I used to work at a truck driving school, and had several of them come through for their cdl after they got out. The only thing I had to teach them was how to stop for traffic. Iykyk 🤣🤣
@@robertratzmannii9436 it’s gotta be hard to break that habit, shit gets in your way in a war zone you hit the gas and run it over most of the time I’d think. Can’t really do that on a regular ol road though
A coworker of mine was a trucker in Afghanistan, he told me he was under orders to not salute officers. He said one day he was ordered by an officer to salute and bullets started flying. He said his Gunny ripped the officer a new one.
Most officers are only book smart..which is why they act uptight. They can see there's a line for Shopet to open and they'll still cut to the front and try to open locked doors. Then they get upset when everyone laughs. 🙄
Everything you said is true, in 2003 we had sandbags on the floorboards and I rode gunner sitting on a metal bar in a makeshift turret. In 2004 I had the "hillbilly deluxe mad max" welded metal plates bolted onto my 915 AKA US Army's semi truck... As stated we did everything we possibly could to get it there from food to bullets to water, usually fuel which means insta barbecue if it went south. THANKS FOR TELLING THEM HOW IT WAS!
Couple years after I got back my grandma said she realized I had one of the more dangerous jobs in Iraq. We were big, green and slow. And my truck was a fuel truck 900 gallons of JP8 armed with a MK19 callsign Zippo. We were a Roman candle on wheels
God bless you and thank you for everything you and your family have done for me 😊. I'm a disabled American. Without millions of amazing badasses like you over the last 250 years I would not have the peace on the home front needed to survive while unable to work/run consistently.
They would do that in the Vietnam war. The US Military wouldn't send them actual armored trucks so they MADE THEIR OWN. Welding scrap metal, M60s, M2s and more onto Duece an a halves. There is a pretty cool documentary on it.
Sorry, I meant to post that link here...wasn't trying to detract from the video. JOHN PORTER has some really cool footage of all manner of trucks and AFVs IN Vietnam.
You didn't post all of the guns they had that was just what the military said they could have they would do whatever they could to get fifties on there as well as miniguns and whenever we got over there they called up the guys from Vietnam to see what they needed to do and started making those trucks again and using the same tactics
I watched a cool interview a few years ago. An 88m was talking with a guy who had the same MOS in Vietnam. They faced a lot of the same problems. IEDs, constant ambushes, the works. Back then, they called them "Gun Trucks." They welded metal plated to them for armor and traded stuff with infantry and artillery units for weapons to mount on their trucks. IIRC the military kind of went back to basics when they realized supply chains were facing issues seen in Vietnam, and got a group of Vietnam 88ms together to help standardize trucks to combat guerilla attacks on convoys. What we got out of that were the new iteration of Gun Trucks Needless to say, it worked.
"Man, all this air isn't stopping bullets. Wish we had steel like we did in Vietnam." - Anyone that drove a military truck in the last 20 years in a combat zone.
I was surprised TFE didn't reference the Gun Trucks used in Vietnam in this video. He did do a video on them, but that may have been after this one? I've seen a few of them in museums, they never should have been phased out! Don't EFF with our Boats, and don't shoot at our Gun Trucks!!
My father's dad was a trucker in the Korean war. Died of old age at 88. He was never in real combat or danger, just taking soldiers and supplies up to the frontline. His truck was from ww2 and the radio was garage, so he loved his map a lot, but couldn't read N,S,E,W right so he put markers on the road and his map to said left or right here. And he got it done faster then everyone else. He said to me when I was young was the real only time he had to change his pants moment was, when he was driving up to a base and he felt a huge bump hit his truck, but continued driving. When he stopped to check what it was, it was a dud 152mm artillery round in the bed of his truck. Yeah, but he loved what he did and went out happy. Still miss him for the stories, and stuff to talk bad about my dad when he was young.
"parallel park a fucking train" 😂😂 #Facts, some of the best drivers I've met have been 88Ms. Ironically some of the worst have been civie CDL holders 🥴
To you and all the descendants of the Red Ball Express, thank you for being the long hard part of the spear. The pointy bit couldn't do it without you.
Proudly serving as an 88M and from the war stories, I've heard from my fellow Soldiers and NCOS that spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq. 88M will do the mission no matter what because bullets can't fly without supplies. They told me once they had a FOB that was black on ammo and they pushed a 37 truck convoy 66 hours nonstop to get to that FOB.
