Weekend Open Thread – “Ein kleines hausgemachtes U-Boot in die Freiheit fahren”
Escaping by sea from East Germany to the West was difficult. As previous articles on the subject have made cleaer: over 5,600 are estimated to have tried. Less than 1,000 succeeded; at least 174 are believed to have died in the attempt. The remainder were caught and imprisoned by East Germany.
Today we have one last article about sea escapes from East Germany. I think everyone will enjoy this one. I certainly did.
. . .
Bernd Boettger was an East German engineer. He was also into water sports and music.
Like many, he detested his life in East Germany and wanted to escape from his prison-state. So he resolved to do exactly that.
His first attempt was by swimming in the Baltic. Unfortunately for Boettger, this first attempt in 1967 was unsuccessful. He was quickly caught and turned over to the Stasi.
However, engineering skills were needed in East Germany. So Boettger was released relatively early from custody, after less than a year.
As was the case with Axel Mitbauer, in releasing Boettger the Stasi had erred. Boettger resolved to make a second attempt at crossing the Baltic to freedom – and to ensure that his second attempt was successful.
Being an engineer, Boettger considered the matter. He determined that his next attempt would involve traveling mostly underwater to avoid detection.
So Boettger decided to design an underwater powered sled that would take him to freedom.
He obtained a small 2-stroke gas engine formerly used in a powered bicycle. Boettger also obtained an automobile cooling fan, which he used as a propeller.
Since gasoline engines require fuel and air, Boettger fabricated fuel tanks and a snorkel for the engine. He fabricated an exhaust chamber to provide some buoyancy using the engine’s exhaust. He also fabricated a frame that would allow him to hang on and be towed behind the craft.
He obtained a wetsuit from an aunt in West Germany. And since he would be underwater most of the time during his escape, he fabricated a snorkel for himself – as well as a 12 lb weight belt to help keep him submerged.
When finished, the craft weighed about 22 lbs. And Boettger estimated it would tow him at about 2 knots.
Boettger had no chance to test his device; his craft’s operational test was perforce to be during his escape. If it didn’t work, he’d face years in prison – or worse.
After dark on 8 September 1968, Boettger slipped into the Baltic near Graal-Müritz, East Germay. His intended destination was Sweden. He safety-tied himself to his tug in case he lost his grip.
As Boettger had deduced, the optical signature of his craft and snorkels was too small to be easily detected. He made it out to see unobserved.
However, Boettger didn’t count on ocean currents and tides diverting him; he didn’t make it to Sweden. Fortunately for Boettger, those tides and currents swept him to the West – and towards Denmark.
After riding his homemade submarine for approximately 15 1/2 miles, Boettger was picked up by the Danish lightship Gedser Rev. Danish authorities subsequently transported him to the mainland. He had made it to the West, and was now free.
No word on whether the Bundesmarine later made him an honorary Klein U-boot Kapitan or not. (smile)
Sources:
http://www.hisutton.com/The%20Escape%20of%20Bernd%20Boettger.html
. . .
Enough Cold War sea stories for today. (smile) Enjoy the WOT, everyone. And have a great weeked.
—–
Author’s Note: The photo above is a photo of Boettger and his gas-powered undersea tug. It was taken after his successful escape.
Category: Historical, Open thread
1st
Congrats 5th! Luck for you I was tied up with work again today and couldn’t give this the attention it deserved! Maybe I will have better luck next week? In the meantime, I will await further orders?? Have a great weekend all of you dickweeds and weedets?
Pleez.
Everybody talking about WOT instead of the dude that in the article that escaped communism, while we have all these pieces of shit in Congress trying to bring communism to America.
Ok, I’m buying…
Awaiting your comments about Hondo’s article…
freedomrings
Wait for the 1st feeding frenzy to subside, SJ. Then it will be back to what passes for normal around here.
Kept checking, he must be still buffing the floor. SJ has yet to comment on the outstanding article that Hondo posted.
That whole attention span thing?
I think he fell into a pile of Bud Light. Dilly Dilly!
Yeah, that whole Bud Light vs. Miller Lite thing is really starting to annoy me. They’re both crap beers. It reminds me of these two dudes I knew in college who decided to drag race: Ford Pinto vs. Dodge Colt. Really? Does anybody care who wins?
first
Curses, foiled again.
Is anyone other than me making a ‘first posting’ and it appears with no others having been posted, only to later showing it being posted as second or third or whatever? The same today as a few weeks ago.
OK, I AM NOT WHINING. Only making an observation. I believe another mentioned it at one time. I’m happy with first, second or tenth. I’m just happy to be posting here with you lowlife miscreants.
Congratulations once more to 5th/77th FA for a job well done. I stand by, ready to take icy beverages of your choice to you upon your request.
Everyone have a great weekend. Blessings …
1st!! ?
Damn fat fingers..
Third … darn it.
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
KING OF BATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!
KING OF FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVE at Firebase Magnolia. I did it again.
BITE ME D WEEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FIRST on the coveted TAH Friday Weekend Open Thread. The FIRST of all FIRSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
The SOUTH HAS RISEN AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!
How ’bout them DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!
Roll TIDE Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO ARMY BEAT NAVY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re all ready to be lorded over once again!
Awaiting your orders and abuse, your Majesty, lord of dickweeds.
Eat shit.
I am the Infantry.
I am my country’s strength in war.
Her deterrent in peace.
I am the heart of the fight…
wherever, whenever.
I carry America’s faith and honor
against her enemies.
I am the Queen of Battle.
I am what my country expects me to be…
the best trained soldier in the world.
In the race for victory
I am swift, determined, and courageous,
armed with a fierce will to win.
