flavors that culminate in a textured, mouth coating and impeccably well-balanced finale. This possesses simply terrific overall depth and this is textbook Bèze."
The 2013 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru might very well turn out to be Laurent Ponsot's best offering this vintage. It has a very well-defined, almost crystalline bouquet with wonderful mineralité percolating through the shimmering red berry fruit. The palate possesses brilliant delineation and poise. This is not a deep or titanic Clos de Bèze, but it is interwoven with a killer line of acidity and demonstrates more complexity and finesse than the Chambertin on the finish. This is just...beautiful.


text:
Q: Azure Vnet Peering vs Vnet Integration I am trying to Azure web app to IAAS VM and both of them are in different VNet's. Can some help me to understand the difference between Azure Vnet Perring & Vnet Integration. and which approach will work best in this context.

A: Vnet Integration -Gives your app to access to resources in your VNet. And it is used only to make outbound calls from your app into your VNet.but it doesn't grant inbound private access to your app from the VNet.
for more details you may check with these links
1)https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/web-sites-integrate-with-vnet#:~:text=VNet%20Integration%20gives%20your%20app%20access%20to%20resources,outbound%20calls%20from%20your%20app%20into%20your%20VNet.
Vnet Peering -It allows to connecting Virtual networks via azure infrastructure. It offers higher bandwidth connectivity between virtual networks.
for more details you may check with these links
1)https://techijack.com/azure-vnet-and-vnet-peering/#:~:text=Azure%20VNet%20Peering%20VNet%20Peering%20allows%20connecting%20virtual,It%20offers%20higher%20bandwidth%20connectivity%20between%20virtual%20networks.


text:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/07/130703-wisconsin-fracking-sand-rush.html
Photograph by Sally Younger
Western Wisconsin's sand, high in quartz and compressive strength, lies close to the surface–perfectly suited to the oil and natural gas industry's fracking needs. The sand rush is on at quarries like this one south of Portage.
Sand Rush: Fracking Boom Spurs Rush on Wisconsin Silica
It takes sand—loads of it—to open the cracks in shale rock that allow natural gas or oil to flow into hydraulic fracturing wells. To do the job, the industry is digging into the vast ancient silica reserves of Wisconsin.
By Sally Younger, For National Geographic
They look like pyramids in a cornfield, or sea dunes mottled by the summer rain.
But these stockpiles hold one of the secrets to America's energy revolution. The heaps of dozer-hauled, diesel-crushed grains are pure silica sand, and the future of fracking depends on stripping hundreds of millions of tons of it.
Every day since the rush began about two years ago, thousands of laden train cars rumble out of the world's unlikeliest sand castle—Wisconsin—headed for oil and gas wells from North Dakota to Pennsylvania. (See related story: "Natural Gas Nation: EIA Sees a U.S. Future Shaped by Fracking.")
Strong and ancient, the grains shimmer like gems in the warm sunlight. Branded "Northern White," this pedigree of sand boasts 99 percent quartz and a compressive strength between 6,000 and 14,000 pounds per square inch. This makes the grains ideally round and durable to prop open underground shale formations fissured by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. (See related interactive: "Breaking Fuel From Rock.") The unique region of quartz-rich sandstone extends into southeastern Minnesota, which also has seen a surge of mining activity; but Wisconsin, in part because it has nearby rail capacity for shipping, has been the epicenter of the boom.
In the fracking process, sand is suspended in a chemical slurry and pumped thousands of feet underground. The high-pressure fluid cracks open the shale rock. Sand flows into these fractures and "props" them open like trillions of tiny marbles, allowing dislodged crude oil or natural gas to seep out.
Consumed by the bargeful, "proppant" sand is cheap, heavy, and essential. One fracked well in the Marcellus shale region, for example, can slurp several million pounds of it. A single fracked well can require 10,000 tons of industrial silica sand, according to Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources.
Ceramic beads and other man-made alternatives exist, but they cost more to make and transport.
So an estimated 30-40 million metric tons of frack sand will be mined this year. That's a double-digit increase from last year and the year before that. Although Texas and Illinois top the list of U.S. industrial sand producers, thanks to their large processing operations, most of the sand for fracking will come from the Midwest, primarily the red-hot mines of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"I've never seen anything like this, but I'm getting kind of used to it," said Thomas Dolley, a mineral commodity specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey.
Building on Sand
According to USGS, sales of frack sand increased by 77 percent between 2010 and 2011. The industry is valued at more than a billion dollars in the United States alone. A frack sand company, U.S. Silica, went public on the NYSE for the first time last year.
"Some people tell me this is going to blow over," said Dolley. "But for the foreseeable future I don't see production tapering off."
"It came so quickly," said Thomas Quinn, a former dairy farmer in Downing, Wisconsin.
A new 400-acre frack sand facility has been proposed near his rural home. While many in his village have voiced opposition, neighboring Glenwood City could "balloon annex" the land needed to build the site.
"I fell in love with this area because of the hills," said Quinn. "If this thing is approved I'll live 500 yards away from a sand stockpile."
In Wisconsin—which produces no oil or natural gas—companies like Preferred Sands LLC, which has two locations near Eau Claire, tout a six-track rail network and sand reserves of up to 30 million tons.
Other states mine sand, but the bluffs and ridges in Wisconsin are uniquely accessible—denuded by time, and uplifted by an arching landmass. The sandstone outcrops of prime frack interest lie in what geologists call the "driftless area": a unique bubble in Wisconsin that was spared from glaciation during the last ice age. In other words, these outcrops were never smashed and buried under glacial debris, as was the bedrock in much of the rest of the state. So they are easy to find and excavate.
"The sand is so valuable because Mother Nature has done the work for us," said Dolley of the USGS.
In two years a hundred new or proposed mines have cropped up in the state, mostly in the central-west. Almost overnight, rolling counties like Chippewa and Trempealeau sprouted conveyor belts, processing plants, and multi-million dollar investors.
By some estimates, that could mean 9,000 truckloads of frack sand leaving the state every day.
"The industry knew the value of this resource," said Quinn. "But it's been a scramble for the rest of us."
Northwest Territory's Mineral Riches
The modern-day sand rush has taken many Wisconsinites by surprise, but the extent of the resource here was reckoned 170 years ago by a prodigy in a birch bark canoe. A decaying map sealed in state archives holds the key.
Armed with ink, horse, and "half-breed" guides, David Dale Owen was a 40-year-old mineral agent assigned by the U.S. Treasury Department to chart a "geological reconnaissance" into Chippewa country—33,000 square miles in the heart of the "very large and unsettled" northwest territory.
By late summer 1847, the year before Wisconsin became a state, the territory's wealth of ore and bedrock was yielding to Owen's young science. He gushed his findings in an official report to Washington.
Copper and zinc deposits dazzled. The lead overflowed. Iron promised riches, he claimed, even if "amphitheatres of sand" vexed much of the landscape and harbored rattlesnakes.