As an 88M that, comes from a support company in an Infantry Battalion, I just want to say thank you! This video was so satisfying. Our deployment to Iraq in 09-10 was a Convoy security mission and it was insane to think back about how much we were on the road in an IED fi£ed sandbox.
A shout out to military spoons would be amazing in honor of my husband who is a veteran that served 13 years with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thank you sir, love your videos!
As a Marine I respect all those in the military. Some jobs are easier then others. But I'm writing this with tears still in my eyes from laughing so hard my wife in the other room came in to see if I was alright. My dude, you brought some laughter in my life thank you. Lol 😆 I'm still dying from the these guys could parallel park a train omg. I'm dying here. Thanks for all your videos
@@the_fat_electrician I’ve had to parallel park a semi; I’m not so sure I want to try parallel parking a damned train, but thanks for the vote of confidence!!!
Thank you for your service, and sacrifice, Aaron. It's for brave men and women like yourself, and our brothers and sisters who never made it home outside of a pine box, that I refuse to kneel for the flag or anthem. Gods bless you, and I hope your injuries don't pain you too much. Hoo Ah!
As a grunt, I spent two years in Iraq escorting convoys of 88M and they were some of the best soldiers I ever saw. Much love for those wheeled freaks! ~JRH
Yup. My crew got pushed out before RCP went out, we found one. No damage, called it in and kept rolling. Turns out, it was the SECONDARY. EOD found the primary during their sweep. We got lucky that night.
Quackbang thanks for this piece on 88Ms. Just want to share some history of the 737th TC (Bulk Petroleum) TLDR: We delivered 150 million gallons of JP8 throughout Iraq, travelled over 1.5 million miles as a company, endured 69 SIRs (Serious Incidents) ranging from Small Arms Fire, IED’s, RPGs, and Complex Attacks. While operating CAGO systems (Civilian Acquired Government Owned), basically while operating white civilian unarmored 8K tankers with a red strip and Christmas tree lights. We suffered 18 wounded no fatalities and many injured. We deployed with 169 soldiers and return with 132. Now here is the eye opener: Full Story: The 737th TC was an Army Reserve bulk Petroleum company out of Yakima, WA. Consisting of enlisted soldier and NCOs with backgrounds ranging from schoolteachers, police and correction officers, small business owners, a professor at the University of Washington, housewives, students, mechanics, and an executive from Boeing. Oh yah, and one civilian, who the Army insisted he still had time on his 8 year contract, then after 3 months doing convoys in Iraq they found the original copy of his contract and realized he was a civilian after all... I’m not making this up! Among officer ranks, we had corporate managers, a psychologist, an entrepreneur and a Chip and Dale Professional Male Dancer…Yah no shit! The 737th TC deployed initially to Kuwait to perform bulk petroleum missions there. At the last minute we received a change of mission were told to leave our 7.5K tanker assets state side and that we fall upon 88M assets in Kuwait. Once we arrived in Kuwait, we received another change of mission, which now was to perform Force Protection and load out mission at the Theater Distribution Center (TDC) in Doha Kuwait, this didn’t last very long. Around this time the war was declared over and there wasn’t any insurgency threat. All logistical support missions were being handed off to KBR Halliburton and the units and soldiers performing those mission were being redeployed stateside. Hell, the war was over after all. Then the shit hit the fan, the insurgency came out of nowhere and began attacking KBR convoys filled with unarmed US expat operators, many of the expats were captured, tortured to death and then mutilated and hung from over-passes set a fire. We knew a few of them for they passed through TDC. The expats convoys ran to the nearest FOBs and abandoned their equipment. We then received another change of mission and that was to police up all the 8K tankers scattered among FOBs throughout Iraq and bring them down to camp Cedar in Southern Iraq and take over KBR’s petroleum support mission. We policed up over 800 8K Mercedes-Benz tanker systems and marshaled them at Cedar. We took out what we needed to perform the bulk fuel mission. We would swap out battle damaged systems with a fresh ones, by the time we left there were less then 250 operational systems left in Camp Cedar. Did I mention these things were soft (unarmored). When the entire Iraqi theater logistical support elements were stood down till unarmored, the order didn’t apply to white assets only green assets.
