SampsonVet Announcement on Hubpages
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SampsonVeteran on Hubpages
All of my good friends here on Hubpages (and friends I am about to make...) are invited to check out our Sampson Vets new profile and to take a continuing interest in what we hope will become a really interesting new hub site.
This project is just at its very beginning. The chances are really good that the concept will be a new one here - call it "collective authorship." or maybe "collective memory dump" might fit somewhat better.
Duchess OBlunt suggested this sort of thing a few months ago. However she was expecting that one person would take her really great suggestion and walk it on down the road by himself. 'Bet you never expected a whole big bunch of handsome, but aging, Air Force vets to take you up on the idea and run with it, did you, Duchess? (We just now did.)
This will be both good for the troops and provide lots of interesting reading and viewing for all. The photo with this article shows a couple of USAF F16 jets in overflight of the SAFBVA's "Soaring Falcon Memorial Monument" we erected in front of our museum at Sampson State Park near Geneva, New York. The fly-over took place at one of the yearly reunions. The park was the site of the huge Sampson Air Force Base training center on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes in Central New York State.
Our "SampsonVeteran" is the collective name for the writers gathered here from the almost half million trainees and trainers who populated Sampson Air Force Base from 1950 through most of 1956 during the Korean War days. Every time we turn around we find that there are fewer of us left to attend reunions and to swap "war stories." That is part of the why of our being here on Hubpages.
Stay with us as we try to do things in both a good way and a big way. Tell your friends and any detractors you may come upon. Here we are! We welcome your visits and your comments.
Oh yes - Thank you Duchess. We hope that that our formation you see marching proudly out in front of your great idea makes you smile and helps to draw attention to our gratitude for your sharing that great idea with us.
The profile is at http://hubpages.com/profile/sampsonveteran
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Hi sheila b - I was counting on you, good friend. Some of the troops have really great stories to tell. I am kicking myself because we did not start this project 20-30 years ago, but Hubpages was not here yet. Now it is. Happy days have arrived, right?
Gus :-)))
What an interesting idea, Gus. I'm looking forward to reading the stories you all are willing to share with Hubbers like myself. Could learn a lot, no? Looking forward to this fascinating literary experiment.
I'll check it out.
Good Doctor bj - and suziecat - I am glad that you both have an interest in the SampsonVeteran site. I think it is going to be interesting AND fun, too. It will take a few days or so to collect the first stories, but they tell me that they are "on the way."
Gus :-)))
This is great!
Keep on hubbing!
eovery - I totally agree with you.
Gus :-)))
Here's some "news of the day..."
The Sampson Vets have begun sending in their various "war stories" for editing and posting on the SampsonVeteran site. Things are moving right along.
Gus :-)))
Hi Gus, when I was discharged from the military so many years ago, I just knew I would write a book based on my experiences both in the army and in Vietnam. Somehow, I never did that. But you have a great idea here. I will be reading.
Brother Milt - Your following this will be great. "You are next" as the saying goes. Wouldn't it be hateful if all of our stories were to be lost? I am delighted that you are here and that you think well of the plan.
Gus :-)))
Gus, What a wonderful idea! I had only a moment to peek yesterday, but am going back. I'm happy to see some of the history being saved on a personal level! I'll be posting this on my blogs and tweeting it and all that good stuff, because it's a great idea!
Duchess - Thanks for the encouraging words and offer of some welcome PR, too. So far, the reader response has been very good. Our project is gaining some more veteran participants rapidly. Editing articles is a chore, but the results are worth the effort.Your own suggestion kicked the thing into life. Thanks.
Gus :-)))
I'm going to have a look at this new hub, it sounds like a really great project. My Dad was in the Air Force during the Korean War, so I will visit this new hub with great interest.
Me, too, Katie - There is a possibility that your Dad and I met one time or another during that period. The tales on the new SampsonVeteran site are being told by folks who were also "there" - some just for 4 years and others for much longer. All of them have some affiliation with the Sampson AFB Veterans Association of about 4,500 members or so and a big military museum at the site of the old base.
Gus :-)))
My Dad spent a lot of time in England oddly enough, can't now ask him why, any ideas? He was an MP.
Katie - I do not know where your Dad had his basic training. You might want to take a look at www.sampsonvets.com, go to the "FIS" box on the navigation page (right when you enter the site) and plug in your Dad's name to see if there may be a listing or a Flight photo there for him. The Lackland AFB website may also have something. England was where lots of GI's were assigned during the 1950s. MPs were among the many.
Gus :-)))
sheila b. Level 4 Commenter 23 months ago
OK, I'm following and looking forward to reading what y'all have to say.