Owen was a Scot-born doctor, artist, Utopian Socialist, and geologist. He headed a party of more than a hundred assistants. What they found would explain the multimillion-dollar sand rush into Wisconsin farm country 16 decades later: The formations here are like almost nowhere else on earth.
Deposits of limestone, gneiss, and other strata fill Owen's map, marked by pink, orange, and blue watercolor brushstrokes.
But it's the slash of yellow paint that cuts most boldly across the paper. The hand-drawn key in the corner mistakenly labels the swath as "protozic sandstone."
Geologists now know that northern white sandstone is about 500 million years old, from the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. A crescent of such bedrock undergirds much of western Wisconsin, and Owen realized it.
This sandstone is not primordial like the billion-year-old quartzite north of Madison, nor as young as the ice age rubble blanketing much of the state. But its formations tell a unique tale of storm-whipped inland seas and odysseys of erosion.
The world that wrought today's frack sand looked far different than the world of today. North America languished in the tropics atop its tectonic plate, carrying Wisconsin 10 degrees south of the equator and tilted on its side.
The continent was flat and crusty, and grit swept across the Precambrian plains.
No leaves or roots strained against the vicious winds. Plants hadn't yet evolved on land.
But seas submerged and receded from the region for the next hundred million years. The Jordan, Wonewoc, and St. Peter deposits that today yield frack sand are the inheritance of those rhythms.
Some of the millions of tons of sand projected to leave Wisconsin this year will be mined underground from tunnels driven beneath rock layers. Otherwise, the choicest outcrops can be spotted from the highway.
This accessibility is key. Extraction doesn't have to mean explosives here. Sometimes blasting caps are required to dislodge tightly cemented sand, but often excavators simply ladle it from hillsides.
Following extraction, the freshly carved or blasted sand is washed with water and chemicals, and surge-piled until it's ready to be shipped. This processing can only take place from spring to fall, when the ground is warm enough to absorb the runoff. (See related story: "Water Demand for Energy to Double by 2035.")
Water usage is intensive. The process drinks swimming pools of groundwater for cleaning, sorting, and dust control. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource notes that for five planned sand mines in the northwest part of the state, expected average water use ranges from 420,500 gallons to 2 million gallons per day. The agency says it takes potential impacts on local water supplies into account in its permitting process. (See also "Health Questions Key to New York Fracking Decision, But Answers Scarce.")
After washing, the sand is dried in a rotary drum, and the choice particles are sorted. Most sand doesn't make the grade. Much ancient stone is too fine-grained. Younger glacial and beach sand is too angular and flecked with impurities.
The "just right"' sand can bag about $200 a ton after shipping to feed frack sites across the nation.
Lines Drawn in the Sand
Just as communities have been divided over fracking, the sand boom has drawn battle lines all its own.
"Industrial sand mining has been a solid job creator and economic contributor to Wisconsin for more than a century," said Rich Budinger, president of the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association. "We owe our long and successful history here to a deep respect for the land, our neighbors, and our communities."
Budinger cites thousands of new jobs and investments across the state.
"We can operate safely and protect the environment while generating significant and very real positive economic impact," he said.
The sand boom has resurrected dying rail lines. Where sand is hauled by truck, local governments have insisted companies contribute to local infrastructure so citizens aren't left with the bill for ravaged roads.
But in rural and unzoned areas, oversight may be a mirage. Regulations envisioned for backyard quarries are being stretched to accommodate thousand-acre frack sand facilities.
Perhaps most controversially, permits for ambient silica dust lack guidelines for the public. Residents like Quinn fear the invisible, glass-like shards that can drift from processing yards and uncovered train cars.
Some experts agree.
"Our short-term measurements ... of the 'fine' particulates associated with cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and lung cancer around frack sand mines and processing plants are higher than the background regional values reported" by the government, said Crispin Pierce of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Pierce said he is concerned the government does not require monitoring of fine particulates or silica "at the rapidly proliferating sand mines, truck and train transport routes, or processing plants" created by the frack sand boom.
The tug of priorities is leading to controversy.
Small towns and villages like Downing, Wisconsin, are facing big decisions, and neighbors are arguing.
"This community is divided in ways I've never seen," said Quinn.
Fresh investment and fresher salaries are winning the hearts of some locals, while others decry the out-of-town license plates and gobbling machinery. Many landowners have been grateful for the opportunity to unload unproductive acreage. Others, fearful of the dust that's being kicked up, shutter the kitchen windows when winds change. Gatherings held in school gyms debate the potential impacts on both property taxes and small-town tranquility. (See also: "Bakken Shale Oil Boom Transforms North Dakota.")
"In the end, I hope we have the core strength and core values to manage the pressure and money coming from outsiders," said Quinn.
In 1847, David Dale Owen, ogling the ores in "one of the richest mineral regions yet known in the world," could not have foreseen the gold blowing beneath his feet.
Sally Younger is a National Geographic Young Explorer grantee, who spent this past winter on a journey by snowshoe, sled, and foot on Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail, documenting the legacy of past climate change.
This story is part of a special series that explores energy issues. For more, visit The Great Energy Challenge.


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12. 16. 17 by Lou Del Bello
Climate Change Is Increasing Forest Fires, and the Cost Will Be Huge
With millions of trees gone up in smoke, British Columbia looks back on its worst year on record.
/ Earth & Energy/ California/ Climate Change/ Insurance
Image by Creative Commons
The skyrocketing cost of putting out this year's record-breaking forest fires in British Columbia is serving as a stark warning about the economic toll of climate change.
Fire-related expenses averaged $182 million between 2006 and 2016, but in the first nine months of this year, more than $500 million was spent fighting the flames, while costs associated with reconstruction and other damages remain unknown.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the region's two biggest forest fires alone caused more than $127 million in insurance damage.
So can we attribute the fires — and therefore these costs — to climate change? While scientists agree that the factors at play are disparate, including changes in land use, vegetation composition, and natural climate variability, evidence is mounting that climate change is now driving the worrying trend.
A 2016 study published in PLOS estimated that under a high emission scenario, the cost of fire management in Canada could reach $1.4 billion per year by the end of the century, an increase of 119% compared to the average spent between 1980 and 2009. With this year's forest fires exceeding even the most pessimistic forecasts, those grim economic projections look like they may become reality.
Click to View Full Infographic
And the problem is not unique to Canada.
"Human caused ignitions, warmer temperatures, dry and wet spells, and accumulation of fuels are some of the factors contributing to longer wildfire seasons, increases in the number of large and long-duration fires, and more severe effects from the wildfires," said Paul Steblein, fire science coordinator with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). "Such conditions — along with the wildfires that accompany them — are likely to increase in the future."
After a five-year drought, California has been devastated by over 50,000 fires, burning 8.9 million acres of land. According to the California Department of Insurance, as of October 2017, insured losses accounted for more than $3 billion.
