Hello Texas Marauders!

[marauder307]

Well, I got the news today...my USCG unit just activated my butt. And everything attached to it.

I'm due in Port Arthur morning of Oct. 22nd, for at least the next 4 months. Can't really discuss what I'm doing there, but I can tell you that it isn't really anything serious....just boring as hell.

Wouldn't mind connecting with some Texas folks while I'm down there. I guess I'll miss the first snow up here in STL...oh, wait, no I won't :cool4: .
It may be misinterpreted as unpatriotic, but this is really gonna suck. Things were sailing along great at my real job, the new girlfriend is just the greatest and we're strongly considering running off and committing matrimony, and life was just starting to really turn around for me after 9/11 and the GTMO deployment.

And then this has to happen. :mad2:

Don't get me wrong. Still love my country, still gonna serve. But did it have to be right now? Anyway, I'm gonna be living in a hotel for the next few months, and the familiar sight of some Marauders might improve my mood, I think. You guys feel free to drop me a line anytime. I'd invite you for a beer, but I'll probably be broke....E-4 pay on active duty doesn't quite stack up to GS-9 pay in "other places"...hope to see y'all around!

[jgc61sr2002]

marauder307 - Good luck on your deployment.

[NAVCHAP]

Prayers for a safe and successful deployment! Thanks for defending the homeland. -kjs-

[BUCKWHEAT]

Well, I got the news today...my USCG unit just activated my butt. And everything attached to it.

I'm due in Port Arthur morning of Oct. 22nd, for at least the next 4 months. Can't really discuss what I'm doing there, but I can tell you that it isn't really anything serious....just boring as hell.

Wouldn't mind connecting with some Texas folks while I'm down there. I guess I'll miss the first snow up here in STL...oh, wait, no I won't :cool4: .
It may be misinterpreted as unpatriotic, but this is really gonna suck. Things were sailing along great at my real job, the new girlfriend is just the greatest and we're strongly considering running off and committing matrimony, and life was just starting to really turn around for me after 9/11 and the GTMO deployment.

And then this has to happen. :mad2:

Don't get me wrong. Still love my country, still gonna serve. But did it have to be right now? Anyway, I'm gonna be living in a hotel for the next few months, and the familiar sight of some Marauders might improve my mood, I think. You guys feel free to drop me a line anytime. I'd invite you for a beer, but I'll probably be broke....E-4 pay on active duty doesn't quite stack up to GS-9 pay in "other places"...hope to see y'all around!

All of us down on the Gravois will feel much safer with you in Port Arthur. Have a good and safe TDY.

[Petrograde]

Man,.. I hear ya!

I've been wondering if Uncle Sam is gonna call me back. :confused: But, I doubt anyone would call you 'unpatriotic' for having those feelings, I'd call you human! :P

As far as the $$$ goes,... that just plain sucks. I hope you can pin on E-5 before too long,.. as I recall, that was a nice pay raise.

BTW- Where the hell is Port Arthur? Sometimes I get sent to Corpus Christi or Boughmont (sp?) to take Army helicopters off the boat from Iraq.

If you're near there I'd be happy to buy ya a couple of beers :beer: on my next trip,.. whenever that is..

[marauder307]

As far as the $$$ goes,... that just plain sucks. I hope you can pin on E-5 before too long,.. as I recall, that was a nice pay raise.

BTW- Where the hell is Port Arthur? Sometimes I get sent to Corpus Christi or Boughmont (sp?) to take Army helicopters off the boat from Iraq.

If you're near there I'd be happy to buy ya a couple of beers :beer: on my next trip,.. whenever that is..

I appreciate, Tom. But my enlistment's almost up, and I'm not really interested in re-upping...not with a Fed job to carry me.

Port Arthur's actually right outside Beaumont, on the Sabine Pass.

The beers will be welcomed!

[Petrograde]

LOL,.. I can't blame ya for not re-upping! I was just about half way to retirement when I got out.

I did my time for King & Country,... now I do the same thing,.. except as a DOD contractor. Better $$, Better hours, less headaches, So,.. I hear ya loud and clear bro!

If I end up on a port trip anytime soon I'll give ya a holler. :up:

[MyTMerc]

Well, I got the news today...my USCG unit just activated my butt. And everything attached to it.

I'm due in Port Arthur morning of Oct. 22nd, for at least the next 4 months. Can't really discuss what I'm doing there, but I can tell you that it isn't really anything serious....just boring as hell.

Wouldn't mind connecting with some Texas folks while I'm down there. I guess I'll miss the first snow up here in STL...oh, wait, no I won't :cool4: .
It may be misinterpreted as unpatriotic, but this is really gonna suck. Things were sailing along great at my real job, the new girlfriend is just the greatest and we're strongly considering running off and committing matrimony, and life was just starting to really turn around for me after 9/11 and the GTMO deployment.

And then this has to happen. :mad2:

Don't get me wrong. Still love my country, still gonna serve. But did it have to be right now? Anyway, I'm gonna be living in a hotel for the next few months, and the familiar sight of some Marauders might improve my mood, I think. You guys feel free to drop me a line anytime. I'd invite you for a beer, but I'll probably be broke....E-4 pay on active duty doesn't quite stack up to GS-9 pay in "other places"...hope to see y'all around!I would never consider someone serving their country as unpatriotic on the contrary. I'd chalk it up to the old saying, "A Bit*!%en Sailor's a Happy Sailor". None of us served for the great money and it certainly was never convienant, but we all appreciate your sacrifice greatly! Thanks for standing the watch!
Shaun
MCPO, USN Ret.

[cruzer]

It's great to hear from you--welcome to Texas---look at your blessings---we are coming into the cool weather season-- you probably won't have to shovel snow, and maybe we can get to see you while you are here. If you need anything ,just let us know--we'll try to help. OK you South Texans---make this Marauder man feel at home. Maury

[cyclone03]

It's great to hear from you--welcome to Texas---look at your blessings---we are coming into the cool weather season-- you probably won't have to shovel snow, and maybe we can get to see you while you are here. If you need anything ,just let us know--we'll try to help. OK you South Texans---make this Marauder man feel at home. Maury

Maybe the Huricanes will stay away while your here too.

