Greetings from Albany, GA

[Mongrel_6]

Yes, I know; most people don't even know there is an Albany, GA. Most think you are talking about New York at first. Albany, however, is the home of the East Coast Marine Corps Logistics Depot where I currently find myself stationed. I am a Marine Major who was originally an Artillery officer but was forced to go to communications after about 2 1/2 years after getting to the fleet. I suppose when I retire with 20+ years, I will still refer to myself as the displaced arty guy. Comm isn't bad though. My alternatives (for the forced lat-move) were intel and adjutant. Wanted no part of either of those.

So on to my modeling. I loved to build models as a kid. One of my first birthday gifts I remember getting was the Monogram Snap-fit Tiger:
http://www.nexternal.com/sbm/images/rmx851730.jpg

It probably turned out a wreck, but it was fun and got me hooked. I switched to the big leagues when I got an air brush and have been loving it ever since. I just don't seem to get as much time as I would like. I'll post some albums soon; some are already on the albums board. My latest adventure has been a Sturm Tiger and it has been a real challenge - lots of firsts. I'll tell you about that later though.

Todd O'Brien

[gordy]

Welcome aboard Todd! :thumb:

Love those nostalgic kits and waking up early on Saturday mornings with a bowl of fruit loops, a kit and Looney Tunes ;) Good times!

[alexwencho]

Yes, I know; most people don't even know there is an Albany, GA. Most think you are talking about New York at first. Albany, however, is the home of the East Coast Marine Corps Logistics Depot where I currently find myself stationed. I am a Marine Major who was originally an Artillery officer but was forced to go to communications after about 2 1/2 years after getting to the fleet. I suppose when I retire with 20+ years, I will still refer to myself as the displaced arty guy. Comm isn't bad though. My alternatives (for the forced lat-move) were intel and adjutant. Wanted no part of either of those.

So on to my modeling. I loved to build models as a kid. One of my first birthday gifts I remember getting was the Monogram Snap-fit Tiger:
http://www.nexternal.com/sbm/images/rmx851730.jpg

It probably turned out a wreck, but it was fun and got me hooked. I switched to the big leagues when I got an air brush and have been loving it ever since. I just don't seem to get as much time as I would like. I'll post some albums soon; some are already on the albums board. My latest adventure has been a Sturm Tiger and it has been a real challenge - lots of firsts. I'll tell you about that later though.

Todd O'Brien

Todd,

Welcome to planetarmor and for your first visit from Albany, GA.
First, thank you for your Service. It is also great news that we have on board an artillery Officer from the U.S. Marines. You Knowledge and experience can be a useful asset here on planetarmor. Thank you for that.

Your vBench has been set so that you can share you model builds.
Take care and good wishes.

AWD

[schlichtr]

Welcome aboard Major, hope to see some of your work soon. I'm retired Navy and my Father was a 12 year Marine (signed up in 55 at 17 and med. discharged for wounds in 67). I wanted to join the Marines but my Mother was having none of that, "any service but the da_n Marines" is how she put. Again welcome.

Roy

[alexwencho]

It is very nice to hear the personal military stories.
Thank you. God Bless the Service Men and Women in uniform and their families.

AWD

[Mongrel_6]

It is also great news that we have on board an artillery Officer from the U.S. Marines. You Knowledge and experience can be a useful asset here on planetarmor.

I was actually only artillery (regrettably) for 3 years (if you also count the 6 month school. It made me sad to change to comm but I didn't have a choice. Until you get "augmented" in the Marine Corps around the time you pick up captain, you are pretty much in a probationary status. It's at that time they can say stuff like, "go to comm or get the hell out!" That's pretty much what they said to me. Comm, however, is a pretty good field. Aside from having a skill other that something useful only to mercenaries, I get to serve in a lot of other types of fields. For example, I was the commo for not only my alma mater, 10th Marines, but also for 2d Tank battalion. I have lots of good tank shots I took for reference when I was there I will post. I may also get to be an infantry regimental commo if I am lucky in my next assignment. Oddly enough, I have actually served as an infantry platoon commander - in Iraq, to boot. Right after comm school when I went to 10th Marines (the east coast arty reg.) they sent me to I MEF to be an individual augment (IA). There was no job specified, only that I would go as an "unrestricted ground combat officer". As it turns out, I ended up in 24th Marines (reserve infantry) and was assigned to their weapons company. There were provisionalized (serving as straight leg infantry vice what they really were) mortar and javelin Marines with a few regular infantry guys thrown in the mix. As I was a 5711 (NBC defense Marine, my enlisted MOS), turned 0802 Arty officer, turned 0602 comm officer, playing the part of an 0302 infantry officer, I thought "Mongrel" was a good call sign. So as you can see, I've kind of been all over the place, MOS-wise. I'll be glad to post some thoughts, pictures and answer any questions if you have them.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-23ZITCs4ZXU/SNbqkFIuLLI/AAAAAAAACQ4/oKZ4D9mmX-o/s720/No%252520Cover.JPG
Mongrel (1st Platoon, Wpns Co, 3/24 September 2004

Your vBench has been set so that you can share you model builds.