"The number is sure to grow, as more claims are coming," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "The insured losses only tell part of the tragic story of the October fires. We must remember that 43 people lost their lives and behind every insurance claim is someone who has lost their home, their business, and their precious memories. It will take years for these communities to recover and rebuild."
Sundowned
Mexico Bans Startup From Future Solar Geoengineering Experiments
Knew It All Along
Exxon Scientists Knew About Global Warming for Decades While Company Denied It
Stanford Scientists Warn That Civilization as We Know It Will End in "Next Few Decades"
Fusion vs Fiction
Gloomy Physicists Say Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough Is Too Late to Save Us
Sun Shield
Scientists Increasingly Calling to Dim the Sun


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By Roy Burner
Life in the military for the most part was a happy memory after my completion of 20 years service. I do not regret my decision to remain in the military as a career. I do not recall having questioned the places I served (including Vietnam) but accepted the orders as received.
I retired from the military in 1982 as a Chief Petty Officer. When I joined the U. S. Navy; I set out to see the world as a young man, and I accomplished that goal.
Life in the Military Decorations/Medal/Commendations/Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded
Joint Service Commendation Medal - Navy Achievement Medal with gold star - Combat Action Ribbon - Navy Unit Commendation (Dominican Republic) - Meritorious Unit Commendation (MCB TEN Detail X-ray) - Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation - Fourth Good Conduct Award - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star (2nd Award - Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars (FMF Combat Insignia) - Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Vietnam Campaign Medal with Clasp - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Rifle Marksmanship Award (SS).
Authorized to wear the Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia on the Suspension Ribbon Bar of the Vietnam Service Medal for support of United States Marine Units in the I Corps Tactical Zone, Republic of Vietnam.
Letter of Commendation from Commander Amphibious Squadron TEN, U. S. Atlantic Fleet for outstanding performance of duty CARIB 2-65 during 1 April through 29 June 1965 played a significant role in the evacuation of over three thousand U. S. and foreign nationals from the Dominican Republic.
Letter of Commendation from Commanding Officer, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TEN on 1 October 1969 for service in connection with services rendered in Advance Party to Camp Wilkerson, Republic of Vietnam.
Letter of commendation from Commander United States Naval Forces Vietnam for outstanding performance of duty while serving against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam from December 1969 to September 1970.
Places Visited While in Service
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - EQUATOR CROSSING (Become a Shellback) - FRANCE (Marseilles/Toulon) - HAWAII (Honolulu/Pearl Harbor/Waikiki) - HONG KONG - ITALY (Genoa/La Speiza/Naples) - JAPAN (Yokohama/Yokosuka) - KOREA (Pusan/Seoul) - MALTA (Valletta) - OKINAWA (Camp Shields) - PALMA - PHILIPPINES (Baguio City/Cubi Point-Detail X-Ray/Manila/Olongapo City/Subic Bay) - PORTO SCUDO - PUERTO RICO (San Juan) - SANTA MANZA - SARDINA (Aranci Bay) - SINGAPORE - SPAIN (Almeria/Barcelona/Mazaron/Rota) - STATESIDE (Alameda/Camp Pendleton/Great Lakes/Norfolk/North Island/Oxnard/Port Hueneme/San Diego/Virginia Beach) - VIETNAM (Danang/Camp Wilkerson-Hue/Phu Bai)
United States Naval Training Center - Great Lakes, Illinois - (Company 232 - June-August 1962)
The picture, on the right side, is myself (upper left corner) and some boot camp buddies of mine. I joined the Navy when John F. Kennedy was President of the United States, W. C. Bebow, BMC was my Company Commander and I was Company Clerk. I had been to Business College, and could type, so I was elected. We went through processing, clothing issue, indoctrination, ordnance and gunnery, damage control, seamanship, physical fitness, etc. We become familiar with barracks life, a religious program of our choosing, recreation, and finally graduation.
The areas I remember especially well were fire fighting, physical fitness, life as a booth (considered the lowest form of life in the Navy), and of course the good old booth camp haircut. Let's us not forget one's loss of privacy. Booth Camp was a new concept in living, after having enjoyed civilian life, and entering into the gates of the Great Lakes Training facility. I was from Illinois so I did not have to travel far too get there.
The fire fighting training involved actually fighting a fire. I remember being the third man behind the nozzle man who led the way towards the fire. He froze and could not perform his task. I was hoping the next man could so I wouldn't find out how I measured up to the task. He had no problem so I was saved from finding out. I was later to realize the need for this training when I was in a major fire on an aircraft carrier that was at sea.
Boot Camp Training required that we get a taste of what tear gas was like. I escaped having to do so through a friend who told me to make sure I was the last to enter so I would be one of the first to leave. I managed to hold my breathe, after we removed our gas mask, to avoid feeling its effect as others did who were not as fortunate.
There are some stories about Boot Camp best left unsaid as I am sure any person having attended Boot Camp can attest too. It was very beneficial towards what I would experience later after graduating. Some did not finish and were ushered out of the Navy for one reason or other. I would never had suspected that I would make the Navy a career and retire after 20 years.
I had planned on leaving the Navy when my first enlistment was up but my foster dad wrote me a letter, concerning my getting out that made me so mad I reenlisted for another four years! He asked me what I going to do draw rocking chair money; where he got that from I do not know because I have always been a worker from day one. However, looking back now I realize he did me a favor by saying what he did. I am still benefiting from that action today. It is surprising how one can affect your life, one way or the other, by their actions.
Naval Corpsman School - U. S. Naval Hospital
Great Lakes, Illinois
I survived booth camp and was sent to Corpsman School (my promised military school) to be a Corpsman. I found it was not my cup of tea though I have respect for those who chose to stay in that field. The only reason I was chosen for this particular school was the military's need for more bodies in that field and because of my administrative ability I was a prime candidate. They started teaching me, among other things, to give bed baths, shots and enemas and I knew my departure from that place was needful.
I first asked the Chief Petty Officer about getting out of Corpsman School; his answer still rings in my ear when I recall it! He did however give me permission to take it to the Commanding Officer. The Commanding Officer said that I would probably end up on a destroyer in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean if I transferred out. I told him I did not care just get me out of Corpsman School!
I received orders to San Juan. I walked up to an older sailor with a lot of years in the Navy (one could tell by the amount of hash marks on his sleeve) and asked him what ship the San Juan was. He looked at my orders and in amazement said, "That is shore duty in San Juan, Puerto Rico; not a ship!" I had believed what the Commanding Officer of the Corpsman School had told me and was expecting a ship! However, Puerto Rico almost become my downfall!
U. S. Naval Station - San Juan, Puerto Rico
A medical officer in San Juan described my alcohol consumption behavior in the following manner: "This individual when highly intoxicated resembles a caged animal." What a slap in the face towards my upbringing. San Juan was where I lost any remaining virtues I may have had.
