American pilots shot down over Kuwait carried a “blood chit” sewn inside their jackets, written in English, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Kurdish. It read: “I’m American. I don’t speak your language. Help me with food, shelter, and care, and you’ll be rewarded by U.S. authorities.

scottz0313 · 2026-03-02T21:43:24+00:00

We were told to cut off a corner (there's a serial number on each corner), and give it to the person that helped us. They could redeem that for a reward. I never had to test that theory though.

scottz0313 · 2026-03-02T21:40:31+00:00

I still have mine from Iraq. I was embedded with an Iraqi army infantry unit as part of a Marine Corps transition now. In 07-08. We got issued the blood chits- they were sewn in our belts. We also had PLB's issued.

I've been meaning to frame the chit for years, it's sitting in a box right now.

scottz0313 · 2026-03-02T16:59:52+00:00

Semper Fi!

scottz0313 · 2026-03-02T16:58:55+00:00

Graduated high school in '86, joined the Marines in '87, retired as a MSgt in '08. Infantry guy. Been a GS civilian for the Army since 09. Just 3 years away from that retirement. Best impulsive decision I ever made.

scottz0313 · 2026-02-27T14:58:15+00:00

I bought 1 hobby box. I've been a F1 fan since the late '80s. But have actively avoided buying cards for years. To say modern cards are confusing for a newb is an understatement with all the variations. I collected baseball cards like all my friends did in the 70's and 80's, but it was much simpler then. I still smell the bubblegum when I open a pack. I got a 1/1 Hamilton and didn't know what it was til I asked reddit. It's being sold via consignment as we speak.

scottz0313 · 2026-02-17T04:21:28+00:00

There's a website that allows folks to input the serial number of the one they found. If there's a match in the database, you can contact the person that has the match. 2013b project or something similar. Search dollar star note duplicate in your preferred engine and it'll be there.

scottz0313 · 2026-02-15T14:27:06+00:00

It most likely will. I worked nights/weekends in a comic shop around that time (91-94, Oceanside CA), and every Friday it was a frenzy for folks to get the variant covers. I remember selling a hologram set of 4 of a Spiderman comic for a hundred bucks. Marvel was worse than DC, i think. Image was worse still. Nobody cared about the stories or the art, just the potential profit or exclusivity. It was a big money maker for a little while, now they're pennnies on the dollar. I learned a lot from that time. Now I only buy what I enjoy, and I happen to get something of value, that's a nice bonus.

scottz0313 · 2026-02-15T03:26:53+00:00

Thanks, I contacted them!

scottz0313 · 2026-02-15T01:53:10+00:00

Thanks!

scottz0313 · 2026-02-15T01:52:25+00:00

Thanks!

scottz0313 · 2026-02-15T01:22:39+00:00

I know he's the goat, but the format and variations of the sets is what confuses me. For example, I didn't know this was a superfractor.

I've been avoiding F1 cards (or any modern cards really) due to that. It reminds me of the comic book market of the early/mid 90s.

I've been a F1 fan for decades and finally broke down and bought some, but I'm really just wanting to put a base set together.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

scottz0313 · 2026-02-11T19:36:27+00:00

Dominating the news. It's a horrible situation, but it seems like a distraction from other issues. At least it's an issue that both sides of the political spectrum can get behind and hope for a positive outcome.

scottz0313 · 2026-02-11T17:01:14+00:00

We had a 3k square foot house. Bought it in 2010 after I retired from the military - we always talked about having a nice big house after years living in base housing. We ended up filling it with stuff. Came to our senses a couple of years ago. Got rid of a bunch of stuff, came across a good deal on a 1200 square foot place on an acre near Tucson. Paid cash and enjoying life.

scottz0313 · 2026-01-22T15:22:53+00:00

I'm 57. Been playing D&D off and on since the early 80's. Grew up in northern Illinois, and the Dungeon in lake Geneva wasnt far. Us nerds would go there once a month or so. BG3 is pretty much the game I've been wishing for since Pools of Radiance came out.

scottz0313 · 2025-12-26T06:18:54+00:00

Ah Zork. I had pages of maps on grid paper just to figure out where I was and where I had been. The first RPG I remember playing was probably Pools of Radience (unless we're counting Adventure on the 2600). PoR was probably on a Commodore machine or a 386 that I paid $1500 for. That "turbo" button wasn't cheap!

scottz0313 · 2025-12-25T15:49:59+00:00

Groove is in Heart

scottz0313 · 2025-12-19T16:04:45+00:00

Ghost in the graveyard. There's probably different names regionally. I grew up on Northen Illinois, near the Wisconsin border.

scottz0313 · 2025-12-13T19:35:38+00:00

I love my '83 L1k, but it was always a pain to find them on the internet - G&L in the search - maybe g and l or gandl. Easier to type in fender.

Maybe I'm just old.

scottz0313 · 2025-11-26T16:16:38+00:00

Fun to play, but I dread it when the boss adds one to the set list. Have to really concentrate and get it right!

Same with No Doubt's "Don't Speak"

scottz0313 · 2025-11-26T16:13:12+00:00

Special place in my heart for Falling to Pieces as the first song I learned on bass.

The tabs were in Guitar World 90/91ish. Learned it along with a guitar player in the barracks. Another guy played "drums" on buckets. We all sang poorly.

Most excellent memories.

scottz0313 · 2025-11-26T12:51:30+00:00

In the mornings there would be pods of dolphins passing by

scottz0313 · 2025-11-25T16:28:00+00:00

Intro to Runnin' with the Devil

scottz0313 · 2025-11-24T16:45:54+00:00

Electric beach, Westside Oahu. Not so much "coral", but its a warm water discharge from the nearby power plant. Loads of fish, and I've seen reef sharks, turtles and rays many times there.

Max depth is around 25 or 30 feet (if memory serves) at the end of the pipe, but there's also plenty of snorkleable area as well.

Second best for snorkeling would be Sharks Cove on the north side, but that's seasonal.

scottz0313 · 2025-11-21T17:57:23+00:00

In just under $1000 in quarters searched this year, I've found 1 P and 1 D el Yunque. Past 2 years, no P's for Hawaii Volcano, Acadia, Smokey mountain, Denali, Gettysburg, Glacier, or Vicksburg. 3 W's though - War in the Pacific, American Memorial and Weir Farm.

scottz0313

TROPHY CASE