I'll start posting soon. I have been working a strumtiger over the summer. My wife and kids were visiting family in Texas for a good chunk of the summer so I was able to model-nerd out for a great more time than normal.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o0uAtw3N-rY/Tj9NzNp_0MI/AAAAAAAAN2c/GJgs8-oFFdM/s640/100_3865.JPG
Still in progress.

[Mongrel_6]

It is very nice to hear the personal military stories.
Thank you. God Bless the Service Men and Women in uniform and their families.

AWD

Thanks for your kind words and I will keep any stories coming as long as people want to hear them!

[Mongrel_6]

I wanted to join the Marines but my Mother was having none of that, "any service but the da_n Marines" is how she put.

Funny! I avoided that by disappearing for 2 days and returning in the delayed entry program. I suppose that is much harder in the mid-50's as a 17 year old. Looks like you got hit regardless! I suppose having Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, etc only 10 years in the past kind of hardens a mother against such an organization.

Thanks for your welcome.

Todd

[schlichtr]

Funny! I avoided that by disappearing for 2 days and returning in the delayed entry program. I suppose that is much harder in the mid-50's as a 17 year old. Looks like you got hit regardless! I suppose having Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, etc only 10 years in the past kind of hardens a mother against such an organization.

Thanks for your welcome.

Todd

I didn't join in the 50s. That was my Father. I joined in the 80s still while only 17.

Roy

[alexwencho]

I was actually only artillery (regrettably) for 3 years (if you also count the 6 month school. It made me sad to change to comm but I didn't have a choice. Until you get "augmented" in the Marine Corps around the time you pick up captain, you are pretty much in a probationary status. It's at that time they can say stuff like, "go to comm or get the hell out!" That's pretty much what they said to me. Comm, however, is a pretty good field. Aside from having a skill other that something useful only to mercenaries, I get to serve in a lot of other types of fields. For example, I was the commo for not only my alma mater, 10th Marines, but also for 2d Tank battalion. I have lots of good tank shots I took for reference when I was there I will post. I may also get to be an infantry regimental commo if I am lucky in my next assignment. Oddly enough, I have actually served as an infantry platoon commander - in Iraq, to boot. Right after comm school when I went to 10th Marines (the east coast arty reg.) they sent me to I MEF to be an individual augment (IA). There was no job specified, only that I would go as an "unrestricted ground combat officer". As it turns out, I ended up in 24th Marines (reserve infantry) and was assigned to their weapons company. There were provisionalized (serving as straight leg infantry vice what they really were) mortar and javelin Marines with a few regular infantry guys thrown in the mix. As I was a 5711 (NBC defense Marine, my enlisted MOS), turned 0802 Arty officer, turned 0602 comm officer, playing the part of an 0302 infantry officer, I thought "Mongrel" was a good call sign. So as you can see, I've kind of been all over the place, MOS-wise. I'll be glad to post some thoughts, pictures and answer any questions if you have them.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-23ZITCs4ZXU/SNbqkFIuLLI/AAAAAAAACQ4/oKZ4D9mmX-o/s720/No%252520Cover.JPG
Mongrel (1st Platoon, Wpns Co, 3/24 September 2004



I'll start posting soon. I have been working a strumtiger over the summer. My wife and kids were visiting family in Texas for a good chunk of the summer so I was able to model-nerd out for a great more time than normal.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o0uAtw3N-rY/Tj9NzNp_0MI/AAAAAAAAN2c/GJgs8-oFFdM/s640/100_3865.JPG
Still in progress.

Thank you for the 'in country" photo with fellow marines.
best wishes.

AWD

[GunnarBaeumer]

I didn´t know there is an Albany,NY!?
I used to live in Stone Mountain, GA for some time back in the 90´s and visited a friend in Albany twice.

Welome mate
Cheers
Gunnar