[Johnman]

Marauder307, you're a great American in my book. All I can say is thanks for your service and hopefully I can meet you while you're here in Texas.

[mrjones]

Well, I got the news today...my USCG unit just activated my butt. And everything attached to it.

I'm due in Port Arthur morning of Oct. 22nd, for at least the next 4 months.
Wouldn't mind connecting with some Texas folks while I'm down there. I'd invite you for a beer, but I'll probably be broke


Well, if you take the shortest way down to Port Arthur, you'll be coming through Lufkin, and I'll buy you a beer, or even dinner Thursday night! MS Streets and Trips has St Louis to Port Arthur at 863 miles down through MS on I55 and across I10, but it's only 850 if you come down through Little Rock, Texarkana, and Lufkin, and the scenery is better, to boot. Even if you don't come through this way, you'll only be about 2 hours away, and that would be a good excuse for me to drive down for some seafood on the coast!

If you wanna hook up for lunch, or dinner with the family on the way down, pm me and I'll send you my phone number. We'd love to have you.

[RVT04]

Well, I got the news today...my USCG unit just activated my butt. And everything attached to it.

I'm due in Port Arthur morning of Oct. 22nd, for at least the next 4 months. Can't really discuss what I'm doing there, but I can tell you that it isn't really anything serious....just boring as hell.

Wouldn't mind connecting with some Texas folks while I'm down there. I guess I'll miss the first snow up here in STL...oh, wait, no I won't :cool4: .
It may be misinterpreted as unpatriotic, but this is really gonna suck. Things were sailing along great at my real job, the new girlfriend is just the greatest and we're strongly considering running off and committing matrimony, and life was just starting to really turn around for me after 9/11 and the GTMO deployment.

And then this has to happen. :mad2:

Don't get me wrong. Still love my country, still gonna serve. But did it have to be right now? Anyway, I'm gonna be living in a hotel for the next few months, and the familiar sight of some Marauders might improve my mood, I think. You guys feel free to drop me a line anytime. I'd invite you for a beer, but I'll probably be broke....E-4 pay on active duty doesn't quite stack up to GS-9 pay in "other places"...hope to see y'all around!
WE ALL DO OUR PART, I DID MINE 32 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS A RUDE INTERUPTION BUT I 'M GLAD I DID
YOU WILL SURVIVE AND IF THAT PHILLY IS AS GOOD AS YOU SAY SHE WILL NOT STRAY WHILE YOUR AWAY
YOU MIGHT EVEN LIKE TEXAS ENUFF TO KISS ST.LOU BYEBYE
STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
ANYWAY, JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR WATCHIN THE BORDER
KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY :bandit:

[marauder307]

Well, I'm here. Holed up in a hotel before I have to report in tomorrow...interesting drive. When I left STL, it was 51 degrees, overcast and misting. I get to Port Arthur, and they just came off a record high day of 93 degrees...feels like the summer we didn't get in STL this year.

Looks like they're gonna put me up in a gov't contract apartment....hoping for a decent roommate. The last one I had during my deployment in Ft. Lauderdale turned out to be a lousy drunk. I suppose I oughta count my blessings...at least it ain't Eye-rack. But I can't seem to shake the feeling that this is gonna suck anyway.

Memphis was a tough run. I think I scared the crud outta some folks...almost missed the second I-55 exit, hadda cut across three lanes to get to it. I-10 outside of Lake Charles is so bad I actually thought I had a flat until I got out and looked.

Anybody on this site located in Jackson, MS? As I was standing into the hotel lobby checking in last night, I saw a black one ghost by outside. Anybody...Bueller?....Bueller? ....Bueller?

Beaumont doesn't look as bad as I feared. Halfway decent I guess...the CG facilities are actually located in a decent part of town, for once.

Don't know when I'll be able to check the thread again...thus far my connections in the hotels have all been dialup. Probably will be in the apartment too; I'll see. Hope to see you guys sometime!

:cool4:

[LiLWrink]

If you get some free time to kill, I happen to know the surf fishing and shallow crabbin, down there is real good, and does not require a lot of expensive equip for a day trip...Hope you get some quality entertainment going, its hard to be stuck out of town and broke, with time to kill...been there, done that.

Hope to hear you doing better, soon.

Wrink

[marauder307]

Well, my first week here has come and gone. I've been put up at the Farnham Park Apartments...pretty nice place. The Black Hulk has already attracted attention in the local area; when I was driving in on Hwy 69 last week, a CV-LX Sport (all black) passed me on the road. And one of my coworkers down here has an '02 CV-LX; he literally freaked when he met the Hulk for the first time. Apparently Port Arthur doesn't have any Marauders... The local FLM dealer is open on Saturdays (Energy City FLM); got my oil change done last weekend, 200 miles late, and got the fuel filter replaced as well. Trucked a bunch of parts down here; Powerslot rotors/Hawk pads/Metco rear suspension components. The brake stuff goes on Saturday.

Saw Sabine Pass for the first time today. Nice CG station down there.

I've had an idea concerning this thread. If Logan and the other moderators don't mind, I'd like to keep it going as an erstwhile deployment diary. I'll make entries at infrequent intervals :cool4: . I'll check back in a few days.
See you guys...

[RVT04]

Well, my first week here has come and gone. I've been put up at the Farnham Park Apartments...pretty nice place. The Black Hulk has already attracted attention in the local area; when I was driving in on Hwy 69 last week, a CV-LX Sport (all black) passed me on the road. And one of my coworkers down here has an '02 CV-LX; he literally freaked when he met the Hulk for the first time. Apparently Port Arthur doesn't have any Marauders... The local FLM dealer is open on Saturdays (Energy City FLM); got my oil change done last weekend, 200 miles late, and got the fuel filter replaced as well. Trucked a bunch of parts down here; Powerslot rotors/Hawk pads/Metco rear suspension components. The brake stuff goes on Saturday.