Never will I betray my country’s trust.
Always I fight on…
through the foe,
to the objective,
to triumph over all,
If necessary, I will fight to my death.
By my steadfast courage,
I have won more than 200 years of freedom.
I yield not to weakness,
to hunger,
to cowardice,
to fatigue,
to superior odds,
for I am mentally tough, physically strong,
and morally straight.
I forsake not…
my country,
my mission,
my comrades,
my sacred duty.
I am relentless.
I am always there,
now and forever.
I AM THE INFANTRY!
FOLLOW ME!
Aaaaand here we go…
Sounded good to me.
pickupyourweaponandfollowme
hoo-ahh
😉
Ahhh, Gee Whiz, don’t you know that tomorrow is the King of Battle’s 66th Birthday?
Wish you would post “The Buffer Song”…come on, you can do it, cause after all, you is “The Queen of Battle”…
(You know we love ya, Yef…show some love to 5th/77th FA on his special day..)…😎
pickupyourweaponandfollowme
One correction, it should start with…
“Eat Shit And Die”…..
Fellow Grunt and Certified US Army 9’Th Infantry Division Ski Instructor…
No Armor on TAH?
Air Defense?
Cav?
Come On….it’s the King of Battle’s 66th Birthday tomorrow…let him rule!
😎
Pea Green with envy is the sincerest form of flattery. I thank you!
Col Hal Moore stated that the Artillery from LZ Falcon saved their azzes at LZ-X Ray.
Direct fire from the big guns broke up many a human wave assault in Korea.
The big 8 inchers kept a ring of steel around the Bulge.
Rolling barrages allowed the Boys to go “Over the Top” in WWI.
Bobby Lee’s guns caused Grant nearly 20,000 KIA/WIA @ Cold Harbor in 18 minutes. Prolonged that war 10 more months.
BG Henry Hunt’s guns saved the Army of the Potomac twice..ie..Gettysburg ’63 & Malvern Hill ’62.
Not taking anything at all away from my Brothers and Sisters of all Branches of the (GO) Army or the other Branches of Service cause I Love and Respect them all…but…
Artillery is THE King of Battle and all of the branches are forms of Artillery.
Air Force….Flying Artillery
Navy………Floating Artillery
Infantry…..Mobile Artillery (LAW/Panzerfaust) note also used as cannon fodder.
YMMV everyone is entitled to their own wrong opinion.
Y’all can’t do shit without signal! We do it till our gigahertz!
1st Signal Brigade.
“First to communicate”
Point taken. The FIRST proper use of Signal was when a young 2LT of Artillery took a Battery Operated (see what I did there) Key Set well forward of the lines and gave fire direction control commands to his Battery of Guns during the Mexican War. That LT’s name was Thomas Jonathan (Old Blue Fire/aka later as Stonewall) Jackson. He got the personal thanks and a promotion from CG Winfield Scott, who later commented that again, the Artillery had won the war.
http://arlingtoncemetery.net/wcbarnes.htm
So what you are saying is that “Artillery brings dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl”.
Yeah, but artillery is the descendant of weapons such as the catapult and the trebuchet…also known as “Siege Engines”, which is where the term “Engineer” comes from. Your papa, the Engineer, is proud that he sired the “King of Battle!”
Oh, and we also sired Signal. Aviation is our grandchild.
Essayons!
Okay Yef, now BACK to buffing the floors, then Police Call and get those dandelions and daisies out of the PT Field!
If you ain’t Cav…
I think it was the Engineers who said:
“Infantry may be the Queen of Battle, but we’re here to make sure the bitch don’t get raped!”
*Ducks*
To borrow one from our British friends: When the Waters were dried an’ the Earth did appear, (“It’s all one,” says the Sapper), The Lord He created the Engineer, Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! When the Flood come along for an extra monsoon, ‘Twas Noah constructed the first pontoon To the plans of Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! But after fatigue in the wet an’ the sun, Old Noah got drunk, which he wouldn’t ha’ done If he’d trained with Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! When the Tower o’ Babel had mixed up men’s ~bat~, Some clever civilian was managing that, An’ none of Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! When the Jews had a fight at the foot of a hill, Young Joshua ordered the sun to stand still, For he was a Captain of Engineers, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! When the Children of Israel made bricks without straw, They were learnin’ the regular work of our Corps, The work of Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! For ever since then, if a war they would wage, Behold us a-shinin’ on history’s page — First page for Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! We lay down their sidings an’ help ’em entrain, An’ we sweep up their mess through the bloomin’ campaign, In the style of Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! They send us in front with a fuse an’ a mine To blow up the gates that are rushed by the Line, But bent by Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! They send us behind with a pick an’ a spade, To dig for the guns of a bullock-brigade Which has asked for Her Majesty’s Royal Engineer, With the rank and pay of a Sapper! We work under escort in trousers and… Read more »
Lawd Gawd I Love this place! hahahahahahhahah gasp hahahahahateehee giggle snort
Go Land Based Artillery….Beat Floating Artillery!
Just popping in to watch all you degenerates paw and claw at each other, harder than the U.S. Naval Academy’s freshman class trying to put a hat on top of a greased obelisk.
LOL
Admit it, Chip … you’re just saying that because you weren’t first this week.
Harder than a Navy Football team trying to score or make points. FIFY!
LET IT BE SAID……LET IT BE WRITTEN….
KING OF BATTLE…..WINNER OF WARS….FIRST!!!
Nine but that’s fine like sweet talking wine, know what I mean Jelly bean. Later alligator.
