Little Girl Can't Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq - ParentDish

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one says more with the emotion it brings into my heart! dean

Little Girl Can't Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq - ParentDish

Some things are just not allowed when soldiers are standing in formation. One of them is 4-year-old girls.
However, there was no soldier stern enough to pry Paige Bennethum of Laureldale, Pa. from her father as he prepared to leave last July for a year-long deployment in Iraq.
Abby Bennethum captured her daughter's emotions in a photograph that she passed along to the Reading Eagle, the newspaper in Berks County, Pa. The image immediately captured many other people's emotions.
Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum was preparing to depart from Fort Dix, N.J., for Iraq, leaving behind his pregnant wife and two little girls. His family was there to see him off. His commanding officer didn't have the heart to tell Paige she had to let go of her daddy.
"I didn't want to let go of him," she told NBC Philadelphia.
Sgt. Bennethum, 30, is scheduled to return home next July. Until then, he's transporting supplies across the Iraqi border. He serves with the 733rd Transportation Company based in Reading, Pa.
Abby Bennethum said she got pregnant right before her husband left for Iraq. "I've heard of deployment babies, but I never thought I'd be having one," she told the Reading Eagle. The couple's other daughter, Lena, is just 10 months old.
Staff Sgt. Bennethum got a four-day pass so he could spend some quality time with his family and they could make the two-hour trip to Fort Dix to see him off. Almost immediately upon arrival, his commanding officer ordered the soldiers to fall in.
"Gotta go," he told his family. But Paige walked up behind him in formation, grabbed his right hand and would not let go.
"I called her a couple of times, but she wouldn't budge," her mother said. She still wishes she was holding her father's hand.
"I just miss my dad right now," Paige told NBC.

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I MISSED EVERYONE

Hey boys,

It has been some time since I have spoken with the tribe but all is well and I just wanted to check in. Had it not been for a lot of prayer, support from Dean P (I LOVE YOU BROTHER), Erich Hardy (YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH IT HELPED) and lady luck you most likely would have read another story about a tragic end too early to be understood. I have been through the fires and came out the other end a bit burned, a lot scarred but with my health, my good spirit and most important my SON! I hear there is a chance of a reunion this year so I hope to hug all of you and put away a drink or two with you Dean and share my story.

I love you all and those who prayed, IT WORKS!

SPC Spengler

More on Col. Kopra

You may find this link interesting. Looks like he's having fun.

http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/view/search?q=Kopra&search=Search

Army Commercial Featuring Tim Kopra

I believe this is the commercial that Dan was referring to.   Tim's voice seems to have matured somewhat.  None the less, I am proud he is an astronaut.  He is about to do what very few have.

BadBoy - Space Cowboy

I wast watching TV the other night when the new Army commercial came on, when I thought I recognized someone. Thanks to the magic of PVR, I rewound and it was Tim Kopra. I emailed him and recommended if the Army thing doesn't work out, he could work on infomercials selling ShamWow's or something.

Tim will be on the next shuttle flight in currently scheduled for June depending on program and scheduling.

Dan

Nitro Circus

So I am flipping through the channels and I run across MTV. Not a big fan anymore, especially since they don't play music videos anymore.

But

I ran across this show called Nitro Circus. I saw its premiere episode. I have to say, some of the things these guys did were funny. What made it even funnier, was the fact that they are so competitive, they can't let one one up the other.

Hummmm, kind of reminded me of the Bad Boys. Always willing to push it just a little farther.

Check it out if you get the chance, here is there website http://nitrocircus.com/blog/. It shows some of their antics. You can watch full episodes here http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/nitro_circus/series.jhtml

dean

Desert Storm Posters

If you guys would like a 16x20 of the Bryan and Brent hovering over the Oil Well Fires at night or a 20x24 of Jim and Steve flying Midnight Insertion in front of the fires during the day let Darla know soon. Steve looked and looked but he could not locate the original negatives so I photographed them the other day. Darla has a connectin at a large format lab and we can get them for $20 for the 16x20 and $30 for the 20x24s. Or $45 for both. Let her know soon :-) That includes your shipping.

Archive footage of 1lt McNamara

This was shot by a civilian. Just listen to the announcer between 1:30 and 2:00 min to hear about our hero!

Dennis has contacted Bob Davis, missing from last meeting. He will be at this meeting and he is bringing his wife.

With that said, it has been suggested that wives, girlfriends and significant others be allowed.

Brad is thinking Vegas.

Please add input and suggestions!