I ducking love this my mom was a truck driver in desert storm. I showed her this and she laughed so hard and said it's all true. Your amazing man keep up the great work with the videos. I'll be buying merch and you a beer for this
3531 was my mos when I served. I appreciate the recognition and as a (military grade) trucker. Us 3531's and 88M's had our hands in a lot more than people think.
Do one for the PJs next. when the DOC is turned into a SEAL and whos goal is to get to you AT ALL COSTS, including fighting through the front line of a combined chinese and russian mechanised force. then huffing it an extra 50miles. to throw upto 600lbs of seal blubber over their back, then fight their way back out, while doing open-heart surgery at the same time. That movie 'black hawk down' would have been much fucking shorter if there was PJs doing the fighting rather than just 'search and rescue' before being shot down. Every branch of the military has its point and its job. the PJ's are to get to you and fuck everything up in its way to you. then get you and themselves out alive. that is their point. in and out... and they for sure, carry enough body bags for everyone they rip a new asshole.
As a 88m that fought in Iraq thank you for the shout out. My unit hauled 5500 gallons of gp8 "jet fuel" to supply the tanks. most dont realize what we do so thanks love your channel
Love your content, the mixture of truth and humor is awesome. Had a suggestion, maybe do a video series on the divisions of the 18th Airborne Corps eg 82nd, 101st , 3rd ID.
As a 0411 I spent a lot of time watching 3531s and without a doubt they could parallel park a train without tracks. I used to watch them do pick up practice with ISO containers and an LVSR. Back from one side of the motor pool to the other 90 degrees all the way to the back line up lock pull up and away 60 seconds.
And fix your shit. Heard a story that some operator did not wanna be out in the cold with the mechanic fixing his vehicle so the next morning his heat magically stopped working
this is true, if i can fix your stuff i can also make sure it never works for you as well. i can even make it so it works when i am around and stops when you try it.
In 2004 we rolled into Ramadi with canvas doors on our humvees and spent the next seven months hanging armor kits on trucks as they became available. Thank you for the shout out.
88M here!!! 8 years in 96th TC Heavy Truck!!!! Thank you for the recognition brother. A lot of people think we’re noncombat; fact is, we probably see more combat than other support MOSs.
I had a friend in my 2nd enlistment, (I changed from 13F to 88M), who as also an 88M who said 'there are 2 kinds of 88M, those who are smart enough to do other things, but like driving the big trucks, and those who are too stupid to even be infantry'. And I had a few of the 2nd type in my 2nd enlistment unit, but also lots of the first type. But one thing I will say most of my fellow 88M could do was drive their trucks, and we did certainly get shit moved to where it needed to go. One of my most memorable convoys in Iraq (2004-2005) was one in which we had an Apache assigned to escort us as one of our trucks had some sensitive equipment behind them.
Someone I know was supply and transport. Was never deployed. Got himself into enough trouble. Enough funny stories of stuff happening while his was in service but in the States.
My uncle was a 3531 and yeah, he was able to parallel park a train. Apparently, he was able to bring in, turn around, and back in a truck hauling three trailers.
As a 88m that served 26 months In the kitty littler box know as iraq. Being a Gun Truck Operator was a bad ass job. Sir you are correct it is a MOS that don't get its dues. But the Amry did try and change that a bit by offering C.A.B. to some of us. Thanks from the 88mikes for the shout out.
I drove a 916 freightliner with a low boy trailer and was attached to a route clearance company and hauled several tons of c4 on my trailer along with blown up vehicles in Afghanistan
I've had my share of riding with the 88m in my unit. I was a 77f. Petroleum supply. We had very "interesting" convoys in Afghanistan. Always fun getting from camp to camp with fuel running out the tankers from bullet holes.
What the 88M/ 3531 men and women went through during GWOT reminds me a lot of the gun trucks during Vietnam. Most didn't wait for approval by commanding officers, they simply took matters into their own hands because they knew how important of a job they had and did whatever it took to get it done. They are living proof of land of the free because of the brave
Hey, thanks for making this video I had a good friend of mine who was a 88M died in Afghanistan from small arms fire they were in it just like we were, glad someone finally pointed that out.
