Salute to Veterans

[RickFranz]

Please let us know that you served your country so we may say, Thank you for your service.

I was in the USAF 1974 to 1979.  Spent time in SAC and MAC.  How about you?

[MSgt Van]

USAF, Nov 21st 1977 - Oct 1st '94

[MSG Mac]

USMC 1968-1978 Active duty Vietnam and Operation Frequent Wind
USAR  1978-2003
Callups: 1996 Bosnia, 2003-2006 OEF, OIF servcie in Djibouti, MacDill, Iraq

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Army 2003-2009 Iraq & Afghanistan

[redfox98]

USAF -- 1972-1977 -- AFCS   304X1

[SarDragon]

USN, Active Duty: 4/28/1969 - 10/1/1989; Aviation Electronics Technician

Tan card all the rest of my life

[cap235629]

Army MP 88-91

[SarDragon]

I am a Veteran! A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. Regardless of personal political views, that is an Honor and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.

[arajca]

US Army. 88-90. 15E. Pershing.

[Dad2-4]

Me: USAF Security Police, 1985-89, USAFR 89-91.
Also proud to say:
My Dad USMC WWII Pacific Theater
My Oldest brother, US Army MP 1969-1975, NATO HQ
My 3rd oldest brother, USAR Medic, mid 1980s
5 Nephews:
USMC (honorably discharged)
USN Medic/USA Cav. Scout Sniper (combat injury retirement)
USA (active)
USMC (active)
USA linguist (headed for basic training)

[GroundHawg]

US Army 1996-2000
US Naval Reserves 2000-2002
US Army National Guard 2002-2006
USAF Reserves 2006-Current

5 Overseas tours and one long stint in LA for Katrina

[GTCommando]

Let me say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all veterans, past, present, and future. No matter what branch you served in, no matter what your political views may be, every one of you has voluntarily put your life on the line to keep this nation free.

You have fought for our freedom, so that we didn't have to. You have spoken for those who have no voice. You have defended the rights of all, even those who would use them to mock you. And you have stood up to those who would bring this great nation to her knees.   

To all who have sacrificed in service to their country, thank you, you are not forgotten.

  GTCommando

[FlyTiger77]

US Army/Army Reserve 1984-present
Enlisted: MP (1984-1987)
Officer: AV (1989-present)

[m981]

USN 80-82; ARNG 83-86, ARMY 86-89; ARNG 89-93, USAR 93-00

[James Shaw]

USN 1987 - 1992 AD Misawa Japan and various TDY  - Cryptologist
USAR 1996 - 1997 Georgia Army National Guard - Intelligence Analyst

Would do it again if I had the chance!!

I salute my fellow veterans and those currently serving.

[Al Sayre]

USN '81 to '89
Aviation Electronics Technician  First Class (AT1)
1 Overseas tour - Sigonella Sicily
1 Med Cruise
Countless "Short Cruises" (< 3 mo.)

A big salute to my fellow veterans!

[Larry Mangum]

USAF 76-80

[lordmonar]

1986-2008

AFCC (USAFE)
AFCC (PACAF)
PACAF
USAFE
ACC (AIA)
AFSOC

Started as a 304X0 Wideband Communications Systems, murged into 2E1X1 Satellite, Wideband and Telemetry Systesm, murged in 3Dxxx Cybersystems.

Stationed at:
Det 1 2186 Comm Squadron Hummosa RRL Spain (outside of Torrejon AB).
1956 Comm Group (later changed to 374 Comm Sqaudron) Yokota AB Japan
36 Comm Squadron Andersen AFB Guam
1 Combat Communications Squadron Ramstein AB Germany
373 Intelligence Support Squadron Misawa AB Japan
3 Special Operations Squadron Nellis AFB Nevada.

[JohnKachenmeister]

USN:  1966-1972, enlisted, HM3(FMF)  (Vietnam, 1969-1970).
Ohio NG:  1976-1978 enlisted, SSG
Ohio NG:  1978-1980 officer, 2LT
USAR:  1980-1994 officer, CPT  (Panama, 1986, Honduras, 1986-1987)
Ohio SDF:  2002-2004 officer, MAJ

[capmaj]

USAF....  1967/1972.... Vietnam

US Army NG...... 1972/1975

[Ranger75]

1974 – 1976  U.S. Army, Enlisted Service, Sergeant. 11B2V
  3rd Ranger Company, Ranger Department, U.S. Army Infantry School