Have you ever heard of one becoming so intoxicated that they tried to swim out of a mud puddle? Of trying to direct traffic in a drunken condition? Of waking up from a night of drinking with one hand hanging over the edge of a three or four story building's roof? Of waking up, when the sun arose, out in the middle of nowhere, with only a minimum amount of clothing on? Of being swung at by a pimp, then being backed out of a bar by a policeman using your chest as a tattoo spot for his nightstick?
Of being chased by the shore patrol through an outdoor movie theater with the Commanding Officer of the Naval Station in attendance; then within seconds after that situation come within a fraction of a second of being fired upon by a Marine Security Guard at the main gate? To awake the next morning behind bars in a Marine Corp brig? Then face three military judges at a Special Court Martial for disrespect to a superior officer, assault, breaking apprehension, and drunk and disorderly? The court martial sentence was four months at hard labor (which would have been at the Gitmo Marine Base in Cuba), a bust to E-1, and a $200.00 fine!
When my case was reviewed it as reduced to two months in the Marine Corp brig at Puerto Rico, no bust, and a $100.00 dollar fine (which amounted to a month's pay). My work record saved the day from the original sentence. I spent 50 days in a Marine Corp brig (ten days less for good behavior). A Marine Corp brig is not the most comfortable, or enjoyable, place to be. Welcome to my life in San Juan, Puerto Rico during a two-year hair-raising period!
No wonder the 40th Psalm means so much to me: "He brought me up out of an horrible pit, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to my God." One Shore Patrolman, who had used his nightstick on me, saw me after my transfer from Puerto Rico. He could not believe that I was still in the Navy! We serve a wonderful Savior who is able to clean our act up but that was to come much later in life.
During my time in San Juan I attempted to drown out past memories through alcohol only to wake the next day with those memories still being there. Many times I could have slipped out of this life to face the terrible consequences of a literal burning Hell. I am so thankful for the saving grace of God, through His Son, and a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would one day give me that inner peace I was searching for.
Many cancer patients bear the message "I am a survivor." Of my tour of duty in San Juan I can say that I truly was a survivor because of one who was watching over me, even though I had not yet acknowledged Him. A book could be written concerning my misdeeds while serving in San Juan, and elsewhere. I have much to be thankful for!
Sea Duty - COMPHIBRON TEN Staff
Aboard USS Boxer (LPH 4)
I reported about the USS Boxer (LPH-4) for staff duty with COMPHIBRON TEN. I received a Top Secret clearance in order to perform the task I had been assigned. The USS Boxer was a flagship for Commander, Amphibious Squadron TEN. One day I thought I would use my own ingenuity when given the task of making coffee. It was a good ways to where the water was so I decided to utilize the Commodore's cabin that was next to flag plot where I worked. Unfortunately, the Commodore decided to come into his cabin at that moment and things did not go well. I never utilized that source again!
During my brief stay on staff I did experience some moments of reality of military duty. The USS Boxer, and other ships deployed with COMPHIBRON TEN, helped evacuate some 3000 U. S. and foreign nationals from the Dominican Republic during an uprising in that country. I saw, through intelligence reports, what remained of many who having been thrown over a cliff into the sea; after the sharks had finished what the rebels had started. It was an eye opener towards the reality of warfare and its nasty business.
I saw the U. S. Marines depart the ship in good spirits but return with solemn looks on their faces. Some came back wounded and a call for volunteers to give blood was given. I went to donate my blood and while there I witnessed one Marine, who could have been not been more than 18 or 19 years old lying in front of me with his shirt off revealing a tiny hole in his chest about the size of a pencil in diameter. A Navy Chief Petty Officer said, "He's meat throw him in the freezer." I thought that comment to be cold and insensitive and did not realize that the rigors of warfare might prompt such a response.
My duty on the staff of COMPHIBRON TEN was short lived due to continued liberty violations during port visits and excessive use of alcohol. I became termed a "security risk" and lost my Top Secret clearance. I then became of no use to the position I held on staff. I was transferred to the USS Telfair (APA-210), a amphibious ship that was assigned to the same squadron.
USS Telfair (APA-210)
I reported to the USS Telfair (APA-210) which was going on a Mediterranean Cruise from October 1965 to March 1966. During this cruise we went to Marseilles, France - Genoa, Italy - La Spezia - Palma - Malta - Naples, Italy - and Barcelona, Spain. I have many memories of the Telfair, some are vague, but others quite clear. I fell head-over-heels for one girl in Marseilles, France and when we went to Barcelona, Spain I took a train back to Marseilles to see her again. At the border crossing, going from one country to the other, I could not cross the border in a military uniform. I took off my hat, rolled up my pant legs, put on my rain coat, and crossed in that manner. After my reporting this incident when I returned to the ship they authorized future travelers to wear civilian clothes.
I had a Chief Petty Officer, and a First Class Petty Officer, who attempted to straighten me out from my wild liberties but with little success. Alcohol had a terrible grip on me and I was unable to turn loose of such a partner and its controlling influence on my life. However, again due to my work record, I was able to reenlist for an additional four years while about the USS Telfair. My Top Secret clearance was reinstated to me and I was transferred to staff duty in Yokohama, Japan in August 1966.
COMSTSFE Staff (Yokohama, Japan)
During my tour of duty with the staff of COMSTSFE in Yokohama, Japan, I would do really well for a period of time, then go out on liberty, and tie one on. It usually brought me to the attention of my superiors through a Shore Patrol (Military Police) report. The Shore Patrol and I became very familiar with each other. The red light district and I as kin to each other and I certainly do not say this with pride. As I pen these words I do not encourage anyone to attempt to imitate my actions, prior to my salvation, but rather to adhere to God's Word; to shun that which is evil and cling to that which is good. May these words help someone to avoid the pitfalls I experienced in my own life and introduce someone to a better way through Christ Jesus.
In Japan I came to a crossroads in my life when I ended up in a Naval hospital with my life on the line, after another bout with alcohol and its affects. It is not with relish that I reveal this but hope it will somehow be a benefit to someone. Many aspects of my life I have chosen not to reveal and will take to the grave with me.
A Destiny with Grace - U. S. Naval Hospital
Yokosuka, Japan
One night I indulged in an extremely excessive amount of alcohol that nearly cost my life. Looking back now, I believe that numerous times in my life I have escaped loss of life through the amazing grace that I now sing of. That night I was so far gone in an alcohol stupor that I could not even recall all that happened until it was told to me later. It is as if my memory had blacked out until I sobered up through sheer pain. I was in a bar and a Japanese bartender was angered by my actions towards a female relative of his. He thought I was too big to fight so he evened the odds with a butcher knife. I had on a suede jacket and when he drove the knife through it into my side, withdrew it, and then launched in again, the knife entered close to the same place twice.
I took a cab to my friend's house in Navy housing. When my friend heard me cry out his name late at night he thought he was dreaming. When he awoke the next morning and seen a bloody hand print on his screen door he knew it was no dream. I left his house on foot. In the meanwhile the taxi driver who had taken me to his house noticed I had left a large amount of blood on the backseat and notified the police. The Shore Patrol found me a short distance from my friend's house.