At the peremptory request of numerous people, most of whom aren’t here, I hereby present this week’s trivia column. May you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Every week I make a mental note about which item or items will get comments; most weeks I’m wildly off base. DID YOU KNOW…? Who was the first baseball player to have his uniform number retired? By Commissioner Wretched Recently, I moved from my apartment into a house. The house is much smaller than the apartment was, but I didn’t mind that – I live alone (well, me and my cat) and don’t need all that room. I’ve moved several times in my life, and every time I have, I’ve come to the same conclusion: I hate moving. I hate the packing, the hauling, the moving, the unpacking. I despise the realization that I collect so much junk over the years and that I have to cull the stuff I need out of the stuff I have. It’s so hard to decide what to keep, and I usually have to do two or three runs through it to get the collection down to a manageable, movable level. At one point, I actually considered chucking all of it and starting a new collection of stuff in the new house, but then I realized that the poor trash collectors don’t get paid nearly enough to haul all of the things I’ve managed to collect. But I hate moving, and I would be willing to bet that you do, too. What I love, of course, is trivia, and I love sharing it with you. So, whilst I continue unpacking my old home into my new, you enjoy these little tidbits. Say, do you know anyone who wants to buy a framed photo of Burgess Meredith? I’d forgotten I had that. Did you know … … you may not get the truth about calories in your favorite restaurant food? A Tufts University study found that the actual calorie count in restaurant food is often between 100 to 400 calories higher than what is listed. (That… Read more »
“the word or number “one” appears on a one-dollar bill sixteen times? (Yes, I counted.)
Good one, CW!
Now I have one for you.
How many States are on the $5.00 Bill…and can you name them?
No GOOGLE Cheating, please!
Thank You for sharing trivia. Always help reading your posts to assist me in JEOPARDY!
Prayers still go out to Alex Trebek.
ihatemovingaswell
Thanks for these weekly trivia postings, Commissioner Wretched. We’re going in the opposite direction than you … we’re in the initial stages of disposing of 48 years worth of ‘stuff’ (AKA JUNK) and will move into a retirement apartment community. We have boxes of stuff we haven’t looked into since when we moved here from Guam in 1984. What’s that saying, “If you haven’t used/missed something in six months, throw it out”. Wonder what is the rule of thumb saying for stuff not seen since 1984? I did discover that we have 11 locks. Moving sucks but this will be out last one.
Les escargots? The French will eat anything that moves and does not bite back. Take some time to read Pete Mayle’s “French Lessons”, in which he reports on his adventures with knife, fork and corkscrew.
Happy Birthday to the King of Battle! 🎉🎊🎂🍾
Congrats on your Three-In-A-Row Victory on retaining your Crown.🔱🔱🔱👑👑👑
Salute!
Enjoy your Special day, 5th/77th FA. You deserve it!
😊
hbtd
rtr
goarmybeatnavy
thesouthshallriseagain
baconisgood
Ahem, that’s a negative on having a WOT Three-fer for 5th/77th FA.
Entries into The Coveted Book of Firsts for the month of March are as follows:
01 Mar 19 – *Commissioner Wretched and 5th/77th FA both at 2:01 pm
08 Mar 19 – *Commissioner Wretched, NDHoosier, HMC Ret, and 5th/77th FA all at 2:00 pm
15 Mar 19 – *5th/77th FA, VOV, (but lined through because he didn’t post the word First/1st in the comment) ChipNASA, and Mick all at 1:04 pm
22 Mar 19 – * 5th/77th FA and HMC Ret both at 12:58 pm
Asterick (*) indicates the only First that counts. There can only be one./smile
Thank You, Claw, the Keeper of The Coveted Book of Firsts.
Guess I misread what 5th wrote on another post where he said he may not be posting to get his Three-Repeat.
My apologies to 5th and Claw…😔
5th/77th FA came close to a Three-fer once before, (01 and 08 February 2019) but was knocked off by VOV.
Prediction: The 29 March WOT will be a real dogfight for First, so get the popcorn/adult beverages orders in right now./smile
Would hope that at least a few folks, especially those of a certain age, will be at some sort of commemoration next Friday. March 29 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
How are others planning to mark the day? My VFW Post will have a low key ceremony at which we will retire and replace the Post flag, share some reflections, and spend some time swapping stories.
Claw: You might consider getting copyright protection for The Coveted Book of Firsts. I’m thinking maybe a copy should also be maintained by the Library of Congress.
What’s the FSN for weblog software that can time to less than one minute, Claw?
AFAIK, that FSN doesn’t exist. At one time, you could use the RSS feed to see when comments were posted that had the time posted down to the milli-second, but I think that went away with Jonn’s passing.
That’s me. 4-peat WOT Firsts.
RECORD HOLD AND *STILL* CHAMPEEN
FIRST of all, my many Thanks to Hondo for bringing these outstanding stories of the struggles people have made to seek Liberty. Something that we all were born to and is sometimes taken for granted. We all know that freedom isn’t free and understand and know FIRST hand that the price was paid in blood by many.
Second (this week it was our main man HMC Ret) CW loves your trivia and like AnotherPat have used it to help me out with Jeopardy (Hang in there Alex). #hatetomove2. One way to avoid that is to be in a community property state. The wife gets the property and the husband gets sent out into the community.
THIRD: (our favorite trivialist CW) Many thanks to my loyal minions who have cheered me on in my quest for the elusive 3 pete on the TAH Friday Weekend Open Thread Coveted FIRST. I have come close to a 3fer on FIRSTs but that would have included 2 MOTs and 1 WOT FIRST. Jay busted that hope this past Wednesday with his FIRST on the MOT. I think that’s close to right. Give Thanks again to Claw for keeping up the Coveted Book of FIRST and thebesig for the jotting down on the Veteran’s things to do Calendar.
