Episode XXXXV: "A Blue Angel Goes Down"; Cmdr John B. Lipinski, US Navy, Ret.
5hrs before the 1973 Ceasefire the Navy loses one of its best & brightest; Shouldering heavy burdens keeping them flying; Vietnam War creates bad seeds; 2000 POW's but North Vietnam only acknowledges 645; Military wives force the issue; Colin Powell steps up to the plate.
Dawn of the Jet Age; Navy stumbles through series of lackluster fighters; "How do we start these things?"; Engine Eccentricities; Danger Zones; Watch out for the back blast!; Beware Intake Suction!; Eyes are key, Ears are useless!; Demonstrations for the Chi-Coms; Hong Kong Shopping Sprees.
Coffee - the eternal elixir; no candy bars in our coffee!; why wash? - adds to flavor; tradition is the way; Georgia Satellites; women are catty; Aloha Hawaii!; Chief selection; let's track some Russian submarines; #1 ranked Chief!; disciple dissolves; standards are lowered; from WAVES to WINS to Sailors?; Hail to the Chief!; initiations no mas; Dad; no slack - I've come this far!; the Chief's Creed.
Episode LXIX
"Join the Navy to See the World' now read a book!; testing the new Chiefs; LOL exam questions; the key to advancement; USS America suitable for both Father & Son; "Scrambled Eggs" opens the door.
SSGT Frazier speaks about coming home; pathology experiences continue in subsequent postings; aggravated PTSD; the bitter truth and pride in his service; a fellow Veteran helps him find the American Legion.
SSGT Frazier delves further into his duties while serving in Vietnam: recovering remains & his further experiences post-Vietnam in the pathology realm; his struggle with PTSD; the 1st AirCav's first big battle in 1965 in the Ira Drang Valley; the severity of Airborne training.
WARNING: Not for the faint of heart.
How do you pick up a Heavyweight Champion's girlfriend? - hit first & ask questions later; statues with memorandums; the Master Mind team; not old enough yet; hard hat diver gets SEAL Team escort; credit card controls 50 drones; 7 1/2lb weapons are lethal; Skynet smiles: drones with uncanny abilities; U.S. universities are bilked by China & Russia; "15/20 Community" - some are more special than others.
Episode LVVII
More on the deadly space that is a carrier flight deck during operations; white shirts & red crosses; from av gas to kerosene; 12 gauge engines?; jet blast takes out two; 16ft leads to 7hrs; a forgotten sailor; in cast for how many weeks?; arresting wire best instrument for severing legs; remember to jump; "Scooter" doesn't score - this time.
Stumbling around in the dark as the jet age unfolds; "Gutless" Cutlasses: what's the point?; Game Changer: Korean War begins & Russians pull an ace out of their sleeve; fighting MIG-15's with P-51D's.
7 chains are key; heavy seas: surfing thru the Hangar Deck?; Welcome to "Bomb Alley"; Shotgun Shells Matter; Tragedy: "I'm okay, Chief"; Starter jets are as deadly as dropped ordinance; 28,000ft with no jacket.