Saw Sabine Pass for the first time today. Nice CG station down there.

I've had an idea concerning this thread. If Logan and the other moderators don't mind, I'd like to keep it going as an erstwhile deployment diary. I'll make entries at infrequent intervals :cool4: . I'll check back in a few days.
See you guys...
I think that is a great idea.
I personnally did not keep a diary while i was in and some of the details escape me now LOL
and there were a lot of good times that i shared with my fellow swabbies that I cannot remember enuff of the dates or the names and it would be really nice of you willing to share some of your thoughts with us older guys.
Of course being stationed in S.F. bay in 1970 might have had something to do with the memory lapse.lol :beer: :party:

[Bluerauder]

But did it have to be right now?

My son felt the same way when he was notified of deployment to Iraq one week before his wedding. Married just 3 months ... and he's been gone for 7. :( Best of luck on your duty in Port Arthur.



I've been wondering if Uncle Sam is gonna call me back. :confused:

If they recall me, things have gotten really serious. :D

[marauder307]

Well, I got the brakes done today. No more warped-rotor shimmy... :banana: Yeah! But the pedal still feels a little spongy....

I asked the techs if they would just repack the axle bearings. They told me the rear axle doesn't have any bearings....I dunno about that. Got 'em to paint the calipers tho...now they're a nice shade of flat chrome. Beautiful. Pics to follow in a few days.

I gotta work tomorrow, but it may not be for a long period. I'm getting tagged to do chauffeur duty...on a Sunday, no less. :mad:

The attachment is of the lone '05 GT that the dealership down here has on the lot. OooooH.....Daddy like. And it's even the right color!

I get to go to Galveston Monday for some training, and then Tuesday to Petrograde's favorite place....the pistol range! Went to Galveston this last week to get my ID upgraded...nice drive. The seashore leading into Galveston looks a heckuva lot like Florida. The seashore in Galveston looked pretty cool. It was a real windy day out though...lots of whitecaps.

I'll get some pics of the new brakes in a few days. See y'all then!

[USN_Lifer]

Good luck on your tour here. I just transferred to the "South Texas Navy" also. Things sure are different here, but I'm growing fond of this place already. Keep us posted on your deployments, we'd love to hear about 'em.

[marauder307]

Well, the crummy weather blew out the training in Galveston...AND the pistol range...durnit. :( Gonna be back on high-speed access this coming Saturday, so I'll be able to access the site more often.

Petrograde...when you gonna be back down this way?

[marauder307]

Well, no word from Petro yet....prolly busy.

After the lousy wx blew through, I got a second chance at the range. Had to put a minimum of 45 of 50 rounds in center mass, got 49. :woohoo: Also "shot" the Judgemental Pistol course with a 100%. I'll be packing this next week.

Thought I was gonna havta get up before the birds tomorrow morning to escort in a ship, but it came in today so I've been spared...this time. My g/f is flying down from her duty assignment in KS to see me for a couple of days this week (cause for another :woohoo: ); I miss her terribly and can't wait. I'm expecting to get holiday routine on the 11th, but we'll see...Semper Gumby, as they say in the Coast Guard.

Was able to get my vote in via absentee ballot in the "11th hour", as it were. Straight-ticket Republican...Kerry, don't go away angry...just go the he.ll away.

In Marauder news...the brake upgrade seems to be doing well, although my passenger side rotors are showing running rust from somewhere. Doesn't seem to be coming from the PowerSlots...the Hawk HPS pads aren't made of anything corrodable. Must be coming from the calipers...I wonder if the kid who bolted everything up did like I told 'im to and cleaned the calipers off before spraying the hi-temp paint on there.

Next up will be the Metco parts, and I can't wait. I woulda put them on this weekend, but my civilian job screwed up the paycheck on Friday, and I got rather dramatically shorted. I'll have it fixed in a few days, but in the meantime, the Metcos are gonna havta wait. Same for the replacement Autometer OP gauge. Oh well.

It's been good hearing from everybody; keep the posts coming. Emails are welcome too.

See y'all in a few days.

P.S. Tried doing a search on problems with the air-leveler suspension but couldn't find it. Does anybody remember where that thread was? I just noticed today...my DS is sitting low while parked. I could tell from looking at the gap between the rear fascia and the exhaust tips...bigger gap on the PS.

Thanks!

[Petrograde]

Hey man,... I'm not sure when I'll be down that way again. I haven't heard of any port trips coming up anytime soon.

I'll be sure to get in touch with ya if I head back down that way again.

[marauder307]

Time for another update here. Passed my Boarding Team Member (BTM) board this week; did my first harbor patrol at Port of Beaumont last night. Gonna be some long hours in this port, I think...really not much going on down here.

My g/f, Terri, came in Tuesday and stayed until Friday...she's probably gonna move up to fiancee status after this deployment's over. After growing up in the Army, and spending as much time in the Coast Guard and around those "Brand-X" services (HAH!), I'm convinced I don't want to try and engage in a military marriage. Seen way too many relationships blow apart at the seams, with really awful results. Gonna wait until my service is complete, and hers too; she's an Army reservist on recall at Ft. Riley right now. The Army's not saying when her commitment will be up.

Tangential to this subject...I feel obliged to offer a minor "mea culpa". I'm sure that to you, dear reader, I must seem like I'm griping without good reason. After all, my deployment is still Stateside; other guys, like torinodan and Gunslinger, are stuck in some truly hellish spots (although I understand torinodan is home now---good!). I'll have to admit, the accusation is fair enough. In my own defense, all I can say is that while I've got it considerably easier, it's still a dammed nuisance to be pulled away from home, away from my job, and away from my loved ones. And I've got some real beefs with the personnel back at the home unit; the evidence I have suggests that this deployment wasn't so much for the convenience of the Coast Guard as it was for theirs. (More on that later.)