The pain in my side, and their appearance, is the first thing I remembered of the whole incident, other than a vague memory of being in the bar that night. The Shore Patrol looked like giants to me due to my condition. I was immediately taken to the Naval hospital in an ambulance, some distance away, with its siren going and red lights flashing. I had suffered a large amount of blood loss. When they later returned my clothing to me my trousers were blood soaked from the waistline to the knee area in blood.
I now have a scar on my left side where the knife had made its entry. I carry this reminder of what God brought me out of. I also have a scar across my belly, still visible today, where they performed exploratory surgery to see what damage had been done. I readily remember, even today, that it was a lonely time in my life lying on the operating table not knowing what would happen. I turned to the God of my childhood and made three promises; if He would spare me: I would quite drinking, quit using foul language, and become more religious. Four months later, to my shame, I was drinking again.
I was told that I was fortunate to be alive. God did His part but I for ten years reneged on mine. I do not encourage anyone to take such a chance for no one knows the hour in which they will leave this world. I thank God for His mercy, that was extended, but I believe I most assuredly pushed it to the hilt.
I was in the hospital for 18 days. I felt ashamed that I was in a ward filled with Vietnam vets who had been wounded in action and the reason for my being there. Three of us, a member of the Navy Seal team, a Marine, and myself were in a room reserved for chest patients.
One day Bob Hope came into the room, unannounced, and asked if we had seen the girls yet? We said no and he sent three of them in to speak with us. The one who stood by my bed was Penelope Plummer, an 18 year old blond from Australia, who was Miss Universe of 1968! Later Bob Hope noticed a tube exiting my chest, and asked if that is where I got hit. I was too ashamed to admit what really happened to me and simple said yes. What amazed me is that Bob Hope looked as if he had just stepped out of one of his films; because He did not look any different in appearance when he entered into that room!
One Sunday morning Billy Graham, unannounced, came into our room. This was the second time I had seen him in person. The other time was in Booth Camp but I could not see him well at that time because I had left my glasses in the barracks and he was a good distance away speaking to us recruits. Those visits made a great impression on me and are as clear today as if they only recently happened. I received a Summary Court Martial for misconduct in regards to the stabbing incident but was cleared of the charges.
Temporary Duty - Pusan, Korea
I was sent from Japan to Korea as a temporary replacement for a Chief Petty Officer in the capacity of a Naval Boarding Officer for MSTSFE. It was a plush job. The first time I went to Pusan I flew from Seoul in a small aircraft that I thought was going to fall apart coming into Pusan from over the sea. The second time I was sent to Pusan I endured an eight-hour train ride from Seoul to Pusan to avoid that hair raising flight. I never did get use to flying but had to endure it while in the military.
I remember one rather humorous incident while at Pusan. I was sent to meet a Naval MSTSFE vessel carrying Korean soldiers returning from Vietnam. I went to the assigned berth where the ship was to tie up but the ship was nowhere in sight. A Korean soldier speaking in broken English asked what I was doing there. I tried to explain, the best I could, that I was waiting for a ship to come in. He said, "no ship coming, no ship coming, you go." He had a rifle, was getting very insistent, and needlessly to say I was relieved when just at that moment the ship came into sight!
As previously mentioned I made two trips to Pusan to fill in as the Boarding Officer of MSTSFE. It was a unique place to serve and had many perks for serving in that capacity. I did not feel qualified to fill in for the CPO position but must have done well for they sent me back the second time! I was able to add Korea to my list of places for having visited while in the service. While there I was introduced to a Korean woman and came real close to making it a permanent commitment but it did not come to the fruition expected. I was not committed to setting down until later in life.
Return to Japan
When I returned to Japan I renewed my relationship with the Japanese girlfriend who I had known prior to my departure for temporary duty in Korea. One night I had a real sobering experience for she slit her wrist right in front of me due to an argument. Prior to that she hit me over the head with her spiked heel. We both shed some blood that night but obviously her situation required more immediate attention than that of my own. I had grown quite fond of her and when I returned to the United States I sent her a quilt my mother had made along with other gifts. Eventually, with the distance and separation that romance faded away.
It would be unfair to leave out a description of a country that I had spent three years of my life in. It had a charm about it that was unique from any other. It had its places of splendor as has America. Its people were polite and courteous but it did have some practices that seemed a little unorthodox to me at the time. I tried out one of its community bath houses. The men were on one side and women on the other. On the men's side one went into an area where there were individual faucets coming out of the wall. That was where one cleaned themselves prior to going into the pool with everyone else. I prefer the American tradition of bath or shower!
When one assumed the role of driving in Japan they automatically become a "Professional Driver" and was to act accordingly. My professionalism did not fair so well. On one occasion, when I found myself, along with my Japanese girlfriend, driving in a one-way tunnel - you guessed it I entered in the wrong way! She became very excited in trying to communicate this to me. Thank the Lord we made it safely through! Then an equally disturbing incident happened on a narrow Japanese countryside road. My large American car decided to quite running and blocked the road. A large number of Japanese, in other vehicles behind me, begin to blow their horns wanting through.
I had witnessed what some Japanese had done in response to someone holding them up in traffic. In that incident a cab driver was having it out with the driver of a truck behind him. Suddenly from the back of the covered truck came about four men who grabbed the cab driver and pulled him into the back of the truck with them. It now seemed that this was going to be replayed for my benefit! Several Japanese got out of their vehicles and headed my way. But they were as polite as they could be and helped push my car aside so they, as well as others, could get by. They did render what assistance they could before departing.
While in Japan I also experienced idol worship, both in my girlfriend's home, and at a Buddhist temple at her invitation. It was an unusual type of worship I witnessed in their worship of a false god. They were all kneeling on the temple floor. Their worship increased in intensity to the beat of a drum. I still recall the chant spoken at the time.
A friend of mine, another sailor, who spoke Japanese, attended the worship of a fertility god. He gave me a replica of the symbol of such worship enclosed in a small wooden carved case. If a Japanese couple could not have a child this was the god they turned too. I thank God for my Christian upbringing that would keep me from being influenced by such falseness. Parents your bringing up a child in the way they should go is not in vain. Somewhere down the road of life it will bear fruit according to God's Word.
U. S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Ten
My next set of orders from Japan carried me back to Stateside Duty with the U. S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion TEN (Seabees) out of Port Hueneme, California. I found out that they were to be deployed to Vietnam and it made me revisit a recurring dream I had. I would dream of a enemy soldier cornering me by a fence and just when he was ready to use his bayonet on me I would wake up. After finding out that NMCB TEN was going to Vietnam I had to wonder if it would bring a climax to my dream. After serving in Vietnam I never had that dream again.