As a 88N I used to travel with the Mike's a lot. Generally speaking November's kind of like a forward observer for these guys so I really appreciate this video. Because also generally speaking knowing that you're directing men and women into potential ambush locations because it's the only way when it's the only way to get non remf mofos their Scooby snacks and wintergreen long cut is psychologically damaging enough that you almost volunteer to go with them
Proud 88M here! I am glad us IED finders got some props! Thank you! I loved the rich history of how 88M invented gun trucks out of nessecity in Vietnam. Really cool story you should check out, and do a Part 2 of 88M!
The scariest moment for me as an 88m was getting my truck hit with an Ied while standing in a 50 cal turret and having the truck totally disabled. I escaped unharmed but the absolute worst was realizing we still had a 2-3 hour ride from tikrit to kirkuk. 😢
I was an 88M for 20 years. I remember in 03 we were issued Interceptor Vests. I took my old flak vest and strapped it to the inside of my door, and my assistant driver did the same with his. We would try anything to improve our chances.
Missile Maintenance Teams for ICBMs, currently leading these fellows and the shit they do is badass. They handling nuclear warheads on a daily basis. You’re awesome!!!
@@salert-wy4mw all of your security is provided by CRF. Missile maint know nothing about ACTUAL convoys. Try bragging about your “convoy” duty in front of 2T1’s who lost friends to IEDs in Iraq, or who did gun trucks in Afghanistan and see how fast you get put on your a$$
Man, those pics bring back memories. I may have been a 63b, but the first unit i was placed with was a het transportation unit. It's one of the coolest semi's I had the pleasure to train on.
Thank you for the drink, as an 88M we're also trained to kick in doors and secure a building as a last resort if we're knocked out until retrieve gets there. Yeah we're not as sane as grunts at times.
My grandpa was a trucker during WW2 and the leader of a convoy during a long lead slinging party between the Germans and US. . . Later in his life he taught his kids to drive because nothing phased him lol
Not true about the .50 cal! I remember being told the same story about the .50 cal, even if the round doesn't hit you, the low pressure area behind the round will rip off limbs, and yada, yada, yada. And then one night in Iraq, a local national driving a dump truck tried to run a hasty traffic control point we had set up. Unbeknownst to him, it was Delta company, our anti-armor/anti-tank company that had set up the TCP. Also, unbeknownst to him, a young gunner up the road in a support position saw him drop the truck down a gear and gun the engine. So he put a burst from the Humvee-mounted .50 into the cab. Didn't kill the guy, but I guarantee you, the guy had shit himself. I saw pictures- there was a half-inch diameter hole in the back pillar of the cab, right at head level. O_o
@@rbhe357 Yeah, pretty sure. th-cam.com/video/0ABGIJwiGBc/w-d-xo.html There are *SOME* cases of very long-range confirmed kills in Iraq with .50 BMG weapon systems where I suspect the deceased was not actually hit with the round itself. That is where I suspect these stories may have come from. Namely, SGT Brian Kremer, 2-75 Ranger Regiment (2,515 yards), SSG Steve Reichert, 2-2 Marines (1,765 yards), and SFC Brandon McGuire 3-509 PIR (1,433 yards). Of note is the fact that all kills were made using the same weapon system- a Barrett .50-caliber rifle. I won't even bother calling it a "sniper rifle," because it's not. Really, it's an anti-material rifle that fires a round that has enough power and range to take out a person at really long ranges, if only it had enough accuracy. Which it kinda doesn't. So, rather than change up the rifle, you change up the ammo. ALL of these shots were made using Raufoss Mk211/NM140 MP cartridges. This is what's referred to as a "combined effects" round. That means it is armor-piercing, incendiary, AND high explosive, all in one deadly little freedom seed. In fact, it's said that one .50 Raufoss round has the same destructive power as a standard 20mm round. Why try to hit a target hiding behind a wall with a standard .50-caliber ball round when you can just hit the wall in his general vicinity and let "combined effects" do the rest?
@@Tinhead426 a .50 cal round can pass next to a lit candle and it won't blow it out, everything about a .50 cal miss and injuring something is false, unless it's from shrapnel, all that pressure wave and "Shockwave" stuff is nonsense.