In Marauder news...nothing much to report. Still having that running rust problem, and the Hawks seem to squeak a lot when they get wet. I'm going to try and convince the local FLM dealer to do the repaint job that the STL Ford dealer was going to do the first week of this month; it got cancelled on account of this deployment. My paychecks double up this next week; I get the first CG paycheck and my DoD paycheck as well, so the Metco stuff and the Autometer replacement gauge are finally going to go in. The weather's gotten colder down here, so my gas mileage has slipped; down to 16.5 mpg this last tank from a consistent 18.5 or better. Lots of intown driving and a different brand of gas (switched from Shell 93 to Exxon 93) are probably contributing factors.

Petro---I hear ya. Considering that the fleet isn't going to be moving for awhile, I don't expect to see you for some months, if at all before the end of my deployment.

See y'all later. :cool:

[marauder307]

Got the Metco parts installed today! :woohoo: Took 'em about 4 hours; there was some consternation on their part, because they didn't have the synthetic grease to do the job. I made a few frantic phone calls to Aaron at Metco, and ran next door to the WalMart...and we ended up using the petroleum-based stuff at the dealership anyway, after some consultation with Aaron. I'll get the synthetic stuff, Aaron, I promise...

The wrench doing the job couldn't figure out how to remove the "Jesus nut" on the Watt's link interconnector. He finally (after an hour and 1/2) took a 2-foot breaker bar to it...came right off.

Can't thank Aaron enough for his support. He's probably scratchin' his head and wondering, "Didn't I sell him those parts back in August? Sure took long enough gettin' 'em on..."

Anyway, enjoy the pictures. I'll have some Coast Guard ones to share next time!

[marauder307]

I wanted to wish one and all a Happy Thanksgiving! I'm going to be on duty tonight...got the afternoon-to-evening watch at Port of Beaumont. Thanksgiving dinner for me is going to be a turkey-breast sub from Subway.


Paging Petrograde...some of "your" aircraft were here last week!

[marauder307]

Another week down. Talked to the local dealership last week; the bodyshop guy is going to "do some research" about getting the repaint done. Haven't heard from him yet.

Weather's taken a turn for the worse here. Gettin' cold nights...and this rain, combined with the wind, is a bloody nuisance. Working on my Boat Crewman/Coxswain recertification; we got some pretty nifty semi-new boats here.

Hope everybody had a good Thanksgiving!

Not much else to tell this time...life has settled into the humdrum of being on watch, being off watch. Days off are a bad joke, and sleep is at a premium. I'm getting a permanent dent in my hips and back from the gunbelt. Christmas, it seems, is cancelled this year.

Catch y'all next week...

[marauder307]

Hello all again! 'Nother update for ya...actually got a break for a few days. Gotta go to the range again tomorrow; M-16 and riot gun this time. Soon as that's done I've got new front tires to get on the car.

Had a helluva morning...had to escort a Navy ship out. The harbor pilot here turned out to be a wimp; delayed the transit twice on account of fog...never mind that the ship had about 3 different radars on it, but apparently the Navy can't get out of Beaumont, TX, without perfectly clear conditions to make the transit. Had the "opportunity" (cough, cough) to see what a Ro-Ro's bow looks like from 25 yards away, in the fog...coming at you. I think my sphincter finally loosened up again sometime this afternoon.

Sample conversation, on the CG boat:

"Hey, you see that ship?"

"Naw...can't see a d#@n thing in this muck...OH S$#@$@! HARD-A-PORT!"

Suffice it to say, it was an interesting morning...

In other news...been seein' lots of the new Mustangs around here. Looked at a Premium package Coupe the other day...would be cool to have one as a driver. Already got my go-fast car, in the Marauder. Man, they sure got that new Mustang right...

Finally got some pics to post...the hard drive in my laptop garbaged itself just before the Thanksgiving holiday, and I'm just now getting my various drivers reinstalled. Enjoy!

And BTW...paging Petrograde...your "babies" are here...see the center picture.

[Petrograde]

yep,.. we have a more people going down there this Saturday to unload, unfold blades, and fix what broke on the boat! :P I didn't get picked to go, apperently I don't kiss enough a$$es. :rolleyes:

Those RO-RO are big bastages! Have you ever been inside one? OMG! It's like being in a giant gray steel canyon. Abso-freakin-lutely huge!

[Bluerauder]

"Naw...can't see a d#@n thing in this muck...OH S$#@$@! HARD-A-PORT!"
So, maybe the Navy's decision to wait wasn't that far off the mark anyway :D

I thought you were supposed to pass an oncoming craft Port-to-Port? :dunno: At 25 yards, it must have looked like a 50 foot brick wall pushing a 10 foot surf. Loosening up, yet?? :rofl:

Tom/Petro -- is this where the UH-60 was heading that crashed last week out of Hood. Understand the 4ID ADC-S and DISCOM Cdr were on-board with 6 other soldiers. Darn shame !!! :(

[Petrograde]

Tom/Petro -- is this where the UH-60 was heading that crashed last week out of Hood. Understand the 4ID ADC-S and DISCOM Cdr were on-board with 6 other soldiers. Darn shame !!! :(

No,. it was headed to an Army Depot near Texarkana. Yeah,.. it is shame. I'm not sure about the DISCOM Cdr being on board. But, I know the ADC was.

They had the lights on the tower fixed pretty quickly after the accident. Too bad we had to lose some of our finest in order to get them fixed. :mad:

[marauder307]

[QUOTE=Bluerauder]So, maybe the Navy's decision to wait wasn't that far off the mark anyway :D

I thought you were supposed to pass an oncoming craft Port-to-Port? :dunno: At 25 yards, it must have looked like a 50 foot brick wall pushing a 10 foot surf. Loosening up, yet?? :rofl:[QUOTE]

Wasn't the Navy's call so much as it was the harbor pilot...

Under ordinary circumstances, you're right; standard passing is port-to-port. But when we're doing an escort, we have to manuever all over to screen out anybody coming in, and in this case, we were somewhat out in front of the vessel when the fog socked in. We were just gonna sit tight to the bank and wait it out, but the patrol boat that was working with us picked up a radar contact coming under the MLK Bridge and couldn't raise them on the radio, so we had to turn around and feel our way back up the channel...the Navy ship was stopped when we "found" it, so there wasn't any surf. They simply dropped anchor right in the middle of the channel (also not a normal move).
We also "found" the contact; a tug and six barges heading south. After we pulled alongside and yelled at them on the loudspeakers, they figured out where the radio was...

