Some fond* memories I have of VMAQ-2, the EA-6B, USS Midway, the USMC, and Others.
 

VMAQ-2 Det-X
First Marine EA-6B's Prowling WESTPAC / Indian Ocean

      
True Blue Brew Crew - Squadron Plaque - and yours truly.               

While not engaged in Airborne Tactical Electronic Countermeasures, my terrestrial ride.
( A 74 Corvette, owned until 1990.  Subsequently stolen, used, abused, and accumulating $800 in parking tickets in Los Angeles before pieces  of it was found in a chop-shop in Riverside.)  

  
Office for my day job back in the day.                             Grumman EA-6B Prowler Aircraft        

     ECMO* to DDS.      (*Electronic CounterMeasures Officer)

     To the USMC I once was Apprenticed,
     As an ECMO engaged as a War Prevent-ist.
     In search of a future intense with Foment-ist,
     I decided at last to become a Dentist.

     When I return as a Molar Adventist,
     After paying back all of those bucks I was Lent-est.
     False Teeth do I pledge to try to Prevent-ist.
     As a Bona Fide, Certified, Cut-and-Dried Dentist.

Life is good, and should always be enjoyed and lived to the fullest.                      

After leaving active duty I attended the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, WI.  A Doctor of Dental Surgery degree was granted in 1984.  I was accepted to, and performed a one year General Practice Residency in Hospital Dentistry, at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital in Loma Linda, CA.  After the Residency I started my private practice of dentistry in Moreno Valley, CA, where I still practice today.  Maybe one day I'll get it perfect. (P.S. note that EA6B belt buckle in the picture.)

    While in dental school I joined a Milwaukee MTU, (Mobilization Training Unit).  Moving to California I transferred to MTU CA-49.  CA-49 was most interesting, it was a MTU that not only drilled in uniform,  but drilled along side active duty units.  MTU CA-49 operated various Warfare Simulation Systems (simulators).  The Simulation Systems included the Combined Arms Staff Trainer (CAST),  a computer based Marine Tactical Warfare Simulation System (MTWSS), and other training simulators.  It was a most rewarding time for me to actually contribute to the readiness of our Marines before they were deployed.   Some active duty was also performed during those years.   Upon reaching 20 years of service I transferred to the Retired Reserve attaining the rank of Major.  (Now, I only have to live long enough to start receiving some of those "Big Bucks".)   Semper fi.

Fitness never ends & Camouflage is Continuous.

In 2008 I participated in a Mountian Warfare Training Challenge with my friend Erick, who is 12 years younger and a graduate of the SEAL/Bud program.  (I beat him. Enough said - at least this "Can Do Easy" Marine Rules at Altitude.)

Also in 2008 I participated in a Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge.  It was held at UCLA.  What a fun day that was. I beat my friend in the Swim, but he won overall.  I am proud to say that I finished the event in the top 3 percent of all participants, regardless of age! (What is going on with America's youth, I was 57 at the time, I really don't think that I should perform that much better than all those "young-uns".)

Just for fun in 2002 a little swimming, running and diving was enjoyed, just for the health of it.  The Coronado Rough Water Swim, the La Jolla Rough Water Swim, a SUPERFROG, and a Catalina Clear Water Classic was completed.  See you in the "Pond".

The Camp Pendleton Mud Run in June 2000 was another great Marine Corps experience.   Is that mud or is it camo-stick gone wild.   For a Marine in combat boots there is no greater pleasure than to do a little PT in the field.

Happy Birthday Marine Corps: ( I have always tried to get to a USMC Birthday Ball )

2003  2005  2007  2008 2007 Queens Birthday Ball
  2010 NOHA2011 NOHA  2012 ADV Club Christmas Dinner2013 NOHA

2015   2015 NOHA
ADV Club Vet Dinner

( Believe it or not, I have always been able to wear my Dress Blue Jacket, which may have been a reason that I liked going to the Birthday Balls.  Over the years I guess that I have had to eat a little less volume of banquet dinner in order to leave some room to breathe.   To be honest with you, about 8 years ago the trousers were let out a little.   My wife Jane, finally talked me into getting an Evening Dress when she saw how nice they look.    I do plan to get my money out of this uniform, it had better last for the next 30 years!)   
 