As an 88M10 for 8 yrs in the Army I definitely approve this message! Lol we are huge moving targets. I was a 50 gunner way back when. ( wearing the lords flannel). 536 trans!!! Hooah
I just keep getting sucked into your videos and I’m not complaining! You should do ones about 91Bravos (wheeled vehicle mechanics) I can’t wait to see what you have to say about us 😂
@@rbhe357 This dude Ryan has the balls to think that only a 50 cal round can create the concussive force strong enough to kill a human being without touching then, and USES A VIDEO OF A DEAR CLEARLY GETTING SHOT IN THE FACE TO PROVE IT! If you think that the 50 can do what you say it does, you have the GT score of an 88M's big toe.
Idk how it could be done or if it would be entertaining, but small arms and artillery repairers would be cool to do, since it's kinda forgotten about sometimes
I used to roll with them with my engineering platoon on a regular basis clearing roads. It was not fun most of the time and I saw a lot of things that I wish I could unsee.
That BMG myth has been tested many times. While I love the idea of the concussion wave being deadly, it is unfortunately not even strong enough to really knock over a house of cards. Rant over :P
I joined the army as a 51R burned down a building, got trained as a 64C then cross trained into a 88M got out and became a civilian truck driver, been serving in that capacity for 35 years now.
As a fellow electrician, what do you think our equivalent of; “so skilled at what they do, I’m pretty sure they could parallel park a fucking train” would be? Would it maybe be something like; “we’re so skilled at what we do, I’m sure if we gave just 1 more fuck we could parallel park electrons if we wanted to”
I started my military career as a 51R Elechicken back in 84. Loved it till I found out promotion points were 998. So I switched to 13Fuck-it kill’em all. That a Forward Observer-Joint Fires Observer. Pro point were 556, you just had to be alive. 😂😂
I joined the Air Force because I was told we still drove the convoys for the Army. We did in the 2000s but we stopped somewhere around 2010-2013. I was very disappointed
I’d love to get your take on the army 91 series. I’m a 91E, and I had a chief that described us as “arts and crafts fuckers who tactically acquire any and everything not nailed down”
@@jasonschomburg614 mechanics are great. But they tend to not steal from a 91E, least in my unit. We’ll just take it back, and take some more, probably take a broco rod and put it through an engine or something. Just depends on how we feel that day.
Great video and very accurate description. I was a 63B before getting injured and getting an honorable discharge. But I was tied onto a transportation unit. Fixing that shit on the side of the road while trying to play dodge ball in full battle rattle. Best times. Great video. I will drink to that.
I used to work at a truck driving school, and had several of them come through for their cdl after they got out. The only thing I had to teach them was how to stop for traffic. Iykyk 🤣🤣
Im a current 88m, we don't stop for anything 🤣🤣 but ill be dammed if we don't make that hit time to bring everyone their ice and shit bricks lol
Lol
Freedom seeds I love it
@@robertratzmannii9436 it’s gotta be hard to break that habit, shit gets in your way in a war zone you hit the gas and run it over most of the time I’d think.
Can’t really do that on a regular ol road though
@@zyanidwarfare5634 or with a commercial grade semi, the only level lower than military grade lol.
A coworker of mine was a trucker in Afghanistan, he told me he was under orders to not salute officers. He said one day he was ordered by an officer to salute and bullets started flying. He said his Gunny ripped the officer a new one.
I'm a civilian AND I KNOW you don't salute in the field. See his videos on what happens when the officer is "un-alived"....🤨😁🤣
Most officers are only book smart..which is why they act uptight.
They can see there's a line for Shopet to open and they'll still cut to the front and try to open locked doors. Then they get upset when everyone laughs. 🙄
I've always considered that the Darwin's selection for officers. Knowing this rule, if they still ask for the salute, they *deserve* the salute.
This is why we hate officers. They’re more concerned with their careers and their status as officers than they are with doing their fucking jobs.
@@Canlyn62 SNIPER CHECK
18+ years as a 88M and 3 years in Iraq....I finally feel like someone understands it lol
Everything you said is true, in 2003 we had sandbags on the floorboards and I rode gunner sitting on a metal bar in a makeshift turret. In 2004 I had the "hillbilly deluxe mad max" welded metal plates bolted onto my 915 AKA US Army's semi truck... As stated we did everything we possibly could to get it there from food to bullets to water, usually fuel which means insta barbecue if it went south. THANKS FOR TELLING THEM HOW IT WAS!
