All posts by Bob Yeager

AMMO History

Check Out AMMO Alley

If you haven’t seen the latest version (43rd) of the Shell & Flame, then you missed a good read titled “Ammo Alley” that Mike Roylance submitted.  It is  copied from a story called “Fiddler’s Green” attributed to the United States Field Artillery Association and adapted to fit the other guardians of peace, United States Air Force Ammo Troops.  Be sure to check it out by clicking the link above.

General Information

2016 Moody Blues Ammo Fest aka M*A*S*H

2016 moody ammo mash
2016 Moody Blues Ammo Fest aka M*A*S*H

Ammo troops and families from all over the Eastern United States made the trip to the Forward Operating Location, Jones Pecan Farm of Ray City, Georgia for the Annual Ammo Veterans Association Moody Blues Ammo Day. This year’s theme was our old MASH characters who we all grew up with on the Far East Network and the Armed Forces Network Radar, Klinger, Hawkeye, Hotlips and the gang. Ammo troops from as far away as Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, South and North Carolina and Virginia merged to celebrate along with the Active Duty Ammo Troops from Moody AFB, Home of the Famous A-10 Hogs, “The Flying Tigers”!

Activity began early on Thursday 29 September with the raising of the Ammo Flag at Ground Zero. Campers began arriving soon afterward in RVs, camping trailers and tents. Motels and Moody Billeting soon began check-ins of more Ammo troops. The smell of burgers, brawts, and hot dogs filled the air as the sound of laughter, greetings and stories got louder! The celebration had begun! Two four ship flyovers of A-10s wooed us late afternoon! Friday saw more and more arrivals as our Ammo Chiefs began appearing. We were honored this year with Chief O’Hern, Chief Zima, Chief Fick, Chief Wilson, Chief Whitten, and many more of Ammo’s Pride! Colonel Hopkins (ALCMs) had a great time with us and was appointed our commander in case there was trouble! Luckily we didn’t have to use him! What a great bunch of Ammo troops from Viet Nam, Cold War, Desert Storm and present day all celebrating what we know best as FAMMOLY.

2016 moody blues ammo mash coin
3rd Annual Moody Blues Reunion Coin

Saturday October 1st, was a super day with well over a hundred Ammo Troops and their families enjoying the camaraderie once again of fammoly. Ammo Brother Joe Santua cooked us up a fine hog along with playing us a few songs. Ammo-Dog, Dave Bressler arrived. We had a wonderful raffle and auction to help raise funds. Ammo Sister Dolly Witt began singing us into the evening where karaoke got the attention of our Moody Ammo Troops. They did a fine job singing several songs that entertained the crowds. What a blessing to be able to recognize and enjoy being around our active duty folks. They are very special to all us, and we praise them for carrying on the Ammo Life. The party lasted throughout the evening.

Sunday brought a few sighs and lots of hugs. Everyone promised to keep in touch and to “Keep the Flame Burning” through social media and of course by telephone. The Ammo Veterans Association wants to thank everyone who participated in this year’s event and invites everyone back for Moody Blues Ammo Day October 7th, 2017!

Memoriam

Chief Shawn Patrick Byrne

Shawn Patrick Byrne
Shawn Patrick Byrne

Shawn Patrick Byrne, 55, passed away on November 21, 2016, after a courageous two-year battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Yon Hui (“Suk Kyong”) Byrne and daughter Jessica Byrne. He will be missed terribly and remembered with tenderness.

Shawn, who spent 27 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant (E9), was born in La Mesa, California. He spent several years of his childhood in San Diego, then moved with his family to Dodge City, Kansas, where he graduated from Dodge City Senior High School. He  joined the Air Force soon after and spent his career as an electronics technician at major USAF installations around the world, including Aviano in Italy and Osan in Korea. He retired in 2006 and settled with his family in Cypress, Texas, just outside Houston. At the time his illness was diagnosed, he worked at FMC Technologies as a project manager.

While in the Air Force, Shawn completed his bachelor’s degree in computer management. He had a natural gift for computers and math, but he also loved Porsches, tattoo art and movies, especially science fiction and action films. Classic rock n’ roll was his life-long passion – he believed Led Zeppelin was the greatest band in the history of the world – and before he became ill, he was learning to play the guitar. He was a man of extraordinary patience with a gentle demeanor – Shawn volunteered for a time as leader for his daughter’s Brownie troop at the elementary school near Aviano AFB. He loved maple donuts, sushi, iced coffee and chopped barbecue beef sandwiches, and he was always a good sport about bringing a corn dish to the family’s Thanksgiving feast. He was also famous within the Byrne clan for grilling kalbi (Korean short ribs) to go with his wife’s Korean japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) and dumplings.

Shawn and his wife Yon Hui were married for 36 years. Shawn is also survived by his father Joseph Byrne and mother Joan Byrne of College Station, as well as his sister Melissa Byrne Vossmer and her husband Mark Vossmer of Lago Vista, nephew Jacob Vossmer and his wife Leslie Vossmer of Lago Vista, sister Teresa Byrne-Dodge and her husband Cameron Ansari of Houston, niece Taylor Dodge of Houston and nephew Samuel Dodge of Winter Park, Colo.

Shawn never stopped making plans for the future, all the way to the edge of life. His excellent sense of humor shone even more warmly as his illness progressed.

A memorial celebration was held on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at the family home.

Source: Houston Chronicle, Dec. 4, 2016