Some more pictures and thoughts... (click on image for larger picture)

   
Belly-up; the business end of the Prowler.   No, the bunny did not blow it's mind out, just a little souvenir of my first hot cat shot.  Prowlers stacked on the line in Atsugi, Japan.

  
     Catapult off the Midway.             Contemplating Tailhooks.     Tucked in front of the island.

Some other images....you place you own captions.

Good memories, almost as good as the one's that we will make tomorrow.
  
  

     
Left image is Prowler asleep in a bunker, Right image shows Det-X either coming or going. It is all a blur today.  Center image shows damaged bow of the USS Ranger.  That damage, from a  freighter in the Straits of Malacca, caused USS Midway to abort our Perth, Australia cruise, and assume the USS Ranger's Mission in the Indian Ocean.  During the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Midway was the first carrier to arrived on GONZO (Gulf of Oman Naval Zone of Operations) Station.  Flying from USS Midway, VMAQ-2 flight operations generated the initial data in support of the planning for a hostage rescue attempt. Midway was subsequently relieved and returned to Japan.  The carrier air groups which relieved Midway, completed the planning process, and conducted the rescue attempt.  (You know that it was not a success.  The hostages were eventually released under a new presidential administration.  What you may not know is that another hostage rescue plan was in the works: look up Project Credible Sport for more info.)

Getting gas from our A-7 Tanker.  The EA-6B Prowlers dirty little secret: Propellers !

Early images from Quantico with M-60, MTU CA-49 Briefing on ship during a "Kernel Blitz" exercise, rock and roll with MP-5 / training for night ops, another dress uniform, the most important picture, my wedding, and a last memory of the  Whidbey Flying Club.  (Successfully completed two solo cross country flights, then deployed with Det-X.  Returning from Cruise I left active duty,  entered dental school and quit smoking.   My life and interests experienced some major changes; flying is now a fond memory.)

And now a little story.... (This is just one, of many little experiences, which has made me proud of my fellow Marines, and the Marine Corps.)

In 2006 I was on Camp Pendleton purchasing items for the Evening Dress. I was standing deep inside of cash sales near the uniform area.  I'm in civilian clothes, hair a little longer than it was during OCS, and over thirty years older.  I look through the glass doors and what do I see.  I see two silver stars on the shoulders of a tall officer in combat uniform.  From the outside of glass doors he makes eye contact with me, he immediately swings open the doors and with right hand and arm extended, walks briskly to me.  He takes my hand firmly, shakes it and pleasantly greets me stating "Hello Bob Iannello, It's been a long time. How are you!". He starts to recount stories about me from OCS and TBS. I was speechless at first, not recognizing his face, but after reading the name from his name tag, the memories were coming back.  We had a most pleasant conversation for the next 10 to 15 minutes.  I filled him in on what I have been doing since TBS, and he updated me on his career.

I must say that I was most impressed with his memory, the fact that he not only recognized my aged face, but actually remembered my name, and recounted personal stories after a greater than 30 year lapse in time.  I thought that was remarkable.

There are many qualities which contribute to great leadership. This man's vast memory and immediate access to details is but one of many qualities which no doubt has served him, and I must think, our Country and the Marine Corps well.  On this day, this man was reporting in, for his next duty assignment.  His new assignment was to be the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division.  It was General John M. Paxton, Jr. who I met that afternoon. 

And that was the rest of the story. 
 

Semper Fi

Robert R Iannello, DDS
Major, USMC
Member #1100, The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles
Director, Crestline Experimental Dive Unit

Link to my Home Page

Dr. Bob's  Home Page   

My "Home Page" has more web pages and pictures of the many things which I am involved in. Such as human powered Submarine Racing, building and using Closed Circuit Diving equipment, and many other areas of interest to me.  In fact there is more stuff than you really have a "need to know".   So view at your own risk.

(*)   *Those memories which I do not consider fond have been expletively deleted from mind and body. ( And you know who you are.)

20100207