Couple years after I got back my grandma said she realized I had one of the more dangerous jobs in Iraq. We were big, green and slow. And my truck was a fuel truck 900 gallons of JP8 armed with a MK19 callsign Zippo. We were a Roman candle on wheels
God bless you and thank you for everything you and your family have done for me 😊. I'm a disabled American. Without millions of amazing badasses like you over the last 250 years I would not have the peace on the home front needed to survive while unable to work/run consistently.
@@spartanspear300 badass 😎
@@racer3886 sorry for the late reply but it was a sad day when they took the MK19 away from the Trans companies
They would do that in the Vietnam war. The US Military wouldn't send them actual armored trucks so they MADE THEIR OWN. Welding scrap metal, M60s, M2s and more onto Duece an a halves. There is a pretty cool documentary on it.
The good ole Gun truckers stealing big guns from a wherever they could. Miniguns and MaDuces.
We did that in Iraq in 03-04 when I was there
Sorry, I meant to post that link here...wasn't trying to detract from the video. JOHN PORTER has some really cool footage of all manner of trucks and AFVs IN Vietnam.
You didn't post all of the guns they had that was just what the military said they could have they would do whatever they could to get fifties on there as well as miniguns and whenever we got over there they called up the guys from Vietnam to see what they needed to do and started making those trucks again and using the same tactics
@@lord_vader87 M2s are .50s. And I forgot the Rest. Though im Sure they had some Sort of explosive, like the M79.
I watched a cool interview a few years ago. An 88m was talking with a guy who had the same MOS in Vietnam. They faced a lot of the same problems. IEDs, constant ambushes, the works. Back then, they called them "Gun Trucks." They welded metal plated to them for armor and traded stuff with infantry and artillery units for weapons to mount on their trucks. IIRC the military kind of went back to basics when they realized supply chains were facing issues seen in Vietnam, and got a group of Vietnam 88ms together to help standardize trucks to combat guerilla attacks on convoys. What we got out of that were the new iteration of Gun Trucks Needless to say, it worked.
"Man, all this air isn't stopping bullets. Wish we had steel like we did in Vietnam." - Anyone that drove a military truck in the last 20 years in a combat zone.
I was surprised TFE didn't reference the Gun Trucks used in Vietnam in this video. He did do a video on them, but that may have been after this one? I've seen a few of them in museums, they never should have been phased out! Don't EFF with our Boats, and don't shoot at our Gun Trucks!!
"I can shoot you with this .50 cal, but running you over is much more entertaining"
-some 88 mike personnel
Crunchies.
Tankers call em crunchies, these mfs call the squishies?
@@PrinceAlhorian road bumps
Traffic cones.
Speed bumps
My father's dad was a trucker in the Korean war. Died of old age at 88. He was never in real combat or danger, just taking soldiers and supplies up to the frontline. His truck was from ww2 and the radio was garage, so he loved his map a lot, but couldn't read N,S,E,W right so he put markers on the road and his map to said left or right here. And he got it done faster then everyone else. He said to me when I was young was the real only time he had to change his pants moment was, when he was driving up to a base and he felt a huge bump hit his truck, but continued driving. When he stopped to check what it was, it was a dud 152mm artillery round in the bed of his truck. Yeah, but he loved what he did and went out happy. Still miss him for the stories, and stuff to talk bad about my dad when he was young.
God bless him.
HOLY CRAP.... No pun intended.... Yeah... I don't know, but I might've had a heart attack! Glad he was still around to tell you about it.
That definitely qualifies as a pucker moment.
“We Can, We Have, We Will get it there.” The motto of the 88M’s. *salutes*
@@robertsmith470at minimum a pucker moment
"parallel park a fucking train" 😂😂
#Facts, some of the best drivers I've met have been 88Ms. Ironically some of the worst have been civie CDL holders 🥴
@UmbraSicarius69
Hey, I resemble that remark!!!
I’m an 88M and a civie CDL holder!!!
C4 or any form of plastic explosive will now always be "angry play-doh"
That and serious putty.