Qualified on both the riot gun/M-16 today; shot expert on M-16 :gunfire: !

Got my front tires on the MM replaced today with OEM replacements. Discount Tire did the job for $62 and change and were done in 30 minutes---the shop was mostly empty, so they got me right in.

Catch y'all later!

[marauder307]

New update;

Hope everybody had a great coupla holidays. Christmas was a rushed trip home to AL for a few days, then back to Pt. Arthur. New Year's was "celebrated" on the deck of a CG small boat with a Mountain Dew and a bag of cashews. Oh well...next year will be better.

BTW, is it normal for Texans to continue shooting off New Year's fireworks for the week following the holiday? The local Pt. Arthurians (Arthurians?) have been going at it every night since NY's...just wondering. They really love bottle rockets.

I gotta wonder if RVT04 is a prophet...or at least prophetic. Some new GS-12 positions have opened up with this CG unit down here, and I'm thinking about applying. Pt. Arthur's not too bad in terms of living expense and weather; the neighborhood I'm living in here is REALLY nice---the houses around here are almost brand new. Some ARE brand-new. And the apartments the Guard's contracted out look to be new within the last 5-10 years. The salary is significantly higher than what I'm getting in St. Louis, and there's no state tax deduction out of the paycheck like STL. And I gotta think about the future...planning on getting married in 2006.

Speaking of which...Terri was just here the last few days. Put her on the plane back to KS today; she called me from DFW. Plane broke, and she got stuck. Waiting tensely for a phone call later tonight. I definitely gotta marry her...she's told me she wants a three-car garage so I can have room for the Marauder and "the next big thing"...that particular story will be continued later, tho.

Hope to hear from ya sometime, Tom. Plenty of ship traffic at Beaumont the next month or so...To all of my fellow Texas Marauder owners: Best wishes for the new year! Keep in touch...

[wchain]

New update;

Hope everybody had a great coupla holidays. Christmas was a rushed trip home to AL for a few days, then back to Pt. Arthur. New Year's was "celebrated" on the deck of a CG small boat with a Mountain Dew and a bag of cashews. Oh well...next year will be better.

BTW, is it normal for Texans to continue shooting off New Year's fireworks for the week following the holiday? The local Pt. Arthurians (Arthurians?) have been going at it every night since NY's...just wondering. They really love bottle rockets.

I gotta wonder if RVT04 is a prophet...or at least prophetic. Some new GS-12 positions have opened up with this CG unit down here, and I'm thinking about applying. Pt. Arthur's not too bad in terms of living expense and weather; the neighborhood I'm living in here is REALLY nice---the houses around here are almost brand new. Some ARE brand-new. And the apartments the Guard's contracted out look to be new within the last 5-10 years. The salary is significantly higher than what I'm getting in St. Louis, and there's no state tax deduction out of the paycheck like STL. And I gotta think about the future...planning on getting married in 2006.

Speaking of which...Terri was just here the last few days. Put her on the plane back to KS today; she called me from DFW. Plane broke, and she got stuck. Waiting tensely for a phone call later tonight. I definitely gotta marry her...she's told me she wants a three-car garage so I can have room for the Marauder and "the next big thing"...that particular story will be continued later, tho.

Hope to hear from ya sometime, Tom. Plenty of ship traffic at Beaumont the next month or so...To all of my fellow Texas Marauder owners: Best wishes for the new year! Keep in touch...
yeah, we're a buncha wierdos. What are u doing this weekend??

[marauder307]

yeah, we're a buncha wierdos. What are u doing this weekend??



Unfortunately, working. Got third shift both Fri. and Sat. nights. But still may have some time Saturday before 9 p.m. What's up?

[wchain]

Unfortunately, working. Got third shift both Fri. and Sat. nights. But still may have some time Saturday before 9 p.m. What's up?

Just seeing waht u were up to, if u felt like a trip to Houston to hang out.

The Ford Diesel club is having a lunch Saturday, I might/might not go.

You wanna hook up?

[cyclone03]

On the bottle rocket thing,you don't want old ammo laying around so they're just DISPOSING of the old to make room for the new. :)

[mrjones]

The Ford Diesel club is having a lunch Saturday,[/QUOTE]


The Houston Boat Show is starting this weekend, too. Although, going to see boats for fun may be not be number one on the fun things to do list for a seaman, huh?

[marauder307]

Well, we finally got a little relief from the ship traffic...I'm on standby this weekend, but only for a limited amount of time.

Anything happening over at HAMS? Might could get away...

The Guard decided to involuntarily extend my orders last week...I'm stuck here until June 2nd now. It happened when I went in to start my demobilization paperwork...effin' admin types jacked me up. I was getting outta here Feb 28th...that's gone now.

Gotta do a M-60 underway shoot off of Sabine Pass sometime this weekend. The guns are Vietnam-era vintage, the crews both inexperienced and VERY timid, and the weather's predicted to be crummy. Oh, joy. :bs:

Otherwise, not much going on here. The car is the car, and still runs great. I'm inspired by the news coming out of Reinhart Automotive; now I'm wondering what I've still got left to do to bring my car up to FHP standards. :D Wonder what a full set of Addco swaybars runs...

All for now...lemme know about HAMS. Got another guy here at the unit who's a big MM fan, owns a CV, and might be interested in coming over to hang out.

[marauder307]

Been a few weeks more than I thought for this update.

Business as usual; got a ship in, another one coming tomorrow. Don't know when or if they're leaving. Gotta work second shift in the port the next three days.

Despite my best efforts, the amendment to my orders went through anyway, so I'm stuck here until late May when my terminal leave starts. At least I'm "missing" the St. Louis snow...not!

Went and did an underway gun shoot (M-60s) with this bunch; you never saw such wimpiness in all your life. They're absolutely terrified of their own guns! This does not inspire me with confidence...Sure hope nothin' actually happens.