Being in the administrative field did not preclude my having to go to the Marine Corps Base, at Camp Pendleton, California for advance training prior to being deployed to Vietnam. It was a unique experience that has not been forgotten. While there I qualified as Sharpshooter on the M16. We trained in the use of hand grenades, digging up mines, learning about booby traps, etc.. On the booby trap trail I was the first one to set one off a small charge. I was looking down when I should have been looked up and tripped a device that set it off.
When we went to throw hand grenades we begin with some low charge hand grenades to get the feel of them. Then we went to a different range to use the regular hand grenades. The guy in charge said that about a month before an instructor had his arms blown off, and the guy who froze, after he had pulled the pin, had died. With this still in my mine; I threw my hand grenade and hit the dirt. Then it was the guy's turn next to me, in a different enclosure, and I heard him yell loud & clear, "I can't do it!" Believe me, if I could, I would have dug deeper where I was. I then heard "He's right he could not do it," and fortunately he had not pulled the pin!
One night, after a long hike to the mountains, we were told that we would be attacked by a Marine Corp outfit that night. It was about 2:00 AM when the attack came. I had been trained on a M16, was given an M14 of which I knew very little about, and it jammed when I attempted to fire blanks on the Marine aggressors. Had it been for real I would, like the booby trap trail, been a goner. The training was very realistic and an eye opener to what one may have had to face in Vietnam.
Vietnam (December 1969 - September 1970)
NMCB TEN deployed to Vietnam with 800 men. I was on the advance party, that left a month early, to help prepare the way for the Battalion. We flew on the Flying Tigers Airline to Danang in Vietnam. From there we boarded a C41 Cargo plane. It was just an empty plane - no seats - and we had to sat roll after roll across the belly of the plane (with one seat belt across each row of Seabees) as we headed to the Phu Bai airport. After that, believe it or not, we went in what looked like cattle trailers to the Seabee base (Camp Wilkinson) at Phu Bai.
I sort of felt belittled as an America fighting man and wondered what in the world had I gotten into. When we arrived at the base I was using one of the outdoor bathroom facilities (a piece of tin in front for privacy) when I heard a tremendous explosion that shook the ground. Not knowing what was happening, I actually stopped in mid-stream what I was doing. I found out later it was only an outgoing round from a huge artillery piece near our camp. We did not have the latest bathroom facilities but did have a four seat outhouse in the camp. We were next to the 101st Airborne Camp (Camp Eagle).
Vietnam was 48 years ago and I can picture it readily in my mind but not all the details. Thank God, I have no unspeakable moments to withhold as do many who were there. We did have one Seabee wounded when he ran over a land mine, with his caterpillar, but by the time we returned to the States he was alright. I felt fairly snug in my administrative duties until one day the Executive Officer said: "Petty Officer Burner you haven't been with me, have you?" I was told to get my M16, flax jacket, helmet, etc., and come along.
I was to be drive his jeep to various job sites. We drove along Highway One. I did enjoy seeing the scenery of Vietnam and getting away from our camp for awhile. I heard he was going to visit a job site close to North Vietnam. I sort of felt like another time, later in life, when I was volunteered to drive a fire fighting truck in the mist of a grass fire (I was just a passerby or so I thought until being drafted) and found out we were to go into an area where there was a fuel storage tank. I felt a little uncomfortable about that situation but did not have to go there because some other firefighters had got there already. Neither did I have to go to the job site near North Vietnam because the Executive Officer decided there wasn't sufficient time.
One man in the Battalion always carried full clips of extra ammo, that aroused my curiosity, and I looked into his service record to see why. He was a quiet person and never said much. But I found out he had earned the Silver Star, in another deployment, when the enemy had overrun part of the camp he was in. He had run out of ammo and had to fight hand to hand combat after that. I assumed he wasn't going to get caught in such a situation again; if he could help it. I did not reveal it to any one but was awed by what I found out. He had been there, seen that, and was close mouthed about it all! As previously stated, so it is with many who do not like to recall their experiences.
We had a Seabee come to our office one day, shaking like a leaf, who had a narrow escape as a driver on a supply run to Danang. He had become accustomed to the run and when the convoy was attack, at Hai Van Pass, he jumped into a ditch alongside his truck without his M16. A South Vietnamese soldier noticed he wasn't firing; thinking he was out of ammo, exposed himself to bring ammo to him.
The Seabee also seen a Vietnamese woman wounded in the stomach in the attack. I do not clearly remember all the details that were related that day but he had only one month left in his enlistment when this incident took place. I seen a similar reaction on an aircraft carrier when a man, from the engine room, came up to the office shaking like a leaf. He had been sprayed with gas, and had just vacated the area, when an instant later a fire burst forth. Had he been there, a few seconds earlier, he would have become a human torch.
Rest and Relaxation Trip to Hong Kong
Everyone had an opportunity to spend seven days R & R (Rest and Recuperation), in the place of their choice, during their tour of duty in Vietnam. We were given three choices: Hawaii, Australia, and Hong Kong. It is obvious by the title, and picture, which one I choose. I do not remember a whole lots about my R & R trip except a ride on a Chinook Helicopter to Danang. A soldier with a machine gun at the side door and a passenger (from a special forces unit with his weapon handy), let me know I was still in a war zone.
No one clued me in about using ear plugs. When I got off the helicopter I asked for directions and all I could do was see the person's lips moving in response to my question. I had temporally lost my hearing while on the helicopter due to the noise it made. I set down on a bench until my hearing was restored. I had brought $600 with me and spent most of it during my time in Hong Kong. As I had to return to Vietnam, after my R & R, I wanted to enjoy my time while there.
I did one serviceman a favor when we first arrived at the R & R center. I found a wallet loaded with money, as mine was, and turned it into the Reception Center. I am sure that made his day and his R & R a whole lots nicer! I did purchase some gifts, while there, which I sent back to the USA. I also met a girl who showed me some of the sites while in Hong Kong; plus taking some pictures while there. I took the above picture while there.
Visit to City of Hue, Vietnam
After returning to Vietnam several of us Seabees got into the back of a large Seabee truck and went sightseeing to the city of Hue that was not far from our Camp. My understanding is that it had once been the Capital of Vietnam and its ruler lived in a palace which we visited. Entering into the city we were greeted by some children who called us some not so favorable names. But that incident was made up by a little boy named Joe.
Joe showed us around, for a small fee, and was a really likeable kid. We all still had to take our firearms with us and since I was recently field promoted to E-6 I was able to carry a .45 caliber pistol rather than the M16. I had never fired a .45 pistol except, when my foster father allowed me to do so at home, while growing up. Had I been required to use it while there it certainly would have been interesting as to the outcome! But it still beat carrying the M16 around especially when it was not likely there would be a need to use it on a sightseeing tour.