Spicy sculptures
Also known as " Danger Putty "
I like "danger puddy" too
@@mcpheonixx Also known as "Shit Putty"
I was an 88M for 6 years. Thanks for the MOS shout out. Definitely an underrated job
To you and all the descendants of the Red Ball Express, thank you for being the long hard part of the spear. The pointy bit couldn't do it without you.
Proudly serving as an 88M and from the war stories, I've heard from my fellow Soldiers and NCOS that spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq. 88M will do the mission no matter what because bullets can't fly without supplies. They told me once they had a FOB that was black on ammo and they pushed a 37 truck convoy 66 hours nonstop to get to that FOB.
The boys (and ladies) needed freedom seeds, shitbricks, and unused piss, so they sent 'em their freedom seeds, shitbricks, and unused piss.
I remember a similar situation when i was in Iraq in 2005. AH-64s provided support for that ammo train
"We load the ships, we load the trains, so that the other lads can load the guns and planes..." -Transportation Song
Wow for a minute there I was hating my life I thought I hated my 88m job but now this truly boosted my morale😂😂😂
Same
Don't worry. As a 91B, I hate you enough for the both of us, and then some
Us infantry guys only hate 88Ms because you have vehicles and we have to fucking walk everywhere
@@Sma11Phr1e666
Our vehicles are easier targets than you walkers!!!
But I’d hate walking as well!!!
Amateurs study tactics; experts study logistics. I have much respect for those that bring me the 3 B's - Beans, Bullets, & Band-Aids!
AS A FOUR TOUR COMBAT VET 88M of IRQ and AFG I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS VIDEO
Adam, from Bowling Green?? LB here.
As an 11b, I have drivers badge/device from both Iraq and afghan, and about 1600 collective miles. 88m is definitely a combat mos.
Gunner: “damnit I missed”
driver: “but he’s still dead”
gunner: “but not as dead as I want him to be”
story of a 50cal gunner
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
But he’s dead. He could be deader. I want it so his family won’t be able to identify him.
I have a reply but it's too gruesome and I don't wanna upset the fragile FB people and admin LOL
Pink Mist is amazing
THAT is hilarious! 🤣🤣
As an 88M that, comes from a support company in an Infantry Battalion, I just want to say thank you! This video was so satisfying. Our deployment to Iraq in 09-10 was a Convoy security mission and it was insane to think back about how much we were on the road in an IED fi£ed sandbox.
A shout out to military spoons would be amazing in honor of my husband who is a veteran that served 13 years with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thank you sir, love your videos!
As a USAF Vehicle Mechanic (2T3), here’s to all the 2T1’s (Vehicle Operators) that got it done as well.
2T354!!! AMEN!!
2t131 here
2T1 retired 1058/424 vet here
@@AFMountaineer2000 Thank you sir for paving the way for us new airmen, from stories Ive heard ya’ll old timers kicked ass!
As a 462xx weapons troop, send word and we'll load an F15 for ya... Incoming!!
As a Marine I respect all those in the military. Some jobs are easier then others. But I'm writing this with tears still in my eyes from laughing so hard my wife in the other room came in to see if I was alright. My dude, you brought some laughter in my life thank you. Lol 😆 I'm still dying from the these guys could parallel park a train omg. I'm dying here. Thanks for all your videos
that's awesome I'm glad you like um
@@the_fat_electrician
I’ve had to parallel park a semi; I’m not so sure I want to try parallel parking a damned train, but thanks for the vote of confidence!!!
Been waiting for this. Everytime I get a youtube notification I hope it's one of your videos. Love your content.
thank you!!
My Grandfather was a US Army trucker in the Korean War . He is still hanging around at the age of 88 years old.
Thank you for giving us 88M a video. We adjusted in Iraq in 2003 cause we weren't ready. I'm 50% disabled thanks to being a 88M
Thank you for your service, and sacrifice, Aaron. It's for brave men and women like yourself, and our brothers and sisters who never made it home outside of a pine box, that I refuse to kneel for the flag or anthem. Gods bless you, and I hope your injuries don't pain you too much. Hoo Ah!
I’m at 70%, Afghanistan was fun.
as a non military truck driver. I respect and honor our military drivers and would hire one anyday.
I love these videos and the comments. Wish my buddies and I still talked. 3 of us went in. 1 navy. 1 marine. 1 army
Prior 88m and I can remember putting sandbags on the floor of the trucks. Also welding plates to the inside of the doors.
