bluskidave

Make sure Ilya swims in the right direction!

Fredericksburg lost one of its own to the fighting in Iraq very early Sunday morning when 1LT Phillip Isaac Neel died of wounds auffered during an engagement with enemy forces north of Baghdad. The second-oldest of Fredericksburg residents col. Leroy(Lee) and Kathy Neeel's six children,the 27-year old U.S. Army infantry officer was killed near Balad in the Diyala Providence. A Department of Defence statement issued Monday said Neel died of wounds sufferredd when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using grenades. Later, in a phone call here Tuesday afternoon, Neel's familylearned from his battalion commander in Iraq that the young platoon leader had sustained a serious leg wound about 10 minutes after midnight Easter Sunday but continued to give orders for men to return fire from where he'd fallen. He was evenetually airlifted from the scene by a medical evacuation helicopter but reportedly died a short time later around 2 a.m. A 1998 Fredericksburg High school graduate, Neel had been serving in Iraq since october 2006 with the 3rd Battalion,8th Cavalry Regiment,3rd Brigade,1st Calalry Division out of Ft. Hood. With services for Neel still pending,hopes are to have his body interred sometime next week in the U.S. Military Academy Cemetary at West Point,NY. Depending on when burial can take place,the Neel family would like for a memorial service to be held at 10 a.m. saturday, April 21,in the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium. "Phillip was an inspiration and leader to his five siblings,"his family said in a prepared statement issued late yesterdayafternoon."He led by example and consistently challenged them to do the right thing in all circumstances, no matter what pressures were involved." "He was a blessing to his parents and honored them by his compassion, his commitment to serving the lord,his bravery and his selflessness," the statement continued."He cared deeply for his soldiers and died as he lived-putting others' needs before his own. Phillip loved his faily and his soldiers,and he felt it an honor to seve his country" The family statement concluded by noting, "He prayed for his enemies:he loved his God. We will miss him terribly,but he has left us with many wonderful memories and an unforgettable example of excellence." Neel had recently returned home to Fredericksburg while on a two-week leave from his duty station at Baquba,Iraq,to join his brothers and sisters in a suprise spring break visit for their parents who have lived in Fredericksburg since movinghre in 1996 from Ft. Leavenworth,KS after his father retired as lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army. Prior to being shipped to Iraq,Neel had joined the Army as an enlisted man following his may 1998 graduation from FHS. Advancing to the rank of specialist while serving a tow-year stint with the Army,Neel was deployed to Kosovo as an Airborne un paratrooper. But he then decided to begin the process to become a commissioned officer by studying for a year at the U.S. Military Academy Prep School at West Point where he graduated as second lieutenant in May 2005. At West Point, he was on the school's parachute team and participated in national competitions,preforming group aerial designs and formations during free-fall events. His military honors included the Bronze Star,Purple Heart,Army Achievement Medal with Bonze Star,Iraq Campaign Ribbon, Global War on Terror Service Ribbon, Over Seas Ribbon,Combat Infantry Badge,Parachute Badge and Ranger Tab. Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post Wed.,April11,2007

Glad I'm single!Have fun by the water.hope it's not the guadalupe because it's not flowing much now.I'll be at the Aggie game,thought about jumping at aggieland but their caravan will be at temple.See you monday! Blue skies, dave

Mary, which wilderness area did you hike in? I was in Durango last week for legal business and the weather was a nice respite from our Texas heat.I'd love to have cold fingers and feet right now. Blue Skies, Dave

I can't give you a comparison since the Icarus canopy is the only one I have jumped at SSM with the exception of the Firebolt which I jumped twice and the toggle pressure was, in my estimation,at least 50% greater.Canopy, the Firebolt, has been grounded because of 3 cutaways,due to inabilty to release the toggles.Two where by our S and TA.I have never cutaway from the Icarus from line twists,although I have come close. Russel why did you peg the Icarus? Blue Skies, Dave

Icarus, right? I've never heard of a chop from a Sigma b/c of line twists. _____________ Icarus 365,I had one saturday with 9 twists in it.Couldn't kick out by myself so I had my student help and with a little effort it unwound.

