Camp Pendleton Years 1986 - 1988
Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton, California.
I was assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron HMT-303 in the 24 Area on Camp Pendleton, California. HMT-303 trains Marine (and now Navy) pilots how to fly the AH-1J Cobra attack helicopter (seen on the left) and the UH-1N Huey utility & command helicopters (seen on the top right). Since my time, the Cobra has been upgraded to the newest Whiskey (AH-1W) model.
Early on, we were stationed out of condemned & abandoned Air Force temporary buildings for the first year. In fact, everything we had were hand-me-downs. We still had M-16A1's for the first year, Vietnam-era "J" model helicopters, an Armory that looks like it was from the 1940's (I believe it was actually the late 30's) - just about old everything! The only exception to this was our new barracks and new chow hall. We had the aforementioned semi-new barrack already, with 3 man rooms, a nice recreation room, and private bathrooms. A brand new barracks building was completed within my first year here, and those were 2 man room, with a shared bathroom with the room next door. It even had an elevator! Too good for us air wing pukes!
In keeping with the story of my life, just before I left the Marines for civilian life, we received a new gate into the Air Station, a new Armory, a new hangar, new M-16A2's, newer "T" model Cobra's from a squadron that was receiving the newest Whiskey model Cobra (AH-1W). Those had more than twice the horsepower than our still potent "J" models.
Me on a Huey ride The MCAS Pendleton flight line Me & Roxanne in a Cobra Ric "Spaz" Oestrander in Cobra
Me at the rifle range...while Dan Haddock pulls "butts" (changing and marking my hits on the target).
Chuck Eldridge, me and Dan Haddock in the field.
Summer 1986 Wire Bundle and Avionics Weapons Fire Control class. Front
row Chris Truitt, Jeff Fairman (Moose), me. Back row - ???, Charles
"Chuck" Eldridge, Rick and Andy Cuberly.
My first fleet roommate, Jack Frost, gives a couple "unsat" Marines
some instruction!
Not everything was a serious warfare mentality. There was often enough time for horse-play, Marine Corps style! Mind you, our rooms typically didn't look like some of the pictures below! If there was ever a spot inspection for me and Andy's room - we'd both be scrubbing latrines for a month - with a toothbrush! It's amazing what damage you can't do to wall lockers and cinder block walls...
My barracks room. Note - the posters disappeared during inspections.
Moose shows his war face at aunt Joyce Smith's house in Glendale.
Dan Haddock, Monty and Andy Cuberly pose, while I stay cool (?) in the
pool.
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