Y’all have to bear with me, FIRST, by this time tomorrow I will have completed 66 laps around ol’ Sol and I still have the effects of the flat lined brain hoses. For those wishing to know what I may need, I wear a size 12 pack in fermented beverages. Distilled spirits I wear a size Top Shelf.
Happy birthday, your lordship! An extra round will be consumed in your honor tomorrow at D’s Cantina! Got a pork shoulder ready to go in the smoker early in the AM, pulled pork will be ready by 1800. BYOB. Only dickweeds and weedettes allowed. Normal folks will be turned away. Unattended children will be given a triple espresso and a puppy.
Save us some of your smoked pulled pork, SFC D!
🍴🍽
Kids usually don’t like coffee, thus I prefer to give unattended ones either Mountain Dew or Red Bull and a free puppy!
Happy birthday 5th!
Hope you are now recovered from working hard in that nasty weather in your AO, Fyrfighter!
Wait a minute, something definitely wrong here, 66, I been pushing shopping cart, dragging wagons. having to put up with Jeff’s driving and his antics with his thang of the week and you are turning 66 and I have been doing all the heavy lifting, whats up with that, heck I went on a years vacation to Asia and back before it was legal for you to drive, live clear down here in the lowest cellar of the quarters here, you live in the lower penthouse west wing. Geez, once again I learn “Life’s a bitch and then you marry one” (got rid of her in 90). Oh well Happy Birthday, my oldest is only 13 years younger than you. Back to week old bologna and cheese sandwiches.
Happy Birthday, King of Firsts. I am humbled to be in the company of the ‘Holder Of The Friday First’ who also is celebrating a birthday. Blessings
Have to.
Hahahaha…
You & 5th….so much Love…
Laurel & Hardy
Abbott & Costello
Martin & Lewis
Rowan & Martin
Fred & Barney
Ralph & Norton
Tom & Dick (Smothers)
Archie & Meathead
Tom & Jerry
Cheese & Crackers
You both crack me up…and I Love It!
(Sonny & Cher don’t count)…
goarmybeatnavy
Lewis and Clark
I have enjoyed your stories on East Germany, Hondo.
Trying to find a music piece that might tie in the sea-escape story.
Danke.
Bobby Darin’s beyond the sea always works for me and the wife…
There you go, VoV…GOOD ONE!!!!
(Waiting for Hondo or AW1Ed to post the video)…
Thank You, VoV…that had always been a classy song.
😊
VOV,
I usually don’t like anything French, but this is pretty cool…
Agree with Pat, Hondo. Keep them coming. If only we could push this out to Bernie and AOC’s Twitter fans to remind them of the lengths people will go to escape socialism.
“If only we could push this out to Bernie and AOC’s Twitter fans to remind them of the lengths people will go to escape socialism.”
Mason NAILED IT…👍
Yes, but their answer would be the standard “It wasn’t done the right way.”
….except that there is only ONE way to do it. It’s a shame they will have to find out the hard way, isn’t it?
Socialism, a form of Government so good that it has to be kept upon a population at gunpoint!
AND TODAY’S NEWS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED,
DANIEL BERNATH IS STILL DEAD!
-6FT AGL AND ROOM TEMPERATURE!
Here comes the GIGGLING!
Don’t forget WW…your Brother is still a Dirtball…a Candidate for “Blast From The Past”
😎
*Rustle Rustle*
(((OUT)))
I’ve posted here previously of personal matters that are troublesome. My sister died recently. She had been homeless, turning tricks, walking the streets and sleeping wherever she could lay her head. She had been hopelessly addicted to heroin/fentanyl /cocaine/codeine/whatever for probably 40 years. She took whatever she could afford. Over the years I had done everything in my ability to help her, but she resisted and returned to her destructive lifestyle. There is a medication, Suboxone, that is often effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms. The VA would not prescribe it b/c it takes a specially trained physician to do so. I don’t think a GP or regular psychiatrist can’t prescribe it. I paid for her to see a specialist and get the medicine but she wouldn’t stay on it. She soon went back to her old ways. The death certificate gave the COD as accidental drug overdose. I believe she just got worn out and intentionally overdosed to get out of the misery that was her life. If any of you are so inclined, you might send up a prayer for her, although it is possibly too little too late at this juncture. She is in need of prayer; not me. If that isn’t bad enough, I have a brother, also a veteran, who was on AD less than a year and most of that was in various jails, brigs and UA. He is being prescribed oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl patches from doctors in two states. One doctor is VA and she prescribes him hydrocodone and fentanyl. There is no way he can possibly rid himself of the curse of addiction on his own. I can’t help him, either. He knows if he seeks help from the VA, they will discontinue his drugs. But, please, if so inclined, say a prayer for him. I will keep you posted of any changes with him. I do appreciate your allowing me to vent. The hundreds of billions of $ we have spent in the ‘War On Drugs’ has been like pissing up a rope. I despise those who peddle that poison. They… Read more »
Prayers sent, HMC. Vent anytime, we’re all listening.
I’m sorry to hear of your sister, and the problems your brother is having. I hope something changes soon.
HMC Ret:
Thank You for sharing this…definitely will be saying a prayer for your Brother and for You…so sorry you lost your Sister…am guessing she was a Veteran.
Your Brother is receiving controlled medication from two different States? That is interesting. States are now pushing for sharing prescriptions within their State or with other States…and Military Hospitals are doing the same with States and Visa Versa-all to prevent Doctor Shopping and abuse of narcotics. Does his VA Doctor know he is getting another narcotic from another Doctor in another State and Visa Versa?