In Marauder news...I've been looking into full-on mod packages for my car. I've talked to a place in Atlanta, as well as Hennessey Motorsports in Houston. I talked to Dennis Reinhart, and I'll be giving Lidio a call next week.
The heart of the package is based on the premise that the MM engines were put together sloppily at the factory, hence the various valve/cylinder problems so often discussed on this board. I'm strongly entertaining the theory that simply taking the engine apart and reassembling it to the real factory specs (with reconditioned heads) will probably cure the inherent problems. More to follow on this...I've got a whole "laundry list" of things I'd like to do.

Gotta run. Unfortunately I'm gonna miss the HAMS meet this upcoming weekend, but I'm gonna try to make the next one in March. Looking forward to it...! See y'all later.

[RVT04]

Been a few weeks more than I thought for this update.

Business as usual; got a ship in, another one coming tomorrow. Don't know when or if they're leaving. Gotta work second shift in the port the next three days.

Despite my best efforts, the amendment to my orders went through anyway, so I'm stuck here until late May when my terminal leave starts. At least I'm "missing" the St. Louis snow...not!

Went and did an underway gun shoot (M-60s) with this bunch; you never saw such wimpiness in all your life. They're absolutely terrified of their own guns! This does not inspire me with confidence...Sure hope nothin' actually happens.

In Marauder news...I've been looking into full-on mod packages for my car. I've talked to a place in Atlanta, as well as Hennessey Motorsports in Houston. I talked to Dennis Reinhart, and I'll be giving Lidio a call next week.
The heart of the package is based on the premise that the MM engines were put together sloppily at the factory, hence the various valve/cylinder problems so often discussed on this board. I'm strongly entertaining the theory that simply taking the engine apart and reassembling it to the real factory specs (with reconditioned heads) will probably cure the inherent problems. More to follow on this...I've got a whole "laundry list" of things I'd like to do.

Gotta run. Unfortunately I'm gonna miss the HAMS meet this upcoming weekend, but I'm gonna try to make the next one in March. Looking forward to it...! See y'all later.
I would not be too hard on the lads, it is probably a lack of rounds fired/inexperience; and probably the commands fault for not scheduling/supplying time - ammo, being unfamiliar with any weapon no matter how small or large is reason to go slow and be cautious, but i would be willing to bet after the practice everyones skill level had improved marginally and the wimp factor was reduced a notch. Of course there is no excuse for stupid so if you recognize that in your gun crew cease and desist immediately from live fire.

[cyclone03]

307,
Do a lot of research before you get into a major project with Hennessy.

The internet was a fire a few years ago with reports of them not being all the magazines say.

I let you find the details,just a friendly warning.

[RVT04]

307,
Do a lot of research before you get into a major project with Hennessy.

The internet was a fire a few years ago with reports of them not being all the magazines say.

I let you find the details,just a friendly warning.
i have nothing but good to say about dennis reinhart for what ever level of mod you choose
and the trilogy bunch has the performance numbers to back their ability
and the kenny brown cars are absolutely perfect
so with three top notch vendors i would not be so inclined as to wander off the beaten path
IMHO

[marauder307]

307,
Do a lot of research before you get into a major project with Hennessy.

The internet was a fire a few years ago with reports of them not being all the magazines say.

I let you find the details,just a friendly warning.


Interesting...will keep in mind. Hennessey has a decent marketplace reputation with their Corvette and Viper packages (well...at least a big reputation, anyway). I thought I'd give 'em a try at a Marauder. However, after their initial email to me asking me what I wanted to do, and my reply, they clammed up and I haven't heard from them since...and that was a couple of weeks ago.

At this point, I'm sorta leaning toward Lidio; nothing against Dennis (hey, anybody who's good enough for the FL Highway Patrol is good enough for me and mine!), but Lidio's closer to STL, and the idea of shipping my baby cross-country leaves me feelin' unsettled. But this idea is built mainly on the pipe dream that I could get a consolidation loan to cover both the outstanding note for the car (@ still over 25g's to FMC) and for the package...so don't anybody hold your breath. Being in a federal civilian job (normally) my pay's gettin' bumped again this month; after I get back from this military madness I'll have a few extra bucks to piddle around with every month...but only a few, and I'm planning on getting married next year. Hoo boy.

Hey Petro, if you read this...we watched the dock gang tow some of your "babies" onboard ship yesterday. They're off to the front in a few days.

Check y'all in a few...

[marauder307]

Been an interestin' few days here.

Met another local MM owner here. Owns a SB with all options but the sunroof; the gentleman's name is Ed Keller, and he's retired FBI living in Beaumont. Loves his car, already reflashed it with the Superchips tuner. I gave him one of Slowpoke's "Get Out of Jail Free" cards; hope to see him around the forum soon.

Met him in passing in front of the Circuit City in Beaumont...I was there because my Sirius radio and the head unit for my car kept losing volume across the FM stations. It would play for about 20-30 mins. or so, and then get abruptly staticky, then crap out altogether. AM and CD work fine. CC looked over the Sirius equipment and surveyed their installation, said that everything was fine but that it sounded like the internal amp for the head unit was dying. They sent to AWA, a local stereo installation place that's apparently certified for factory radio repairs. Their conclusion? "Head unit's dead...looks like you're still in warranty. You should take it to the dealer." Did that today, and the dealer confirmed it.

Will be getting a replacement head unit in 7-10 working days from Houston.

While the car was in having the stereo troubleshot, the bodyshop manager for the dealer came out and did a mil-guage test on my paint. The results are grim:

Hood--- 7.5 mils
Roof--- 5.5 mils
Trunk--- 6 mils
Left side--- 7.5 mils
Right side--- 7.5 mils

The manager says there oughta be a minimum of 2.5 mils/layer of product (primer, paint, sealer/clearcoat, etc), so there should be roughly 10-12 mils on there. He noted that there were a number of places where the paint was taking on a "krackle-finish" look. Said he'd call me back in a few days; presumably he'll be setting up dates/times/arrangements for the repaint.

