Bullet
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2008
- Messages
- 986
OK, time to kick off a new thread. For all of you who have either served, followed a loved one, was a military brat, whatever: what was your FAVORITE 3 places to live / visit, what were your WORST places? And Why?
My Favorites:
1) Alaska. LOVED being stationed there (Elmendorf AFB, right next to Anchorage). Probably the best three years in my career. If you love outdoor activity, you can't beat the summers there. and the winters were pretty awesome too! Met some of my best friends there as well, fishing and camping buddies for life!
2) TDY to Germany, in the early fall = Ocktoberfest! Need I say more? Walked through a carnival to a HUUUUUGE Brauhaus, saw the Oxen roasting on a spit, an Oompah band on a stage, and servers with pitchers of some of the best tasting beer I've ever had! Me, teary eyed and smiling dumbly: "I'll take some of that, and some of that, and some of that." Me, three hours later, standing on top of my table, smiling even more dumbly, arms around my buds swaying to the Oompah music, and screaming some German beer drinking song I learned an hour ago at the top of my lungs: "Ein Frozen, Ein Frozen... Da, Da, Dum!!!!" Me, the next morning, "Did somebody get the name of that gorilla that beat me up and took all my money?"
3) Oxfordshire, England (RAF Upper Heyford). Loved the time there, so much to see, so much to do. The castles, the golf trip to St. Andrews, the fish and chips in an old newspaper, the potato pubs, the warm beer. Ah, memories! And the best part of living at this foreign country? They spoke English! (At least I thought they did, their accents made it hard to understand )
The Not-so-favorites:
1) Kwang Ju, Korea. 120 day deployment from h-e-double hockey sticks. The placed SMELLED (In the immortal words of Robert Duvall: "That smell! That someone-left-the-toilet-unflushed smell! Smells like.......Korea") The flying even stunk, except for that funny time near the DMZ ("Yankee-Air-Pirate! You turn south now, or be fired upon!"). Stuck on the base for the first two months because Kwang Ju is the home of all the Korean Universities with all the Anti-US protests. (Me: "Excuse me, which way to the shops?" Some Punk teen-age Korean kid: "Die, Imperialist pig! US Out Now!" Me: "Down that alley? Ok, thanks!" ) When you can actually say with enthusiasm, "Hey, we get to go to Kunsan AB this weekend!", you know you are living a nightmare!
2) Baghdad, Iraq. 5 months "in country" Why a non-favorite? Obvious reasons. My own private tour in Apocalypse Now...
3) Incirlik, Turkey. Three separate deployments. Nice enough base, some cool flying, and some great deals on brass and Persian rugs. But step 10 feet off the boulevard of shops next to the main gate, and the theme from "Midnight Express" starts running through your thoughts. ("You're supposed to go Right around the pole, not left! Left is bad!" Kids, ask your folks about that quote...)
OK, all those out there; Spill your beans. What are your favorites and Non-Favorites?
My Favorites:
1) Alaska. LOVED being stationed there (Elmendorf AFB, right next to Anchorage). Probably the best three years in my career. If you love outdoor activity, you can't beat the summers there. and the winters were pretty awesome too! Met some of my best friends there as well, fishing and camping buddies for life!
2) TDY to Germany, in the early fall = Ocktoberfest! Need I say more? Walked through a carnival to a HUUUUUGE Brauhaus, saw the Oxen roasting on a spit, an Oompah band on a stage, and servers with pitchers of some of the best tasting beer I've ever had! Me, teary eyed and smiling dumbly: "I'll take some of that, and some of that, and some of that." Me, three hours later, standing on top of my table, smiling even more dumbly, arms around my buds swaying to the Oompah music, and screaming some German beer drinking song I learned an hour ago at the top of my lungs: "Ein Frozen, Ein Frozen... Da, Da, Dum!!!!" Me, the next morning, "Did somebody get the name of that gorilla that beat me up and took all my money?"
3) Oxfordshire, England (RAF Upper Heyford). Loved the time there, so much to see, so much to do. The castles, the golf trip to St. Andrews, the fish and chips in an old newspaper, the potato pubs, the warm beer. Ah, memories! And the best part of living at this foreign country? They spoke English! (At least I thought they did, their accents made it hard to understand )
The Not-so-favorites:
1) Kwang Ju, Korea. 120 day deployment from h-e-double hockey sticks. The placed SMELLED (In the immortal words of Robert Duvall: "That smell! That someone-left-the-toilet-unflushed smell! Smells like.......Korea") The flying even stunk, except for that funny time near the DMZ ("Yankee-Air-Pirate! You turn south now, or be fired upon!"). Stuck on the base for the first two months because Kwang Ju is the home of all the Korean Universities with all the Anti-US protests. (Me: "Excuse me, which way to the shops?" Some Punk teen-age Korean kid: "Die, Imperialist pig! US Out Now!" Me: "Down that alley? Ok, thanks!" ) When you can actually say with enthusiasm, "Hey, we get to go to Kunsan AB this weekend!", you know you are living a nightmare!
2) Baghdad, Iraq. 5 months "in country" Why a non-favorite? Obvious reasons. My own private tour in Apocalypse Now...
3) Incirlik, Turkey. Three separate deployments. Nice enough base, some cool flying, and some great deals on brass and Persian rugs. But step 10 feet off the boulevard of shops next to the main gate, and the theme from "Midnight Express" starts running through your thoughts. ("You're supposed to go Right around the pole, not left! Left is bad!" Kids, ask your folks about that quote...)
OK, all those out there; Spill your beans. What are your favorites and Non-Favorites?