Hang in there, HMC Ret. You are doing the best you can in a heartbreaking situation and you are showing that you do have the strength and faith to keep moving despite those obstacles with your love ones.
Prayers And Thoughts For You.
HMC Ret, we are here for you Brother. Prayers will be lifted up. I know and can feel your pain. Ex # 2 was stringing herself out on diet pills and brown liquor. Nothing anyone could do to help her cause “I don’t have a drug or alcohol problem.” She’s been married twice since I jumped over the wire and the one she is with now is a full blown alkie. Ex GF was a real sweetheart and hardworking good Mama till she started running with the crackheads. After 3 attempts to dry her out, finally threw her out (18 years ago). She finally got semi clean 2 years ago from what I’ve heard.
Ex wife #3 was a closet pill popper that would purposely injure herself to get vicodin, loratab, oxycodone type, ect… You have my deepest sympathies. Hurts when you can’t help someone you love when they don’t want to help themselves.
Hang Tuff!
5th/77th FA: I’ve heard of people who purposely harm themselves so that they can get narcotics. Something perhaps less well known is that people will actually harm their pet (break a leg, for instance) so the pet can be prescribed pain medication which, of course, the pet doesn’t get. My daughter has been an RN for more than a decade and before that she worked as a vet tech for several years. She told me about people harming their animals to get pain meds. She told of this one lady who brought in two dogs within a year’s time, each with a broken leg. There was no other obvious trauma such as would be seen if hit by a car. After the second dog with a broken leg, the vet accused her of mistreating the dog for pain meds. He told her not to come back. Yes, he prescribed meds for the dog in the off chance it might actually get a pill or two. I see an orthopedist who has signage stating he will never give a refill for a narcotic. Another doc I see has signage stating he will not prescribe narcotics at all.
Pat: I don’t know how he is pulling it off. I don’t know how all this works, but whenever I have the ear of a provider or pharmacist I try to gather information so I can better understand and may be able to offer help for my brother. A doctor recently told me about computer matching of patients to detect this type of doctor shopping. A pharmacist at the Navy hospital I use told me some time (years ?) ago that this Navy pharmacy did not participate in that computer matching program, but I was told quite recently that they now do so. He isn’t eligible for Navy health care but does use the VA and has Medicaid/Medicare/Whatever. I thought the ‘List’ was nationwide to ferret out abusers such as my brother. I’m certain the VA participates in this program, so I have no idea how he is able to get narcotics in a nearby state. He’s going to miscalculate and OD; it’s a matter of time. But he won’t turn himself in b/c he knows his supply will dry up. Honestly, given the horrible withdrawal he would suffer, I don’t know if I can blame him. But … it has to come to an end at some time. It just has to one way or another and there will be no pleasant ending. If he’s cut off from his legal supply, I’m certain he would buy heroin off the street. I saw on TV a few times that when one’s legal pipeline of narcotics dries up, people often go to heroin b/c it is cheaper than buying pills off the street. Yes, my sister was a veteran. At one time, four of us siblings were in the Navy. I went in first and came out last. She was in about a year, got pregnant and got out. My younger brother did less than a year, mostly spent in various jails, brigs and AWOL/UA. My older brother came in after me, did 20 and retired. I joined in 68 and retired in 91. Hell of a great ride. When people… Read more »
Thank You, HRM Ret for clarifying things.
Wow, the four of you in the Navy.
Your Brother must be in alot of pain to be subscribed three different powerful narcotics.
Something, however, just does not right that his VA Doctor has him on two of them.
Does he have a chronic condition that nothing else will help him with his pain, i.e. surgery? Physical Therapy? Pain Management?
Is he abusing his medication or is he taking them as prescribed? Perhaps he has a pain management agreement with his Doctor?
If he has not shared with both Doctors that he is receiving medicine from both of them, the chances are very high that they could cut him off 100%, which leads to fear of your Brother seeking relief through street drugs.
Does he want help? Has anyone looked at encouraging him to seek professional help in a clinic that helps those with addiction problems?
We will continue to pray for you and your brother and his family as well as your family. Again, please hang in there and continue being strong for everyone. You have a family at TAH to open and vent-we are your support group.
Pat: The VA doctor isn’t aware of his getting narcotics in another State. She would immediately cancel his VA prescriptions if she found out. Until, oh, a few years ago, it was common for narcotics to be given freely. That changed with the epidemic of accidental overdosing and deaths. I have heard/read various figures, but the consensus seems to be that over 100 patients die of an overdose each DAY. Some are undoubtedly accidental but I feel some are intentional in an attempt to escape what is a hopeless situation. Re his wanting help, the answer is yes and no. He knows if he asks for help his supply will be severely cut back, probably eliminated. I’ve told him I’ll pay for his treatment but he has so far declined b/c he knows of the withdrawal pain he will endure until the Suboxone kicks in, which I understand is a period of a few days or so. I’ve gotten literature on Suboxone and I believe the way it works is that it occupies certain receptors in the brain, the same that are occupied by narcotics. It has a fairly long half life (30 hours ?) vs Lortab/etc., which I believe has a half life of, oh, 10-12 hours (?). So, yes, he wants help but understands the agony he must endure. Re his pain, he has a horribly mangled spine. Multiple surgeries have done little to resolve the problem and he is no longer a candidate for further surgery. He has been told by surgeons that he will not benefit from further surgery. He also needs both knees and one hip replaced. Or maybe it’s the other way around. B/C of his spine, he has walked favoring one part of his body over the other and that has further caused him great pain. He can barely walk from the parking lot to the clinic entrance. His wife drops him off at the entrance and he sits in a wheelchair until she parks and comes to push him around the clinic. He can walk maybe 100 feet on a good day.… Read more »
Prayers to you and your family Chief! While I don’t have family experience with this kind of thing luckily, but have seen it far too many times in the 34 years I’ve been in the fire service. It’s never pretty and there’s often little family / friends can do, once someone has gone that far down the path. As 11B said, at some point, you have to put it in the hands of Sky-6, and let it go, so it doesn’t destroy you as well.