1976 – 2005 U.S. Army, Commissioned Service, Colonel, 11/48
  51st Officer Candidate Company, U.S. Army Infantry School
  Company C (Airborne), 1st Battalion, 60th Infantry (GO DEVILS), 172d Light Infantry       
     Brigade (SNOWHAWKS)
  HQ, 173rd Light Infantry Brigade (SNOWHAWKS)
  Company C (Airborne), 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry (TOMAHAWKS), 172d Light
      Infantry Brigade (SNOWHAWKS)
  Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry (BLUE LANCERS), 1st Cavalry
      Division (FIRST TEAM)
  HQ, 2nd Brigade (BLACKJACK), 1st Cavalry Division (FIRST TEAM)
  U.S. Defense Attaché Office, American Embassy Monrovia, Liberia
  U.S. Defense Attaché Office, American Embassy Lagos, Nigeria
  HQ, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry (WOLFHOUNDS), 7th Infantry Division (Light)
      (BAYONET)
  HQ, 7th Infantry Division (Light) (BAYONET)
  U.S. Defense Attaché Office, American Embassy Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
  Defense Intelligence Agency
  Executive Offices of the President, Office of the Vice President

[dmac]

1982-1985 Co B (Med) 67th Spt Bn, Nebraska National Guard, Supply Clerk and Armorer
1985-1987 226th MEDSOM, Pirmasens Germany, PLL Clerk, Motor Vehicle and MHE examiner.
1988-1989 HST, US Army Yuma Proving Ground, Assistant NCOIC Airfield Supply
1989-1992 261st Signal Company, 102nd Signal BN, Hanau Germany,  Supply SGT, Armorer and Operations NCO
1992-1995 Co D, 2/46th Infantry, Ft Knox, KY, Drill SGT
1995-1998 Co A, 94th Engr CBT BN (Heavy), Hohenfels, Germany, Supply SGT
1996 Operation Joint Endeavor, Camp Steel Castle, Bosnia
1998 HHC, 2/101 Aviation Regt, 101st ABN Div (AASLT), Ft Campbell KY, HQ PSG and BN Supply SGT

Thanks to all who have served!

[PHall]

CA ANG Apr 74 - Jan 75, USAF: Jan 75 - Sep 80, Apr 83 - Jul 90, CA ARNG: Sep 80 - Apr 83, USAFR: Jul 90 - Aug 05,

[Chappie]

I did not have the privilege to serve in our nation's military.  But I offer this salute.  One of the best Veterans Day tributes I have seen and heard in awhile....it is great to hear these young voices express their appreciation to those who have worn and wear the uniform of our nation. And from this older kid....I join them in saying, "Thank You, Soldiers"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pfBUUZNbFM

[bosshawk]

Commissioned 2Lt, TC, Bucknell University, 1957
USAR-1957-59, TC Gp Hq, Brooklyn Army Terminal
1959-61-Hq, USAG, Berchtesgaden, Germany
1961-62-Hq, USAG, Ft AP Hill, Va
1962-63-US Army Intel School, Ft. Holabird, Md.
1963-64-502 MI Bn, Seoul, Korea
1964-66-1st MI Bn, Ft Bragg and Saigon, VN
1966-68-Instructor, US Army Intel School, Ft Holabird, Md
1968-87-USAR-mostly assigned to the Pentagon.  Last five years as Div Chief, OACSI, DA and Military Academy Liaison Officer, West Point.
1987-Retired, Colonel.


1968-91-While in USAR and after Army retirement, Intelligence Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency.


My undying thanks and appreciation for all who have served.

[ColonelJack]

USAF 1975-1976

Grateful thanks and deepest appreciation to all for their service.

Jack

[flyboy53]

Air Force 27 Dec 1977 to 15 July 1994.... Security forces, public affairs, recruiting service and mission essential aircrew with a tours of duty that included Lackland AFB, beautiful downtown Camp Bullis, TX, Ft. Harrison, Ind., Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Mt. Home AFB, Idaho, Youngstown ARB, Ohio, Westover AFB, Mass., and Selfridge AFB, MI...a whole slew of TDYs and deployments to interesting places like back to Alaska for Brim Frost and Spain for Operation El Dorado Canyon...all during the Cold War and Desert Storm.....and assignments to things like the 21st TFW (Alaskan Air Command), 71st ARRS (MAC), 366th TFW (TAC), 910th TAG (MAC), 439th MAW (MAC), 459 MAW (MAC), 927 ARG (AMC), and 2400 RRMS (AFRES).