For reference, my particular vehicle is a 2003 300A example, built at the STP on June 20, 2002. It has just in excess of 27,000 miles on it now.

I'm gonna try to take some advantage of the situation to have some custom graphics applied (think carbon-fiber look from the Chris Titus Expedition episode of "Rides") and see if I can beg the folks doing the repaint for an extra layer of clearcoat...then get some of that 3m film for all of the leading-edge surfaces and the rockers.

So...I been busy lately. But it looks like it'll all be to the good. Now if I can just get 'em to retorque the cam journals... :coolman:

P.S.: Is HAMS doin' anything this weekend? I've actually got some time off...

P.P.S: They're also gonna fix my warpy-lookin' grille. May see if I can get 'em to debadge the car while we're at it...

P.P.P.S: Adding this to the post a few days later...forgot to mention: There's a 2005 Saleen Mustang GT on the lot at Kinsel F-L-M in Beaumont, silver with the gray Saleen stripes on the doors. Don't know if anyone's interested but I thought I'd at least send up a signal flare anyway...

[marauder307]

Finally got some good news last week...


I'M GOING HOME!...at least a little bit early. STL sent someone else down; with my standing request to be released, the admin types have started the paperwork to cut me loose...finally. Looks like April 30 to hit I-10/I-55 north.

Gonna be a race now. The Guard has approved some advanced dental work (couple of crowns), so that has to be done before I can be released. Also have to have a demobilization physical. And as if all that's not enough, there's also the warranty repaint on the Black Hulk still to contend with...was supposed to hear from the bodyshop manager this week but he hasn't called...gonna bug him on Monday.

Speaking of the Hulk...my idea about recreating the carbon-fiber look from the Titus-Expedition "Rides" episode has been shot down by expense. The graphics artist I spoke to here told me $1200 to do it. But all is not lost...as I was talking to him, I looked over at a Camaro he was working on. It was all black with some Nike-sneaker style stripes on the side...a double-take showed something else. This artist (Mike Naquin, of Randy's Auto Makeover), had done a very dark blue stripe, somewhat separated from the rest, and the effect was nicely subtle; it was supposed to be dark blue ghost flames, but because he'd taped it off top AND bottom, the flame effect had, instead, become a marbled sort of look. He's gonna do me a stripe like that as a belt around the car, using the side moldings as the guide. So,...it'll have the moldings done in dark blue ghost marble, with the effect extending around the front and back, and the rear will drop slightly to call out the "MARAUDER" on the bumper cover.

And this will only set me back $450...beats $1200 anyday. And then I'll get the 3M clearshield treatment on the front to protect it from the STL roads.

But none of this will come to pass if I go home too quickly...so it's gonna be a busy couple of months for me. I sure hope, somewhere in there, that I can get over to a HAMS meet; sounds like a good group over there.

All for now...drop ya another line in 'nother week or so. :D

[marauder307]

Well, they finally fixed my stereo today...after 5 weeks of waiting.

The first time, the SW said he forgot to order it. The second time, he put it on "emergency order" status, then their system dropped it out. He finally got it in yesterday, took the shop an hour and a half to put it in today.

Ya gotta wonder...I'm hearing from some folks in the local area of Pt. Arthur that Energy Country F-L-M has got a pretty bad reputation. They've done OK up to this point, but I'm wondering...

The body shop manager swears vehemently that the hangup on my paint job is coming from Ford; he's telling me something about a digital-imaging restriction, that Ford has to send him some sort of digital-imaging equipment to take pictures of the car before they'll admit it to the shop. I don't know what to think; has anybody on this website (anybody who works for Ford) heard of this or anything like it?

Whatever the case, I'm beginning to despair. My car's visibly looking bad at this point; the front fascia in particular is in bad shape.

Got my windshield replaced last week. Took a road trip to Baton Rouge; ate up a piece of road debris somewhere between Lake Charles and Lafayette and it tore things up pretty bad. Got lucky; it narrowly missed the hood, bounced off the glass, and went back up over the car---didn't hit anything else. Scared my g/f pretty bad tho...I was just pissed...

Speaking of the g/f, that trip to Baton Rouge was productive. I went to meet my prospective father-in-law; he's given us his blessing. We are to be married sometime in 2006, as soon as she's done with HER reserve duty. :P

I'm reaallly hoping to get to Houston one time before I head for home; be good to see HAMS. Y'all keep in touch...

[jgc61sr2002]

Congrats and Best Wishes. :beer:

[marauder307]

Well, been a few weeks...

Still on target for going home at the end of the month. Gonna get off the boats for my last two weeks here and be deskbound...suits me. Got myself fried to a royal crisp during an outbound escort last week and I'm still peeling.
Those cool sea breezes can be deceptive...

On the Marauder front, I finally got the stereo fixed, but the dealership has subtly balked at the warranty repaint. So I guess I'm gonna take the car back to St. Louis on the failed paint job and get it done up there. The dealership that failed me down here is Energy Country F-L-M; they claim that Ford has put them on some sort of digital imaging program and that they can't even take the car into the shop without having used Ford's special digital imaging equipment first...which Ford hasn't sent to them. Sure smells like :bs: to me...they've already taken my mil-gauge readings (I've still got them written down on the back of the bodyshop manager's business card) so I can't fathom any other reasons for the delay, other than they just don't want to do it. I was originally scheduled to get this done at Sunset Ford in STL the first week of November, but the deployment came up---it would've been great to get it done down here because I could've spared myself the expense of a rental car. The CG offices are only 2 blocks away, along with the Market Basket, the Walgreen's, Blockbuster, Subway, Wendy's, etc....you see what I mean?

Otherwise this has actually been a good trip for the Marauder. I've gotten PowerSlot rotors, Hawk HPS pads, total Metco rear suspension, Addco swaybars, and a working Autometer OP guage installed over the last few months. I've built up enough financial reserve that when I go to get the differential TSB taken care of, I'm going to take with me an Innovative Interceptors diff girdle and stud kit as well (may be a month or so Wes, but the order IS forthcoming!) I've picked up a front end squeak since my last windshield replacement (I had to have the glass replaced twice in as many weeks because the roads here in Pt. Arthur SUCK and the trucks don't believe in mudflaps), my hood seems misaligned on the driver's side hinge. Probably have to get that fixed too...just the hazards of using it as a daily driver, I guess.

