The Marine Corps recently blocked Facebook too so I shouldn’t have posted the Korean pictures on just that site for all of us behind firewalls. I’m doing well and hope you are. Enjoy the pics I took (and a few more of the DMZ that a friend collected.)
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| UFL '07 |
I’m back! Actually, I’ve been back from Korea for a couple of weeks now and I had internet while I was there so I really have no excuse for not having posted sooner. Of course, it had been so long since I logged onto this site that I’d forgotten the password, but that was easily remedied.
I’ve already uploaded some pictures to another site so I’ll just post a couple of links and you can check them out at your leisure.
UFL ‘07
DMZ Trip- UFL ‘07
Anyways. I’m doing well, how are you?
Man. That’s a lame joke.
I’m waiting in an airport terminal to leave for Korea right now. Of course, we’ve been subjected to a standard amount of hurry up and wait and probably won’t be flying out of here for at least a few hours. But, I don’t mind too much because I’ll be able to take a nap and then…. read the new Harry Potter book!!
!
I ordered a copy from Amazon and it didn’t arrive before today so I actually bought another copy to bring with me. Kathleen’s getting my second copy. Hi Kathleen!
My laptop isn’t plugged in at the moment so I’m going to get off now to save some juice. I’ve finally got a battery charger for my camera so I’ll be posting pictures and video when I take some and find an internet connection in Korea. I don’t know when that will be but at the very least I’ll be getting back to Okinawa in September and I’ll post what I’ve got then.
I’m sorry everybody (all 4 of you) has been dissapointed with this blog of late. I’d promise to do better in the future but then I’d just feel bad about not living up to it. I have actually been out and about and doing things that might interest you. But, my camera has been dead since the middle of June and I’m still waiting on a replacement battery charger to arrive.
In other news, we had a typhoon here on Okinawa. It’s name was Man-Yi. I was very unimpressed. We had Friday off from work and had to stay in the barracks from Thursday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. For part of the time people were allowed to go outside to the chow hall or to smoke, but they had to wear a flak jacket and kevlar so they looked pretty goofy. The Okinawans all took it in stride and I saw cars driving down the street and people walking around outside the fence throughout most of the storm. I don’t think there was much property damange (although I did have to help pick up branches around the nearby buildings this morning) and I don’t think anybody was hurt, but I’ll know more when I go to work on Monday. I’ll be going to Korea in a couple of weeks for a month and I’m planning on going snorkeling next weekend so hopefully I can get some pictures up for everybody then.
I’m not very good at updating, am I?
I don’t have much inclination to write a whole lot right now, sorry about that. I’m doing well and keeping fairly busy but there’s nothing in particular to report at the moment. Here are some pictures from a trip I took to Shuri Castle and to see a F-22 Raptor at Kadena Air Base a month or so ago. Enjoy!
Expensive jet fighters make me pose awkwardly, what can I say?
It really was beautiful even though it was in its third or fourth reconstruction. It was only totally refurbished from the Battle of Okinawa in the 90s.
If I were a King, I’d want more padding.
These kids were loud enough that you could hear them inside the castle, across a park. They looked like they were really having a good time.
Well faithful readers, whomever you may be, I just finished up two weeks of rifle range goodness. Because ever Marine is first and foremost a Rifleman, we’re required to qualify every year on the M-16 to prove we’re able to step up and defend ourselves and our missions in the event that we’re called upon. Most of the Marines who fought their way out of Chosin Resevoir in Korea weren’t infantry, they were cooks and administrative weenies and motor transport bubbas. But they fought, and they made it out of there and the legacy of the Corps is filled with examples where the combat skills of non-combat Marines have gotten the job done and them home safely.