This was probably one of the most pleasurable times I had while in Vietnam. I have movies taken while in Vietnam, as I had purchased a 8MM movie camera at the PX. I still have the movies. Another memorable time was when we had a USO show come to the Seabee camp. It was held on the stage of our outdoor movie theater. A Korean man, and two women, sing and danced. During their performance we had what was termed a maniac minute. This is when all weapons open fire on the base perimeter. I guess the women did not know if we were under attack, or not, because for a moment a look of fright appeared on their faces. They were real troopers though and continued their act in spite of it all.
The time of NMCB TEN's departure from Vietnam was near. Most of the leaders of the Administrative Section went back on the advance party to NMCB TEN's base in California. I, as a brand new field promoted E-6, had to take on a more than normal leadership position. Some of the men decided to take me to task, as a leader, and goof off. I ordered an inspection, the next day, in proper uniform. I found out though a friend that they were planning a blanket party (the covering of an individual with a blanket and then beating the tar out of him) the night before the inspection.
I had this person's assurance (an E-5) that he would be by my side if this did occur. It did not and the men gathered the next morning for inspection in full uniform and there was no problem after that incident. The E-7 who ran the office, prior to his departure, lived in a different place than the men but I lived with those who I had leadership over making it more difficult.
We departed Vietnam via air to Danang and from there a flight back to the States. Looking back I am glad I had an opportunity to serve my country in such a manner. In 2014 I met a Vietnam Veteran who served in the Army. He could not speak but had to write on a slate board what he wanted to say. He had suffered numerous problems due to Agent Orange, used against the enemy in Vietnam, which included the loss of his voice. He had given a lots for his service in Vietnam and was still suffering from his time there. In this causal acquaintance I highly respected a fellow Vet who had obviously given a lots for his service in Vietnam; and was still doing so.
Back to Port Hueneme, California
I was a brand new E-6 fresh back from Vietnam with money in my pocket and rented this apartment in Oxnard, California. It was in Oxnard where I meet the lady who stole my heart but I did not realize it at the time. Her name was Sue and she was visiting her aunt in Oxnard. I met her, made a date with her, and it blossomed forth from there. She was truly beautiful and became the apple of my eye. I have many fond memories of her coming into my life, and our times together in Oxnard. I then received orders for a deployment to the Philippines with the Seabees.
I thought our time together had ended but we kept writing each other while I was deployed. She remained in Oxnard while I was in the Philippines. She was full of fun and excitement and it is hard to leave her behind. But all that begins well, often times ends well, as did this situation. As for going to the Philippines it meant another flight which I dreaded; up in the wild blue wonder again, headed for a distant land with another deployment with the Seabees.
Next Stop - Philippines
Most sailors, who have been to Subic Bay Naval Base, in the Philippines, will remember this bridge that leads into Olongapo City from the base. I crossed this bridge many times during my time in the Philippines. I even had one character attempt to grab my wrist watch right off my hand, as I walked across this bridge, but it had a watch band that wasn't so easily removed! I have many memories of the Philippines; many of them good, some not. While there I hired a Navy car and Philippine driver to see a little of the countryside. I went to Baguio City, and Manila.
In Baguio City I purchased a large "hand craved" water buffalo and elephant ($7.00 each). I sent the water buffalo to my sister and the elephant to my foster mother. I noticed another carved item that I have never forgotten. In a store there was a hand carved cross with Christ on it (life size in detail). One could even see the veins in his hands. It was beautifully done and the cost was $300.00. I was not living for the Lord, at that time, but I have never forgotten that cross, and body, which represented Jesus' having died on the cross for our sins and our salvation.
My girlfriend took me, along with the sailor friend of mine, to her home quite a ways from Olongapo City. As we traveled we had to go through checkpoints with guards. Apparently my girlfriend was doing OK, for herself, for she was in the process of building a two story wooded house in a place that mostly consisted of huts. While there we were a little concerned about safety.
My girlfriend, after our arrival, showed me a picture of her brother standing with a gun and some ammunition swung across his shoulder. She said he was a fighter with the rebels. Needless to say we were happy when we departed from there! In this remote area the outhouse was over the edge of the river; the same river where I seen a water buffalo doing his thing, and down a little ways was a woman washing her clothes. Somehow this did not seem to sanitary to me!
When one went to the drinking establishments in Olongapo City there were guards, at many of the places, who had a shotgun standing near the door. One of the Jeepney (a Philippine taxi type vehicle) drivers, whom I had become friends with, showed me that he kept a revolver handy in his Jeepney out of sight but close at hand. Such circumstances did not make one feel comfortable.
One day I was headed, off base, to a place I had rented in Olongapo City, and seen a number of locals ahead of where I was going blocking my way. I took another route just in case they had the wrong notion in mind. Later in life I was to have an extended family from the Philippines, who I have known for a great number of years now, who are doing the work of the Lord, and who have visited me in the USA several times.
I remember one night, while in the Philippines, looking out across the ocean with the stars shining bright. I was later to write a God-given poem "A Mate for Life" revealing how my heart ached for the person whom I had left behind, in sunny California, who was later to become my wife. You can read that poem on my Website page "In Loving Memory of My Wife." I then returned to the States with orders to CINCPACFLT headquarters (Staff Duty) in Hawaii.
CINCPACFLT - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
I reported for Staff Duty with Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet. I enjoyed my time on staff (I am in the upper left hand corner of the picture) and had some good people to work with. I worked directly for a U. S. Navy Captain who later was to be ran over by his own wife's vehicle with her driving it. I happened to be on the scene. She had just let him out at work and instead of going behind the vehicle, as he usually did, for some reason he went in front of it and she flattened him. Fortunately he was not to badly hurt but she was really shaken up by the incident.
I was enjoying my time in Hawaii, working with the Staff of CINCPACFLT, but was to soon receive a very much unexpected, yet pleasant surprise! The love of my life was to come on the scene, literally! The person I thought I had left behind in sunny California had her own ideal. She flew to Hawaii, via United Airlines, to come be by my side. We were married in Hawaii, at the courthouse, in downtown Honolulu on February 16, 1972.
Hawaii and Marriage
I was blessed with a person who was to be my wife almost 27 years. Cancer was later to take her out of my life. We started out in an apartment in downtown Waikiki. We later moved into U. S. Navy housing but Sue enjoyed living in Waikiki and we moved back. We were within walking distance of all the huge hotels, the Waikiki beachfront and shops, and it was a good environment for a young married couple to enjoy.
I have many pictures, as well as memories, of that period of time. I enjoyed living in Hawaii but I tell people I developed "Rock Fever" while there. Rock Fever; is simply being tired of being on the rock (the island of Oahu) for so long.
Sue won a free weekend vacation for two at a neighboring island of Kauai. All expenses were paid and we considered it our honeymoon. We have fond memories of that weekend which included a flight, staying at the Kauai Resort free of charge (meals included). Later Sue won a free boat ride for two from Fisherman's Wharf in Waikiki.
