My Life-Career Bio in Short!
My name is Larry Laborde I was Born in 1956 in San Bernardino,CA. I have been raised & Lived in most of the Western & Southern States in the USA, My 12th year in school was in El Cajon, CA..The Vietnam War was winding down I had went the "Orange show" fairgrounds first weekend in October,( I had just turned 18 in September 1974) The ARMY Reserve had this really Cool Customized Van, With the Air-Brushed Stars & Stripe scene, all the cool stuff at the time. The recuriter said I could get one like it too, all I had to do was Sign Here! You Got it! (Well I had been thinking of joining anyway) and I was sworn in a week latter and got my physical at Norton Air Force Base in October 1974 while in my senior year, I was not supposed to go to Boot Camp untill I finshed school in May 1975, Well so much for Uncle Sam's word! I Got my orders Feb.15th 1975 to be in Ft. Dix, NJ. March 18th.. Kinda of Sucked! as I never got to Graduate with my Classmates, But I did get my diploma from a congressman from the State of California.
When I finished my Boot Camp Training in the Army Reserves in Fort Dix & chemical operations specialist in Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, Mom & Dad had moved back to Louisiana while I was in training, so when I finnished I returned to Louisiana. I Changed service status from Army Reserve over to Nation Gaurd because the unit was close to the town I lived in. My MOS was a 54B20 Chemical equipment Specialist. Most of my training was in NBC..Nuclear,Biological & Chemical, filling Flame Throwers in Modified APC & Personal & learning how to de-contaminate army personnel and repair Gas Masks ect..
Note: The Army recently reorganized this MOS from 54B to 74D..
74D--Chemical Operations Specialist
Major duties. The chemical operations specialist operates, performs operator maintenance or supervises the use of nuclear, biological and chemical detection and decontamination equipment, smoke generators, and assists in the establishment, administration, training and application of NBC defense measures. The nuclear, biological and chemical noncommissioned officer provides training, advice, and supervision regarding the proper use and maintenance procedures for chemical equipment and chemical operations in company and higher level organizations.
Physical demands rating and qualifications for initial award of MOS. Chemical operations specialists must possess the following qualifications:
(2) A physical profile, of 122221,
(3) Normal color vision,
(4) A minimum score, of 95 in aptitude area ST.
(5) Active component personnel (all grades): For initial award of MOS, soldiers must attend resident training at the U.S. Army Chemical School (USACMLS) where they will be exposed, while wearing NBC protective wear, to toxic agents in a decontamination facility. Correspondence course will not be the basis for MOS qualification. ARNG/USAR personnel (all grades): National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers will attend the resident course at USACLMS or at an accredited USAR school or national Guard academy.
I qualified expert in Rifle,Grenade,M-60 & Flamethrower
I made Rank: Spec 4 (Specialist E4)
The Guard Unit I was with was a Tanspotation unit and did not have a "Slot" open for me as they had nothing to do with my type of training. So I became the Company Commander's Jeep driver & communications Radio operator & Later Truckdriver, then wheel mechanic in the motor pool.
I call Louisiana my home (now since 1975)
I worked in the Oil Fields on Land Rigs in Florida,Texas and Louisiana & Offshore in the Gulf of Mexico until 1981, I was working for Diamond M Drilling Co. Now "Diamond Offshore" the Inland Barge "Rig 33" I was on ,was on a deep well about 22,000 feet when the Rig had a Blow-Out! ( Lost Circulation- no return of the Mud, the heavy Mud we were pumping in the hole was going into the formation (SAND) & bottom hole pressure was Higher then we were putting in the Hole). You can find out more on my Oilfield "Blowout" Page
I was Injured, The well came in on us,and the Well Blew! I was Burnt over 65% of my body and spent 10 weeks in a Burn Unit at West Jefferson,LA Hospital(New Orleans). I recovered from my Injury, but with plenty of Scares....I never could win a Beauty pageant anyway! Hi
I have been a Business owner & radio technician since 1981 and licensed by the State.
I have friends that want me to write a Book about some of the things I have done! I don't think I can pursue that, of coarse this is a start! Everyone has a Book about their Life!
You can find out more about me here on "My Ham Radio"
I have Stepped on Alligators & Snakes,Crashed Snowmobiles,Motorcycles,3-wheelers,Cars,Trucks. I have ate: Rattle Snakes,Buffalo Fish,& 4 legged Buffalo (Bison),Moose,Black Bear,Elk,antelope,Mule Deer,Whitetail Deer, Raccoon, Logger Head Turtle,Turtle Soup (soft-shell), Shark, Squid, Abalone, Various "Clams", Shrimp, Snapper, Dolphin, Blue Crab, Rock Crab, King Snow Crab, Lobster, Horse, Crawfish (Mud Bugs), Snails, chocolate covered Ants, and there ain't no tell'in what else?
I hope I did not Bore you....... I will ad more latter!
73' Larry
Places I have Lived ....I have been around, most places before I was 20 yrs old.
San Bernardino, CA. ( Born ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino,_California
Muscoy, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscoy,_California
Riverside, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside,_California
Indio, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indio,_California
Big Bear, CA. http://www.bigbear.com/
Apple Valley, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Valley,_California
Bishop, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop,_California
Corning, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corning,_California
Fort Bragg, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California
Turlock, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turlock,_California
Chester, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester,_California
Westwood, CA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westwood,_California
Kallispell, MT. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalispell,_Montana
Newport, WA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport,_Washington
Tacoma, WA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma,_Washington
Roy, WA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy,_Washington
Kinzua, OR. Now a "Ghost Town" now http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/or/kinzua.html
In 1978, the Kinzua Corporation closed the mill and company town at Kinzua. Drilling begins to find new water source for Fossil. Hail, flash floods, lightning and wind storms destroyed many Wheeler County lands and properties.
In 1979, the last church service was held at Kinzua Community Church. A fire, set by arsons, destroyed the idled Kinzua mill buildings.
Topeka, KS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topeka,_Kansas
Fort.Dix, NJ. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Dix,_New_Jersey
Aberdeen, MD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen,_Maryland
Bartow, FL. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartow,_Florida
Vicksburg, MS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicksburg,_Mississippi
Crowville, LA. http://louisiana.hometownlocator.com/LA/Franklin/Crowville.cfm
Delhi, LA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi,_Louisiana
West Monroe, LA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Monroe,_LA
Monroe, LA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe,_Louisiana
Marion, LA. http://www.city-data.com/city/Marion-Louisiana.html
Baskin, LA. "Current" http://www.city-data.com/city/Baskin-Louisiana.html
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