My deepest condolences, Chief. Prayers for you and your family.
Chief, I’m not much for words so I’ll only say, prayers to you and your family.
May He watch over you and give you strength & faith.
Just about everyone these days is related to, or knows of, someone with this terrible addiction. It’s a national tragedy, and disgrace.
Prohibition never works, but stemming the tide over the Southern boarder is a step in the right direction.
Some say removing the enormous profit margin in drug sales by legalizing them will remove the problem, and at first look that seems rational. That is, unless you’ve seem guys whacked out on PCP or on day 3 of a meth binge. Or slide into the hell of heroin addiction.
If the answer was easy my comment would be moot.
Very sorry, SFC D. It’s a cold comfort to know you’re not alone.
I lack adequate words…
Prayers sent.
I too know what it is like to watch a loved one submerge in the Monster’s abyss. The hardest thing is the right thing.
Let go.
The saveable will come to you. The unsalvageable, won’t.
Harsh. Sad. Agonizing.
True.
Do what you can for the survivors.
My sympathy to you and the rest of your family trying to rid themselves of that horrible way to die.
Your brother is going to havve to give up the drugs if he wants to live.
The route he is going will end at the same place your sister ended her life at.
They have to want to get sober, she never hit a bottom that was painful enough to get her to look for real help.
And I’ve seen it happen thousands of times.
I’ve buried, friends, relatives, an entire Rock and Roll Band, employees, co workers and watched my Mother get married and cured of her alcoholism on the same day.
Alcoholism is a symptom of a deeper trouble that will only get worse when that person continues to imbibe in beverage alcohol.
My deepest sympathy and remember that both were living in nothing that can be described as a true Hell on Earth…
At least your sister isn’t having to deal with it anymore…
HMC Ret,
My condolences to you.
I have been in the midst of the depression/alcoholism most of my adult life.
My depression/drinking is a viscious fucking circle. Doing therapy through VA for over a year(I got a great Doc who bloodhounds my B.S.), and I was hesitant to start meds.
Dropped this on a buddy of mine who has been out for a while, and is still active in one of the larger Army communities. He said to me,”I’ll tell you what. I got tired of going to funerals every week. Some KIA, some suicides. It just got too fucking much.”
I was leaning that way towards meds.and my friend helped me.
Ultimately, the decision had to be my own.
I started meds last week.
Don’t know if this will help or piss you off, but the decision to make oneself better has to come from the individual.
I think you did all you could.
That is all I have.
Peace to all.
(Thanks, AW1Ed…)
Mea culpa on wrong report comment on myself…
Waiting for Sister Mary Grace with the ruler for my punctuation and spacing…
I’m praying for you and yours; prayer works wonders…
Prayers out, HMC.
Happy Weekend everyone!
Sock puppet alert on “Man Claiming Ex-SEAL Theatens to Blow Up VA Center” post:
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=85708#comment-3214319
I read it and can only say, “Huh?”
That clown posted a word salad that even Ojos Locos would be proud of! Even if you get rid of the misspellings and typos, it makes no damn sense!
Sheesh…Some People… This guy Stole his DECEASED Mother’s Social Security Checks and VA Benefit Checks for 37 years, since 1981, before he got caught (see article below). 37 years? Not letting the guy off the hook, but kinda blame the Social Security Administration and the VA for letting this go on for that length of time. This guy is not the first one to pull this stunt. A while back,Jonn featured on TAH a guy name Lafayette Keaton, who stole both his deceased Brother and Son’s identify to not only claim Social Security checks, but also fraudently voted using their identities. https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=17956 You Be The Judge. “Detroit Man, 76, Gets Six Months For Social Security Fraud” https://www.detroitnews.com/amp/3212625002 “A Detroit man has been sentenced to six months in prison for stealing more than $280,000 from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, federal officials said Tuesday.” “After serving his six months in prison, Walter Terrell Sr., 76, will spend three years on supervised release, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement. Terrell must pay full restitution to the government.” “Federal officials said Terrell was cashing Social Security retirement insurance benefits for his mother after she died in the fall of 1981. The Social Security.” “Administration was unaware of her death and continued to issue her monthly Treasury checks for 37 years.” “Terrell forged his mother’s signature on the checks and cashed them, they said.” “During the same period, he also kept $35,649 in payments the Department of Veterans Affairs issued to his mother.” “Federal investigators learned of Terrell’s activity as part of a Social Security Administration effort to combat fraud in 2014. Under the program, officials contacted elderly beneficiaries who hadn’t used their Medicare in three years or more.” “Terrell told officials his mother was on vacation when they contacted him.” “He also arranged for someone to impersonate his mother on a subsequent phone call with the agency, which enabled him to maintain the ruse for three and a half years, according to officials.” “The agency exposed the fraud after an audit identified a death certificate for… Read more »
This why my Healthcare Advance Directive
does not name a family member.
I saw that the other day. 6 months for $280k sounds like a pretty good deal to me!
3 Hots and a Cot!
(Wonder how he is going to repay what he stole).