USS Ranger (CVA-61)
My favorite assignments during my 20 years in the Navy was when I was attached to the Seabees and my tour of duty on the USS Ranger (CVA 61). I was on the Ranger from December 2, 1974 until January 1, 1978. During my time with the Ranger we went on a "Spirit of 76" Bicentennial Cruise.
(HAWAII) An 7,300 mile trek lay before us. It was a 10-day transit to Pearl Harbor which was my old stomping grounds. I was to revisit Waikiki, walk along Kaiakaua Avenue, Waikiki's main street, and revisit the International Market Place which provided native entertainment. Hawaii, as previously mentioned, provided serenity and beauty, and a place to be remembered.
(PHILIPPINES) During our deployment we went through underway replenishment which provided fuel, food and ordnance for Ranger's 4,000 plus crew. We visited Subic Bay in the Philippines. Again, one of my old stomping grounds. For some familiarity with Olongapo City was a regular when liberty time came. For those who desired to remain on base there was the Subic Enlisted Men's Club, the Station theater, a go-cart track, skeet shooting, and many other attractions.
Subic's "Checkpoint Charlie" was the main gate into Olongapo City. I crossed the bridge between the base and Olongapo many times. After entering Olongapo one could get to their preferred destination by the ubiquitous "Jeepney" (previously mentioned) which were readily available.
(HONG KONG) While aboard the Ranger I spent my time in the Engineering Office working for the Engineer Officer. As I look through the Cruise Book it brings back memories of those I worked with in the Engineering Department. Our next visit was Hong Kong another old stomping ground. I was familiar with Hong Kong as I spent my seven days of R & R there (also previously mentioned). I purchased made out of ivory at reasonable prices. Downtown Hong Kong was a colorful maze of shops and signs. There was even a McDonald's in this Far East city. There was the "Milky Way" of colored lights, of the Hong Kong harbor at night.
(SINGAPORE) Our next visit was Singapore, the busiest trade port in the world. Almost halfway around the world from the U. S., the charm of Singapore was indeed a good liberty port. As Ranger departed from Singapore, the city was waking to another day of business with the merchants of the world.
We had our own TV station aboard the Ranger (KRAN TV). We also had our own Newspaper (GAZETTE). We had our own Police Force aboard (MASTER-AT-ARMS). I remember one incident when there was almost a racial incident in which a person said (Via the Ship's Intercom) there will be a meeting of all "blacks" in a particular area onboard the ship in fifteen minutes. Immediately, the Executive Officer of the ship (Via the Ship's Intercom) said there would be no such meeting and told the Master-at-Arms force to go to that area. There was no racial incident on the Ranger!
(CROSSING THE EQUATOR) The Captain of the Ranger (Captain John L. Nicholson, Jr.) took us about 50 miles off course to see that we made it across the equator so a "Crossing the Line" party could be held for us "pollywogs" who had never been across before. We were initiated by King Neptune and his Court to pass judgment on us slimy pollywogs. It was a day to be remembered and I have a large certificate on my wall saying that I passed the test and was now an official "Shellback." It is unfortunate that I never crossed the equator again to dish out some of what I had received as a former pollywog!
We started out by going through a gauntlet of trusty shellbacks who lined the flight deck to dish out various forms of pollywog punishment during the wild initiation ceremony. Short lengths of fire hose became very effective "persuaders" in the hands of the shellbacks. Other stops along the initiation route included crawling through a shut of nasty garbage.
Some pollywogs were marked for "special treatment" (of which I was). We got a taste of some ancient methods of punishment before getting accepted into King Neptune's ancient order of the deep. I spend several days trying to get the grease out of my hair, and other bodily parts, imposed as a form of the "special treatment" process.
We had one person in the office pulled out for "special treatment" shortly after the initiation began. He had a dog collar placed on his neck, with a leash, and if he did not bark loud enough when told too, he was wracked with one of the short lengths of fire hose on his buttocks. A very convincing method and he barked real loud! The final stage of the shellback process was the ceremonial ducking. You were asked who you were. During the whole initiation who had to respond with "I'm a pollywog" and until you acknowledged you were a "shellback" they kept ducking you.
(HOMECOMING) Homeport was a welcome sight to those onboard the Ranger after her eight month deployment ended. Families of the crew, and air wing, had gathered on the pier to welcome their loved ones back. It was a happy reunion with many "happy" tears shed. I have many other memories that could be shared during my length of time on the Ranger but some have faded away with time. I tremendously enjoyed, as previous stated, my time on the USS Ranger (CVA-61).
Final Assignment - Then Retirement
Staff Duty - CINCWESTLANT/COMOCEANLANT
I reported to Staff duty for a NATO Joint Command, at the Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, Western Atlantic Area, under a Canadian Vice Admiral, during the period February 1978 - April 1982. I was also a part of COMOCEANLANT where I was promoted to Chief Petty Officer as evidenced by the picture above. One of my ambitions, after deciding to made the military a career was to make CPO which I accomplished.
There was an initiation for CPO's but it was to be held in the CPO Club. I declined this initiation since I had never been in a place that served alcohol since giving it up in Hawaii. The CPO's, in the division where I worked, gave me an initiation instead and one of the CPO's said it was one of the better one's he had attended.
In 1978 I invited the Lord into my heart and life. I attended a little country Pentecostal church, in Pungo, Virginia, just outside Virginia Beach where my wife and I lived. I decided to retire after serving 20 years in the military. I could have retired with full honors; a Navy car to drive my wife and I to the ceremony, a Naval band, Naval attendees in dress uniform and formation, and a four-star Admiral to present me with my certificate of retirement. Instead, I opted out and chose a quiet office ceremony.
I have never regretted the service to my country. It was a 20 year service in which I had many fellow servicemen who had helped me through the rough spots earlier in my career. If it had not been for them I may not have finished with an honorable service. I had 16 years good conduct thus I was entitled to have a gold rating badge, and hash marks, on my uniform (which I still have today).
I joined the Navy to see the world and I certainly accomplished that. I am thankful also to the Lord, whom I served, besides my country, in the last four years of my military service. I wish it could have been from early age on but I thank God; Jesus and the Spirit of God continual knocking at my heart's door, for never giving up on me!


Bengers Growth - Phase 2!
Tony Benger landscaping has, for the last 30 years, been based at Burrow Farm Gardens, Dalwood - near Axminster.
The Company has experienced significant growth over the last 5 years and its old premises had simply become too restrictive despite a recent office extension.
The Company has therefore acquired a nearby redundant chicken farm and is in the process of converting it for the landscaping business. This will include new offices, workshops, storage barns and a new yard with storage bays for bulk materials. A new nursery has also been established.
The Company, with its staff of 50, carries out high quality landscaping across the South West delivering design, construction and maintenance for both domestic and commercial clients.
Hands-on MD Tony Benger says, "We aim to be responsive problem solvers for our clients delivering the best value. We have been very fortunate to obtain one of the last 'European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development' grants which will help us expand the business promoting rural employment, innovative recycling systems and a new energy efficient office".