Thanx not nessary...I did it for you and was only doing my job.

[Senior]

USAR 1992-2000
13B Artillery Crew Member
44E Machinist

[ol'fido]

1988-1992 U.S. Army, B Co., 4th Bn., 27th INF(WOLFHOUNDS), Schofield Bks, HI and proud son of Derrell E. Mitchell, SSG, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, WWII(Manhattan Project) and Korean War.

To Ranger 75: WOLFHOUNDS, BY GOD!! NO FEAR!!

[jb512]

USAFR 2008 to Present - Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn.

Third generation to serve the U.S. in a time of war, fourth generation overall.

[Desert Dawg]

USAF Security Police  1982-1986
US Army Reserve UH-1 Crew Chief/Gunner 1986-1992

[caphornbuckle]

USAF Security Police 1995-1997
Army National Guard Military Police 1999-2000
Army National Guard Infantry 2000-2005

[SarDragon]

It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.

By: Father Denis Edward O'Brien M.M. USMC

[GrandMoffClark]

USAF Security Police. Grand Forks AFB, ND 1986-1988, Sembach AB, Germany 1989-1992. Desert Storm Vet.

[TCMajor]

U.S. Army October 1978 to November 1999 (Combat Engineer, Transportation Corps) 

Deployments too many to list.  On the day I retired, my wife and I had calculated that I had been home a total of 5.5 years out of 21.  Most deployments were self inflicted.  I HATED being near the flagpole.  The Army was great as long as you weren't in garrison.  I served almost 18-years before signing into my first HHC assignment. Thank you to all who served!

"My job was so secret I didn't even know what I did" 

[CAP Producer]

IL Army National Guard Feb 1983 - Feb 1989 NBC Warfare
1 Deployment to Honduras/Ecuador - Operation Blazing Trails 1986

Thanks to all of my brothers and sisters who have served.  :clap:

[tarheel gumby]

NC ARNG 1984 to 1985
Thank you to all who have given a whole lot more than I have.

[ironputts]

U.S. Army and Reserve 1983 - 1996

Army Ranger (Jump School)
Drill Sergeant
UH-1 Pilot (medevac)
Reserve School Instructor

1983 Grenada
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Shield

Proud to be all I could be! Thanks to all of you doing the same and especially those serving now!

[flyboy53]

I did not have the privilege to serve in our nation's military.  But I offer this salute.  One of the best Veterans Day tributes I have seen and heard in awhile....it is great to hear these young voices express their appreciation to those who have worn and wear the uniform of our nation. And from this older kid....I join them in saying, "Thank You, Soldiers"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pfBUUZNbFM

Never assume that your service in the CAP -- or for that matter any CAP member -- is any less relevant. You are serving our Country as a volunteer and sometimes in harm's way.

I am sometimes very awed by the dedication, determination and sacrifice of my fellow CAP volunteers.

[SarDragon]

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.
 
Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
 
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.
 
You can't tell a vet just by looking.
 
What is a vet?
 
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
 
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
 
She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
 
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.
 
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
 
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
 
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU".

[Teal 37]

USAF 1964-1976; USAFR 1976-1997

4 yrs Missle Launch Officer
2 1/2 yrs C-130 Airlift pilot throughout SEAsia
23 yrs C-130 Hurricane Hunter pilot

Proud to have served.

[CAP Producer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmX6TAvUfMA

[meganite]

Those who serve in the military guard the spirit of America as much as they guard its borders. You are the invisible steel that strengthens the otherwise fragile concrete of this edifice. Thanks to all for your service. We would not be here without you. 

(Sorry if the concrete bit didn't make sense... I studied architecture, it made sense to me  )

[FlyTiger77]

(Sorry if the concrete bit didn't make sense... I studied architecture, it made sense to me  )

Thanks for your kind words and the concrete bit made perfect sense.

[RickFranz]

Thank you each and everyone of you for posting. 

[AlphaSigOU]

U.S. Air Force, 1985-86, Spangdahlem, Germany (AFSC 622X0 - cook).

[bosshawk]

Cook: the rest of us couldn't have made it without you.

[Gunner C]

1975-1977 SF Radio Operator, 19th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1977-1978 SF Engineer, 5th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1979-1982 SF Engineer, 39th Special Forces Detachment (Abn)
1982-1983 SF Engineer, 5th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1983-1985 SF Engineer/SF Intel Sgt, 7th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1986-1991 Detachment Exec Off/Commander/S2/S3, 7th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1991-1995 Operations & Intelligence Development Officer/Advanced Skills Development Officer, Special Warfare Center and School

Iranian Revolution
European Counter Terrorism
Central American Campaign
Drug War - Bolivia
Operation Blue Spoon (Just Cause) - Panama

[SarDragon]

Bump.