Adam, had one today on the skyhook system,no delay, quick deployment of the reserve, no problems with the reserve. Only problem was that of the twelve tandem rigs we have online at the moment this was the only one that Adam, the staff rigger, didn't pack.Kudo's to Marcelo,chop from line twists. Blue Skies, Dave

Lisa, If you make it to fredericksburg give me a ring lots more than the Pacific WWII war museum. Legal to purchase alcohol and consume on public streets.On your way back to Austin check out www.alberttexas.com Cold beer and wine,live music and I only live 1.4 miles away. Texas heat, what true texans live for. Blue Skies, Dave

Love the Texas heat,especially carrying tandem canopy's in,run out to next plane, close the door to 1500ft. and then cool off.Talk about staying in shape! Beer Light,Agh!!!!

NO!

In the cave that runs through Enchanted rock,turn out the lights,the party's starting.Not!!! to many rattlesnakes down there. best place on the continental divide trail between Wolf Creek Pass and Creede Colorado. Stars may be big and bright in Texas but they are huge in Colorado

Just wanted to let all you conisuierr's of gourmet south Texas B-BQ that I will be slow cooking Brisket south Texas style all day long at the DZ and we will be serving the goods after demo jump @ the Lockhart 4th of July fireworks display.On the menu, moms german potato salad recipe, with a few modification's,and a good old pot of pinto beans,ala,south Texas. No charcoal here, open fire coals from mesquite, oak and pecan logs. Come out and jump, you won't go home hungry. Blue Skies, Dave

0:25:1 21 tandems 2 AFF and two fun jumps with skydivermom.First time I have jumped with her so BEER,49th and 50th jumps for her. 2nd jump was jessica's 100th. blue skies, Dave

I'm sure that Mark Cuban was booing the loudest.I hope that when Pop retires Avery takes over. Blue skies, Dave

Hey Firefly, Those glasses make you look like a sexy librarian.Sorry about the setback. Blue skies, Dave

Damn, now I now why you spend so much time looking at the photo's on the bulletin board at the DZ.I thought someone threw my photo away. Blue Skies, Dave

0:6:0 5 tandems, 1 hop and pop,last tandem was with my personal trainer, 2000th jump to date.Hope the next thousand come much quicker. Blue Skies, Dave

Boy does time fly, no pun intended.Congradulations on getting your first rig, BEER, your A license, and jumping at several drop zones in the great state of Texas. I'll bet that by this time next year you will have a couple of hundred jumps under your belt. Blue Skies, Dave

Sorry about that,SkydiveSan Marcos,Texas and it was supposed to the Southern Cross. blue skies, Dave

Sorry guy's, just got a staff e-mail that the DC-3 would not be at SSM for Easter weekend.The beer BBQ, night jumps and the chance to kick, I mean slap the DZO 50 times is still on. Soft Landings Dave

Kallend, At what% do find of original statements, on quatations? My gripe with the Great State of California is that I have a patient that served in the SOG, wounded once in Vietnam, once in Cambodia, once in Laos.recovered from his wounds only to be permanently disabled after being mugged and beatended to a bloody pulp in downtown LOS ANGELES, California.His wounds in Cambodia and Laos were not recognized.I see how his live has been turned into a shambles. I will not allow this to happen to me even it is Illegal. Come down to Texas and i will introduce you to this gentleman.He was in the airborne before SOG. Blue Skies, Dave

Professor, it is obvious that we come from the different political spectrum, but I always respect your opinion on things because you have the balls to rely on your training and your rigger. Look forward to jumping with you someday. Blue Skies, Dave

Sorry Jim, I should do my 2000th on that weekend and we are supposed to have a DC3 there so I will stay home. Paul,DZO,celebrating his 50th,So should be a good time. Blue Skies, Dave

I love it!!!!!!!!! When i first started jumping I was asked "do you use Nitrous?, Yes, Can you bring a tank out to the drop zone, no, but we will meet you at SAK and PAK.Can you prescribe Vicodin, yes,can you write me a script, no.Why would one want to commit suicide when you are so popular. I take all the classes I can on how to work on kid's and use the same tactic's on adults because when they sit down in the chair all their childhood horror's of dentist's return. DOES IT HURT HERE? Blue Skies, Dave

Even though I can legally charge I don't because 99% of the time it is someone who is moving to another town/state.