As such, marksmanship is highly prized in the Marines today. It, and the assortated basic combat skills that go with it are given a lot of time and energy in both Recruit Training and in the follow-on Marine Combat Training that every Pogue or P.O.G. (Personnel Other than Grunt) goes thorough before their MOS school and the Fleet. It takes a tremendous amount of work to train thousands of green recruits who may have never touched a rifle to meet the standards required by the Corps, and they’re fairly stringant standards. I won’t get into the point system but to give you an idea I’ll just list some of distances and positions tested: 200 yards sitting, kneeling, and standing- slow fire (15 rounds, 20 minutes), 200 yards sitting from standing (changing your position) rapid fire (10 rounds, 60 seconds), 300 yards sitting (slow fire), 300 yards prone from standing (rapid fire), 500 yards prone (10 rounds, slow fire). All of these positions are at man-sized targets, for the most part, and have to take into account the wind and weather conditions as well as breathing and trigger control. It can all get a bit tricky for a beginning shooter such as myself.
While in Recruit Training I had the misfortune to break my leg as we started the rifle range. Not wanting to be dropped from training I pushed through it with the help of my Senior Drill Instructor and I eventually qualified with the M-16, although as a Marksman, the lowest of the three classes of rifle ability. A week later I was dropped from training anyways (having a cast put on automatically means you’ve got to go to the Medical Rehibilitation Platoon) but I always thought I’d do better the next time around.
This year, I got my chance to see if I was correct in blaming my previous performance on my leg or if I was just a lousy shot. Luckilly for my ego, I qualified as an Expert (just barely) the highest of the three classifications and I can plausibly say that it was my leg that messed me up the first time around. Now all that remains is buying some new badges for my uniforms and hoping I can do as well or better the next time around. My new higher score will help with promotions so hopefully I’ll earn one in the next few months.
In other, unrelated news, I lost my power adapter for my laptop so I may not be online as often for the next week or so. Much like the last two, I suppose. You can reach me at scottdavidsanders AT gmail DOT com or at my work account at scott DOT sanders @ usmc DOT mil
Keep on rockin’
I started my manditory anthrax vaccination today and now my arm kind of burns. And let’s not forget the myriad possible health issues related to my new 6 shot best friend. All in all though, my odds of being harmed by this vaccine are pretty small. If not smaller than my odds of actually being attacked with weaponized anthrax…
In other news I’ve been dizzy for about 4 days now. I, and a couple of corpsman whom I’ve consulted with, think something may be wrong with one of tubes deep in my ear(s). A valve is open, or shut, or something. My ear plumbing’s broken, essentially. I’ve started taking some cold medication on the off chance that I’ve got some sinus issues that the drying and pressure relieving effects of the drugs would help. My fingers are crossed and I hope eveything is better by next week when I start training to re-qualify on the M16. We’ll have a week of practice and dry fire, and then another week at the range. I’ll write a detailed post on all of that if any of you (hypothetical) readers are interested in that sort of thing. I’m going to bed now even though it’s just after 10PM here. I may or may not be turning into an old man.
Listen:
Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why.
All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.
I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all.
If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC
And if I should ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say, “Kurt is up in heaven now.” That’s my favorite joke.
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
November 11, 1922–April 11, 2007
So it goes.
As usual I’ve putzed around all night and having nothing to show before I go to bed. So I thought I’d be at least a tad productive and show you all a few pictures from a rock show I went to over Easter weekend. It was at Gate 2 Garage, a tiny little club on Gate 2 street near Kadena AB that caters to military personnel. It’s owned by Harry, an American. That seems to be a fairly common trend in bars in the area. I ‘m aware of a few places owned and or run by expats. I don’t know if they’re ex-service members who just stayed or what, but they seem to be making a lot of cash off of drunken Marines (and Soliders, Sailors, and Airmen too, I guess).
My friend Goldstein and I just chilled and drank for an hour or so until Gunny Walker’s band showed up and started to play.
I have no idea what they’re called but they put on a fun, loud cover-fest and I was able to sing along to every song.
I had been worried about seeing concerts while stationed in Okinawa but I’m told the music scene is pretty good here, there’s even something called Okinawan Rock, the island’s musical export.
I’m off to bed now, I’ve got a uniform inspection in the morning so I’m sure it’s going to be a lovely day. Be good, but not too good.
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