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Well, there I was (this is the straight scoop or no sheet, this really happened) in Kuwait for the pre-war/war...a volunteer this time, BUT...working as a civ div contactor to the USAF, working the cargo lne in Kuwait.
One morning (pre-war) I noticed some "Heavy Hawgs," Sea Hawgs," Hydraulic Hawgs," way down the corgo/flght line. My curiosity got the best of me so I asked around and another Civ Div friend of mine said the Marines were in town. On my first break from unloading the USAF "big iron" I ventured down there and...lo & behold...it wasn't just the Marines, it was "The Screw," (HMH-462, my old squadron from Okinawa days). Well, for me, it was an instant bonding, for them, it was an amiable old man that drove a 13K forklift. One might imagine, in a deployment status, just what worth that may have, and they knew, as well.
In true fashion, I committed/disposed my services to the guys there trying to put together their "Heavy Haulers" which somehow had another engine on them that I never experienced as a 7564 w/3000 hrs (A & D). Although my shift was limited to 12 hours on, the word was passed that these guys were special and most of the other cargo line guys helped out whenever they could. It is unimaginable what an old USMC Loggie/Supply/Pilot pogue could do with a 13K forklift and all the "shtuff" the USAF considered as trash. It'll be up to one of them guys to tell you...
What officers I met, asked me if I knew where the nick-name "The Screw" came from and I explained as best I could. As you might expect, the maintenance gunny kept glancing around at all the cargo and was asking questions about this and that...'nuff said. I believe they moved on to their next fwd position well equipped, well over TO&E as far as Marines are concerned...again, ask one of them.
When they left town, the "Snakes" came in but there was not the demand for the 13K as for the Heavy Haulers.
When they came back thru Kuwait, we did the same thing for them, and got them out of the theatre as quickly as they could take things apart.
After that, I think everything went direct north.
My utmost kudos to the men of "The Screw" who were the shining light and great inspiration for me to come out of the village and get on the 13K and do work.
Hooper
USMC 1969-1981
7564
13K forklift driver/Kuwait (Jan '03 - Feb '04)
The officers were so young, yet seemingly quite proud...and quite inqusitive as to how "The Screw" got it's name.
Posted : 2006-02-09 00:35
how "The Screw" got it's name.
Okay, Hooper. Now, inquiring minds want to know. Just how did the "Screw" get it's name??
Posted : 2006-02-09 09:20
Topic starter
How HMH-462 got tagged as "The Screw"
The way I learned it, in or around '75 or so, when the Helo outfits were rotating back to the states, HMH-462 was designated to go to Oki and be based out of there (there was a Frog outfit as well). The manning level was filled with personnel who might of gone home early, but were sent to Oki to finish out their 12-13 month non-accompanied tour cycle. Not all personnel were first tour WESTPAC either, and I take it they thought they should have gotten a "short tour" out of it, but such was not the case.
Of the a/c authorized (when I was there in '76) there were very few flyable, as there were several on their way to North Island, waiting on the docks to be shipped, and a few cocoons on the flightline. Then, sadly to say, we had few wrecks that year as well: Hedin tore the doghouse and overhead controls off with the rotorblades, Gale broke a tail boom during a test hover and subsequent hardover, and Whipple ditched in the Pacific Ocean never to be found.
Probably the best source of information for that time period and subsequent would be Paul Moore, the Sikorsky Tech Rep who apparently stayed there with them for several years after the move.
Hooper
Posted : 2006-02-10 01:40
Paul Moore!
I should've known that. I'm one of many to call Paul Moore friend and learned early on about his experience and "total recall" of events past. I'll ask him.
Thanks, Hoop!
Posted : 2006-02-10 06:56