Hope to get over to Baytown or Houston in the next week; I've got to work tomorrow but there's a thin chance I can still get to Baytown in the evening if the test-n-tune is still going on. See you guys later...

[txkent]

I just read this thread - and see that you're about to leave Beaumont/Port Arthur - the only question I have is what you thought of the smell of the town when you first rolled in? :) I had to go to Beaumont for business a few years ago, and when I stepped off the plane, I about gagged. (And I come from a town that is based on petrochemicals - Corpus Christi - where Petrograde gets sent from time to time.)

Congrats on your engagement, and just know that all of Texas isn't like Beaumont/Port Arthur! :)

[marauder307]

I just read this thread - and see that you're about to leave Beaumont/Port Arthur - the only question I have is what you thought of the smell of the town when you first rolled in? :) I had to go to Beaumont for business a few years ago, and when I stepped off the plane, I about gagged. (And I come from a town that is based on petrochemicals - Corpus Christi - where Petrograde gets sent from time to time.)

Haven't really noticed a smell...the prevailing winds around here usually push the refinery smog over to Louisiana. :D It does get bad down by the waterside, which is where I've spent most of my time. I think the worst that I've seen it, however, was just yesterday---we had to go down to Sabine by water and check out a report of sandblasting pollution around the jack-up rigs that are being serviced down there. We found the place all right---we sailed straight into a cloud of spent silica blasting media. We hacked for a bit and got over it...I think. Those nitwits down there were sandblasting the bottom of some old rig and not using anything to contain the dust.

That WILL make you gag...hell with it. The Coast Guard's on the hook if I come down with some weird version of lung cancer 10 years from now...

[RVT04]

Haven't really noticed a smell...the prevailing winds around here usually push the refinery smog over to Louisiana. :D It does get bad down by the waterside, which is where I've spent most of my time. I think the worst that I've seen it, however, was just yesterday---we had to go down to Sabine by water and check out a report of sandblasting pollution around the jack-up rigs that are being serviced down there. We found the place all right---we sailed straight into a cloud of spent silica blasting media. We hacked for a bit and got over it...I think. Those nitwits down there were sandblasting the bottom of some old rig and not using anything to contain the dust.

That WILL make you gag...hell with it. The Coast Guard's on the hook if I come down with some weird version of lung cancer 10 years from now...
sorry to hear about the road debris that always pisses me off
since your leaving the coast and headed back north slow down through the d/fw area long enuff to say howdy to us in the north texas group let us know when you'll be coming through and maybe we can have a sit- down lunch or something
you know any excuse to get together
besides i wanna see this paint stripe thing
rvt04

[marauder307]

sorry to hear about the road debris that always pisses me off
since your leaving the coast and headed back north slow down through the d/fw area long enuff to say howdy to us in the north texas group let us know when you'll be coming through and maybe we can have a sit- down lunch or something
you know any excuse to get together
besides i wanna see this paint stripe thing
rvt04


Sorry rvt...my route doesn't take me through DFW... :depress: ...and because the warranty repaint didn't happen, there's no stripe to show you even if I could get up there.

Just started packing up the electronics today...bought a TV/stereo/other good stuff since I've been down here; thank goodness for the big trunk. :cool4: I finish up my outprocessing tomorrow, and hit the road Friday morning.

It was great to get down to Houston last weekend to see the STOMP folks...really enjoyed my afternoon at the Baytown track. There's a possibility I may find myself back in this area again for a few days, on "company" business this time as opposed to the USCG, and hopefully I'll have the Black Hulk improved and more ready to run. I've been surfing around Lidio's webpage and the AA site; Wes, you need to save me a rear end girdle/stud kit, be calling you in a month or so. When I think I can do it, I'm gonna order up the Xcalibrator from Lidio and get a AA tune on it. One of these years I'm also gonna get the driveshaft and T/C replaced with better-than-stock...I'm rambling again...

Port Arthur's actually been a pretty good assignment, although the schedule (ha ha) has pretty much sucked. I like the smallness of the town; I've never been a big-city guy. I do wish they could get Hwy 69 between PA and Beaumont fixed tho...this was a good way to spend the winter. Missed the STL snow...actually I didn't.

I'll post again from the road. See y'all lata...!

[marauder307]

Late breaking story here...

http://www.kbtv4.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=8468

This happened today...I didn't get called out for it, because I've already turned in all my accountable property (body armor, gunbelt, PFD, etc.), but the guys on my crew all hit the water about 2 this afternoon. STA Sabine was on scene first...looks like the guy who got medevac'd to Houston is still in critical condition. Dunno who's going to salvage the RENE I, but they've got a big job ahead of 'em...

I hit the road tomorrow morning. First stop is Jackson, MS for a hotel and some room service :P . Saturday I head out for St. Louis. Talk to y'all then... :D

[marauder307]

Well, I'm home.

Got back to almost-clear blue skies and COLD! When I left TX it was almost 80 degrees by 9:30 that morning...STL was only in the mid-50's at 4 in the afternoon!

Terri was waiting for me, and we've been spending the last few days getting re-acquainted. :P :D :cool4:

My enlistment is almost done...June 2nd is the last day, and I've no intention whatsoever of reupping. There's a lotta dirt involved with the way my activation was handled---or more properly, mishandled---and I foresee some legal action on the horizon. I hate the idea of turning my guns on my fellow Coasties (FIGURATIVELY speaking, here), but I think it's gonna happen. Not going to say any more here...for anyone who's interested, PM me, and we'll talk offline.

My hat's off to the STOMP folks...you guys are great!

With that, I bid you all a good day. If Mary or Logan happens to read this thread, I would ask that it be closed. Thank you.

[MM03MOK]

Welcome home, Baker.