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. Regardless of personal political views, that is an Honor and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.

See also here and here.

[Garibaldi]

In my travels, I've had kids come up to me while I was in my CAP uniform, sometimes at the behest of their parents, to thank me for my service. I politely tell them thank you, but the real thanks belongs to...that guy/woman over there. They're the ones who are doing the job you should thank them for.

Occasionally, an adult will do the same. It embarrasses me that I never served chickened out of serving, and therefore I feel completely inadequate to receive those thanks. I very politely tell them that I am a civilian, and I tell them, if no AD or veteran is around, that I will pass along their thanks.

So, on behalf of all those who have thanked me, I pass along those thanks to you, veterans past and present.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Kevin, I have had the same thing happen, I don't know how many times. I do the same, and one time, only once, I had someone respond with an answer I didn't expect... He told me he knew good and well who I was, and that he appreciated what Civil Air patrol does, in WWII we took care of the coast, and now we take care of those who are lost and injured, we help those who cannot help themselves. To him we are as important as the armed military. This was the greatest Thanks I have ever received.

Though Civil Air patrol is not celebrated today, take note that what we do is important. We have been thanked, by those we have helped. Be proud of the services you do provide.

[Sapper168]

US Army and Reserve 1994-2002-  combat engineer 12B

[krnlpanick]

I would like to share a story from memorial day this year. I had the honor of being present and part of the memorial day ceremonies at Fort Logan National Cemetery here in Denver this year. An elderly woman came up to me half-way through the ceremony and thanked me for my service. I explained to her that I was only a civilian and in the Civil Air Patrol. She told me that she knew exactly who I was and that CAP had been responsible for saving her brother's life when they were teenagers. She also told me that I should *never* downplay the CAP's service to our country.

Another story. Last week I was at the 7-11 when I ran into a retired AF Major in the store. I thanked him for his service as I always do and he noticed the radio in my car. When he asked about it, I explained that it was a CAP radio. He then surprised me by thanking *me* for my service. I was stunned and respectfully thanked him but explained that I was just a civilian. He explained to me that he was very familiar with CAP and had been friends with a lot of CAP members while he was AD. He said to me that just because I was a civilian, serving in a civilian organization that we were still part of the Air Force and that we deserved the same respect for our service as he did for his.

The moral of this story is that when someone thanks you for your service to our country I believe that yes it is important to explain that we are not the Air Force but accept their thanks. Our service to our country is important and saves lives too. We help to educate young men and women to be better citizens, a good share of them will end up joining the military when they are of age. We aid in the war on terror and the war on drugs. We take an active role in disaster recovery operations. We help with rescue efforts and locating lost souls. We train adults and kids to become leaders. Our core values mirror the USAF, Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect. We are the Civilian Auxiliary of the United States Air Force and when we shrug that off because we don't want to be thought of as a wanna-bee then we go against our very own core values.

I would like to personally thank every man and woman that has served our country in times of peace and in times of war in the armed forces of the United States. I would also like to thank every man and woman who has served their country in the Civil Air Patrol.

[Stonewall]

Grandfather (mom's side): US Army - Private to Colonel (no college), WWII, Korea. Still kickin' at age 98.
Grandfather (dad's side): US Army - Sergeant, 29th ID, Normandy.  Passed in 1997 (while I was deployed with 29th ID to Bosnia)
Dad: US Navy - Commander, Vietnam. 1964 to 1984 (USNA c/o '64)
Uncle:  US Army - Staff Sergeant, Vietnam.
Uncle:  US Army - Colonel, Desert Storm.  1972 to 1997
Sister: US Army - Specialist, Cold War.
Wife: Air National Guard - Technical Sergeant. 2003 to present.
Me:  US Army -  Corporal, 1991 to 1995; Army National Guard - Staff Sergeant, 1995 to 2001.  Bosnia.
       Air National Guard - Master Sergeant, 2004 to present.  Afghanistan.

[Cliff_Chambliss]

US  Army 1968-1992
Major Assignments
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
2d Armored Cavalry Regiment
3d Infantry Division
504th Military Intelligence Brigade

[Ford73Diesel]

USCGR 2009- Present. Machinery Technician. Deployed to Kuwait 2012, and that's about it....