😉
Grrrrr..Just another example and the tip of the iceberg as to why we can’t have nice things….GRRRRRR
It is highly unlikely that at his age and employability when he gets out of the slammer that he will repay even 10% of what he stole. We taxpayers who have faithfully paid Uncle Sambo his due all these years are likely to have about 20 percent of our tax dollars stolen by thieves, fraudsters and others who know how to mine the federal treasury. The IRS alone pays out about $4.5 billion in fraudulent tax refunds to illegals claiming child tax credits for children that reside outside the U.S. or don’t exist. The IRS has been known to send as many a 20 refund checks to the same address which is a two bedroom trailer located in a mobile home park. These criminal illegals think the U.S. is the stupidest nation ever to exist.
Sometimes even the most rainy day can provide a ray of sunshine.
CNN took time out from its Bob Mueller pending-report hysteria today with a small good news story from Nebraska. As it happens, two guys cleaning up debris from recent major flooding spotted a curious object which turned out to be a refrigerator sitting in an open field and filled with beer. The errant icebox had apparently floated a few miles from a home upstream, and ended up marooned in the middle of nowhere. The beer was still cold.
When the two gents posted their rescue on Facebook, doesn’t everybody, the original owner contacted them to claim it, and was told it would be returned missing only “a few” brewskis once, you know, you could actually drive on the roads again.
The bad news: The reefer was filled with Busch Light.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/22/us/nebraska-flooding-fridge-of-beer-trnd/index.html
“Healy said the fridge floated about 3.5 miles from their home and had previously survived a 2007 fire, according to Simpson.”
Let’s see. The fridge was involved in a fire back in 2012 and now has floated nearly 3 1/2 miles from home, left standing in the middle of a field after being swept away by rushing waters during a major spring flood?
………Eh, keep it.
“The bad news: The reefer was filled with Busch Light.”
Not necessarily bad news Perry.
With all of that “Light” beer, it will be easier to carry. (smile)
There is 3 kinds of Cold Beer. You got your canned, your bottled, and your kegged! I like all 3 kinds equally.
I wrote about this Trouble-Making US Army Problem Child Soldier a while back on another Open Thread. She is the Army Cook who refused to make any pork meals in Messhalls because of her faith..and is twisting her story about being harassed about her hijab when in reality, her hair was out of regulation. Well, guess what, folks…She’s Back….!!! Please…MAKE IT STOP! She now has an attorney who is considering filing a federal lawsuit…and you will never guess who that attorney is…well, I will give you a hint…MIKEY… SHEESH! You Be The Judge. “This Muslim Fort Carson Soldier Is Still Getting Questions About Her Hijab” https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/03/22/this-muslim-fort-carson-soldier-is-still-getting-questions-about-her-hijab/ “A Fort Carson, Colorado, brigade commander has found no issue with the way a command sergeant major attempted to enforce hair regulations with a Muslim soldier earlier this month, according to a Friday statement to Army Times. Now her attorney is considering filing a federal lawsuit.” “Sgt. Cesilia Valdovinos met with Col. David Zinn, who leads 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to discuss her equal opportunity complaint on Thursday, her attorney told Army Times, hours after 704th Brigade Support Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Kerstin Montoya again accused Valdovinos of wearing her hair down underneath her hijab.” “A commander’s inquiry found allegations against a senior non-commissioned officer were unsubstantiated regarding discriminating against Sgt. Cesilia Valdovinos,” Zinn said in the statement. “The inquiry concluded that the senior noncommissioned officer acted appropriately by enforcing the proper wear of the hijab, in compliance with Army regulations.” “But she has in the past and continues to tie her hair up in a bun underneath the head covering, she said in a Thursday email, and now feels that her senior enlisted leader is targeting her.” “This is an absolutely quintessential example of some of the worst anti-Muslim bigotry, prejudice and harassment that we have seen,” Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which represents Valdovinos, told Army Times on Friday. “That’s because it’s so blatant.” “Having exhausted her administrative remedies, he added, MRFF is considering filing a federal lawsuit on her behalf, in light of… Read more »
“hostile work environment”
Guess she hasn’t seen combat.
I think the little whiner truly believes she IS in combat with the Army.
Every time I was caught doing something wrong and was called on it by a SNCO, I made sure to do it right in the future. Because otherwise, yes they target you. Keeps making the same dumb mistake just so she can claim discrimination. UFB if it wasn’t so common.
There is nothing to be learned from the second kick of the mule.
She needs to go. Won’t cook because pork offends her. Can’t perform in your MOS, you go home. Can’t conform to Army standards, you go home. Constant conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, you go home.
Here ended the lesson.
And it doesn’t help that she has Mikey Weinstein enabling her behavior.
You are so right, SFC D. She needs to get out and go home.
Convoy duty, Helmand Province Afghanistan…
At least we don’t have to concern ourselves with her showing up for the party at SFC D’s tomorrow. Be more smoked pulled pork for the rest of us. I’ll bring my own bun per the rsvp (BYOB) request. And a jug of Jameson for ‘D!
The “hostile work environment” was created by her. Refusal to comply with simple instructions and her antics in that regard make things difficult for everyone else.
Yeah, throw the book at her. Drama queens have no place in the military.
Just fire her and have done with it.
Talk about an attention-whoring problem child< I also say the Military needs to shitcan her post haste. I just wonder where and when she'll whore for attention after she's thrown out?
I lost my other Kitty Cat, Triton this week.
He just vanished on Monday and nobody has seen him since…
I am just so sad now.
I really loved that cat.
He was named after Neptune’s largest moon and not by me.
He was a really cool cat and very loveable…..
I’m just really sad now…
Damn!…Hang Tuff Thunder. I feel this too. Love my furbabies. It rips hard when we lose one. Even worse is the not knowing. Prayers for you and yours.