Bad Boy Reunion 2009

So I get this text message today, It is Dennis requesting June 27 and 28, 2009. These are the proposed dates of the next reunion.

Hey it will only have been three years since the last one.

He liked the central location of Dallas, but is open to suggestion.

Now is the time to voice your opinion. When, where, and who.

I am thinking on opening our arms to all our brothers. Post your thoughts.

This will be Dennis's show this time. I am just along for the ride.

dean

Apache Needs Cockpit Upgrades, AATD Says

Apache Needs Cockpit Upgrades, AATD Says
Aviation Week's DTI

Bettina H. Chavanne | October 30, 2008

This article first appeared in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- If the U.S. Army's Apache AH-64D Longbow aircraft is to keep pace with its own manned-unmanned common architecture program, it will require extensive technological upgrades to the cockpit, according to the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), a driving force behind the technology.

The issue was raised Oct. 29 during a presentation on the Apache modernization program that highlighted the Army's success in fielding the VUIT-2 system (video from unmanned aircraft systems for interoperability teaming - level 2). The first prototype battalion equipped with the capability, which allows an Apache to receive streaming video from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is testing the program in Iraq.

"AATD is providing manned-unmanned (MUM) capability to the cockpit, but it wasn't built for this mission," said Ray Wall, chief of AATD's Systems Integration Division. "You need a different concept of a fourth-generation cockpit to totally utilize what MUM is now and what will evolve. Is that in the Apache's vision?"

Wall contended that with Level IV capability around the corner -- which will place control of the UAV in the hands of the Apache pilot -- "it could get a little ugly." The workload for the pilot will only increase, particularly based on the number of "button pushes on your current system," Wall added. "There's technology that needs to be [improved]."

Army representative and Apache program manager Lt. Col. Rob Johnston said simply that the Apache's cockpit "is what it is," in part because troops deployed with VUIT-2 have not had a chance to provide feedback on the system's performance in theater.

Lockheed Martin is developing the Level IV for the Block III Apache. This includes a Ku-band Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) antenna inside a modified version of the mast-mounted radome used for the Apache's Longbow fire-control radar. This allows two-way wideband communications between the helicopter and UAV.

Col. Neil Thurgood, Army program manager for Utility Helicopters, said his division is pressing for VUIT-2 on its Black Hawks. "We should at least have it in our [medevac-configured] aircraft," he said. "We're trying to beat that drum with our medical community." Thurgood said the Army is going to demonstrate the Black Hawk's ability to field VUIT-2 within the next 60 days. "We're trying to be fast followers so we can get the capability into our Black Hawks," he added.

The program updates were part of the Army Aviation Association of America's (Quad A) 13th Helicopter Military Operations Technology Specialists' Meeting, or Helmot, here.

Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.


Copyright 2008 Aviation Week's DTI. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.

Breakfast at Denny's

Dan and I enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Denny's while he was in town putting some issues to bed at Ft Huachuca. We reminisced about all the absolute "Great" things we'd done as a group and both agreed that those were some of our most memorable.

What we found most interesting was were some of our members had ended up in life.
A Preacher
A Politician
A Roofers
A Doctor
A Dental Office Manager
A Grampa Day Care
A Sandwitch Shop Owner
A Scapholing Rental Guy
Some Government Shirts
and

Some Contracters

But all stil freinds!

WE NEED ANOTHER REUNION - DEAN START WORKING THIS NOW!

The Goo

Bad Boy Reqest

There has been a request for information!

What were the tail numbers of the aircraft we flew during Desert Storm?

Dan/ Cpt.--------444

Dean/ Erich-----033

Jim/ Steve-------041

Dwayne/ Brad ---457

Dennis/ Lt. ----- 451

Bryan/ Brent

Post it if you got it!

British Gun Control, It could happen to us!

Steve sent this to me.

What the British have lost, we can as well. Should a man go to prison when he attempts to protect himself from intruders and murder in his own home?

Britians gun control laws have allowed only the criminals to be armed. Just take a listen at some of the elderly woman who want their guns back, for protection.

Bad Boys a Tribe

After reading Steve Perry's blog on Human Tribes, I realized that is exactly how I think of what I have choosen to call the Bad Boys.

In my minds eye we are a tribe. Unique, different, set apart. A tribe of warriors.

On this day, Memorial Day, I remember the Tribe.

I remember the Bad Boys. I remember mostly only the good, the good intentions, the good acts. I choose not to dwell on anything other.

As I remember each of you, I say Thank You for your service. For your service to our country. It does not go unnoticed.

Thank You

Dean Pennington II