[Camas]

US Air Force 1962-65 service at Hamilton AFB CA and Albrook AFB Canal Zone (Panama).
US Army 1967-69 most of that time in Vietnam. Left service as a SGT E-5.

[umpirecali]

Our cadets honoring local fallen veterans at a ceremony yesterday:

[Devil Doc]

USN 2005-2007 HM3 FMF Corpsman
2007-2008 USNR(Left due to VA Disability)

Uncle US Navy 1988-Present SCPO Gas Turbine System Technician
Step Grandpa(Dad Side) USMC Vietnam
Grandpa(Mums Side) U.S Army WW2

Had family in the Civil War, WW1, WW2, War of 1812, and the Revolutionary War. Not the same last name of course.

[LegacyAirman]

1975-1985 ANG 304X1 (Nav-Aids in E.I. Sq.)
1985-1987 AFRes. 431X1C (A-10 Crew Chief)
1988-2006 AFRes. A113X0C/1A1X1 (W/C-130E/H/J Flight Engineer)
2006-2008 CAP-USAF Reserve Assistance Program

[PHall]

1975-1985 ANG 304X1 (Nav-Aids in E.I. Sq.)
1985-1987 AFRes. 431X1C (A-10 Crew Chief)
1988-2006 AFRes. A113X0C/1A1X1 (W/C-130E/H/J Flight Engineer)
2006-2008 CAP-USAF Reserve Assistance Program

C-130J FE ?   There ain't no such animal.    ( I'm a retired K1A171C on C-141B/C. )

[BillB]

I was a radio operator on  a C-54. And there ain't such animal either. But regardless, USAF did it on long overseas flights (Maxwell AFB to Pusan, Korea as med evac)

[Pylon]

I guess I'm a little late to the party.  Thanks gents, for your service.

LCpl, USMCR
of the 0311 variety 
1st Bn, 25th Marines

[RogueLeader]

You aren't the only one.
21E Heavy Equipment Operator
2008-2010 US Army
A Btry 1-19 FA Ft Sill Basic Training Jul-Sept 2008
H Co 554 EN BN Ft Leonard Wood, AIT Sept-Nov 2008
161st ESC, 27th EN BN. 1st line company, Dec 2008-Aug 2009
HHC, 20th ENG BDE, Safety Office, Aug 2009-Apr 2010

Medically discharge for condition existing prior to service. (originally waived)

[LegacyAirman]

1975-1985 ANG 304X1 (Nav-Aids in E.I. Sq.)
1985-1987 AFRes. 431X1C (A-10 Crew Chief)
1988-2006 AFRes. A113X0C/1A1X1 (W/C-130E/H/J Flight Engineer)
2006-2008 CAP-USAF Reserve Assistance Program

C-130J FE ?   There ain't no such animal.    ( I'm a retired K1A171C on C-141B/C. )

I was wondering if someone would notice. I logged flight time on the J model, one of a handful of FE's; as XF, Observer Flight Engineer during Phase I of the Operational Test and Evaluation. I double checked TOLD, provided technical advice (such as reviewing new checklists) and situational inputs (playing ABCC, etc. on the intercom/"radio") while in the center seat. I was also there to prevent CFIT in case the pilots both went "heads-down" trying to navigate through the menus.

[PHall]

1975-1985 ANG 304X1 (Nav-Aids in E.I. Sq.)
1985-1987 AFRes. 431X1C (A-10 Crew Chief)
1988-2006 AFRes. A113X0C/1A1X1 (W/C-130E/H/J Flight Engineer)
2006-2008 CAP-USAF Reserve Assistance Program

C-130J FE ?   There ain't no such animal.    ( I'm a retired K1A171C on C-141B/C. )

I was wondering if someone would notice. I logged flight time on the J model, one of a handful of FE's; as XF, Observer Flight Engineer during Phase I of the Operational Test and Evaluation. I double checked TOLD, provided technical advice (such as reviewing new checklists) and situational inputs (playing ABCC, etc. on the intercom/"radio") while in the center seat. I was also there to prevent CFIT in case the pilots both went "heads-down" trying to navigate through the menus.

Yeah, we had the "heads down" problem on the C-141C when we got the FMS. Got to the point that a couple of "not-so-nice" Form 8's had to be written.

[SARDOC]

How many times did you have to yell...Hey which one of you [filter subversion] guys is flying this thing?

[PHall]

How many times did you have to yell...Hey which one of you [filter subversion] guys is flying this thing?

More times then you want to know.