Aahhh…I’m sorry, Thunderstixx..I really hope he comes home…
Prayers.
Sorry to hear that Thunder, hope he’s just visiting some lady friends, and comes back soon.
I hope he comes home, and soon, too.
I feel for you Thunderstixx, we lost our other Labrador yesterday afternoon. She started coughing and grunting while laying on the living room floor and held on until my Missus came home (She had her since she was a pup before we got married) and held on until my Wife could pet her one last time and say Goodbye, then she went across the Rainbow Bridge. That dear sweet pooch was 12 years old, but it’s always tough to let go, Pets are Family too!
I’m really sorry for your loss, Thunder. I was never a cat person until we got this one, named Kitty. Yeah, imaginative, right? Hoping your beloved pet returns. I’ve never been disappointed in any animal I have had. Humans, not so much. I genuinely love animals with a passion.
Checking in, have a great weekend y’all!!
Want to laugh?
Want to cry?
Want to have a Brit’s perspective and explanation of Brexit?
I thought so…
https://youtu.be/-IL2XwSkFJQ
The Muller report was dumped this evening
After 5pm on a Friday
During a big “March Madness” weekend
Oh -this- is going to be epic!
Saw a blurb on this. Called the pop corn packaging plant, told ’em to ramp up production. It’ll be needed. Some of the line dogs will get some OT.
Sister called me about a post on her in your space book face page thingie. 4th Circuit Court ruled that the Peace Cross in the PDRofMD was unconstitutional and had to come down.
The Dems are already howling for it’s public release- that ain’t going to happen anytime soon. There are no further indictments, which has Schiff in a lather.
Adam Schiff rejects reports that Mueller indictments are over, says special counsel could be called to testify
More here: Fox News
More showcasing of just what a filthy whorehouse Washington DC truly is!
I haven’t been on here for a while. My son decided he is too old for his race car bed (he just turned 14) so I pulled out the lumber and made him a new one. I’m pretty happy how it turned out. I’ve never made a piece of furniture before and this one looks really good.
I was reading the John Walker Lindh post and it reminded me of a buddy of mine who was a fellow Squad Leader with me during my first Iraq tour. He was in the 10th Mountain during the very early stages of the war in Afghanistan. He told me that at one point he was one of the guys tasked with guarding Lindh. He said the only thing that they fed him were MREs and the only MRE that they would give him was, you guessed it, pork chow mien.
Now that’s funny.
EXCELLENT, I wish I could buy each and every one of them a shot and a beer for doing that!
Epic!
Days off, my ass. Over 50 emails since noon Thursday.
Oh, and relating to upthread:
SUBMARINES ONCE!!!
25 years since the crash at Green Ramp, 24 KIA.
Slip away
I claim Honorary First once again.
((((OVER))))
😉
“PUMP RULES Jax Taylor Clarifies Navy Experience, Military Records Revealed”
https://starcasm.net/pump-rules-jax-taylor-clarifies-navy-experience-military-records-revealed/
“The folks at Starcasm have published segments of a report by journalist Dave Hardin, who was able to unearth Jax’s military records.”
“Dave Hardin from the website valorguardians.com was able to track down Jax’s actual military records, and they confirm Jax’s enlistment…”
Here’s a bit of Navy (GN–BA) (RTR) trivia:
Trivia: What are port holes and what’s the origin?
ANSWER: The word “port hole” originated during the reign of Henry VI of England in 1485.
King Henry insisted on mounting guns too large for his ship and the traditional methods of securing these weapons on the forecastle and aftcastle could not be used.
A French shipbuilder named James Baker was commissioned to solve the problem.
He put small doors in the side of the ship and mounted the cannon inside the ship.
These doors protected the cannon from weather and were opened when the cannon were to be used.
The French word for “door” is “porte” which was later Anglicized to “port” and later went on to mean any opening in the ship’s side, whether for cannon or not.
I’m going to preface this by saying, yes, I’ve been drinking….
I was reliving some of TAH’s greatest hits tonight when I came across a post that Jonn wrote about his good friend MSG Tim “Griz” Martin and it just got me to thinking about how much I miss Jonn. I may never have met him in person, but his upkeep of the blog provided a home and a voice to those of us who post here on a regular basis. He kept up the good fight against Stolen Valor and provided quite a bit of humor on top of it. He didn’t always comment on a stolen valor thread, but when he did, it was epic and funny as all hell. While I didn’t correspond with him regularly via email, he did drop me a line a couple of times and, especially after coming home from the ‘Stan, his sign-off of “Welcome home” was definitely appreciated. So much so, that whenever I run into a fellow vet, I always say the same. “Welcome home”, because after all, we all want to come back to our homes and families when all is said and done. That is a small thing that I picked up from Jonn and I share when I run across a fellow Veteran. It is these seemingly small things that really matter…like when Jonn addressed me as ‘mano in a reply to one of my posts. To those who “habla”, that is short for “hermano”, which is “brother”. Again, a small thing, but one that I remember years afterwards. Descanse en paz, Platoon Sergeant Jonn V. Lilyea. We miss you, and hope that you’re holding down a table for all of us in Valhalla.
^THIS^ Well said and Thanks for saying it for us all!
Jonn really loved MSG Tim “Griz” Martin and he didn’t care who knew it. Like you, my personal interaction with him was, oh, maybe six personal messages. I knew enough of him to know I would have served with him to the gates of hell and back. He also fought the good fight against his illness. He was a hell of a guy. Tip of the hat to those who filled the void and carried on with this blog in his absence. There has been some serious stepping up by many people in the continuance of TAH.