I love your videos.
thanks for ur service and being a fan!!
As a grunt, I spent two years in Iraq escorting convoys of 88M and they were some of the best soldiers I ever saw. Much love for those wheeled freaks! ~JRH
I’m in the Infantry and I say God bless our combat support and every POG in the military.
And somewhere, someone is screaming "Shut up, Karl! They aren't supposed to know!" 🤣🤣 (Former 88M/91B, with all my fam going 11B/11X)
I don't consider 88Ms POGs at all. If you gotta drive a vehicle through the same route as the armed convoy? You're a fucking grunt, period.
The only people who are better at route clearance than the actual RCP are the 88M's... unfortunately.
Yup. My crew got pushed out before RCP went out, we found one. No damage, called it in and kept rolling. Turns out, it was the SECONDARY. EOD found the primary during their sweep. We got lucky that night.
Quackbang thanks for this piece on 88Ms. Just want to share some history of the 737th TC (Bulk Petroleum)
TLDR:
We delivered 150 million gallons of JP8 throughout Iraq, travelled over 1.5 million miles as a company, endured 69 SIRs (Serious Incidents) ranging from Small Arms Fire, IED’s, RPGs, and Complex Attacks. While operating CAGO systems (Civilian Acquired Government Owned), basically while operating white civilian unarmored 8K tankers with a red strip and Christmas tree lights. We suffered 18 wounded no fatalities and many injured. We deployed with 169 soldiers and return with 132. Now here is the eye opener:
Full Story:
The 737th TC was an Army Reserve bulk Petroleum company out of Yakima, WA. Consisting of enlisted soldier and NCOs with backgrounds ranging from schoolteachers, police and correction officers, small business owners, a professor at the University of Washington, housewives, students, mechanics, and an executive from Boeing. Oh yah, and one civilian, who the Army insisted he still had time on his 8 year contract, then after 3 months doing convoys in Iraq they found the original copy of his contract and realized he was a civilian after all... I’m not making this up! Among officer ranks, we had corporate managers, a psychologist, an entrepreneur and a Chip and Dale Professional Male Dancer…Yah no shit!
The 737th TC deployed initially to Kuwait to perform bulk petroleum missions there. At the last minute we received a change of mission were told to leave our 7.5K tanker assets state side and that we fall upon 88M assets in Kuwait. Once we arrived in Kuwait, we received another change of mission, which now was to perform Force Protection and load out mission at the Theater Distribution Center (TDC) in Doha Kuwait, this didn’t last very long. Around this time the war was declared over and there wasn’t any insurgency threat. All logistical support missions were being handed off to KBR Halliburton and the units and soldiers performing those mission were being redeployed stateside. Hell, the war was over after all.
Then the shit hit the fan, the insurgency came out of nowhere and began attacking KBR convoys filled with unarmed US expat operators, many of the expats were captured, tortured to death and then mutilated and hung from over-passes set a fire. We knew a few of them for they passed through TDC. The expats convoys ran to the nearest FOBs and abandoned their equipment. We then received another change of mission and that was to police up all the 8K tankers scattered among FOBs throughout Iraq and bring them down to camp Cedar in Southern Iraq and take over KBR’s petroleum support mission. We policed up over 800 8K Mercedes-Benz tanker systems and marshaled them at Cedar. We took out what we needed to perform the bulk fuel mission. We would swap out battle damaged systems with a fresh ones, by the time we left there were less then 250 operational systems left in Camp Cedar. Did I mention these things were soft (unarmored). When the entire Iraqi theater logistical support elements were stood down till unarmored, the order didn’t apply to white assets only green assets.
Don't forget about us AF 2T1's who came in to Augment the Army 88M's... and... this video is on point!!!
RIP A1C Eric Barnes, also what up Strickland Hunewill here.
Army and Marines share the Motor Transport Training center in Fort Leonard Wood Missouri. Awesome training.
I ducking love this my mom was a truck driver in desert storm. I showed her this and she laughed so hard and said it's all true. Your amazing man keep up the great work with the videos. I'll be buying merch and you a beer for this
glad you liked it!
3531 was my mos when I served. I appreciate the recognition and as a (military grade) trucker. Us 3531's and 88M's had our hands in a lot more than people think.
Do one for the PJs next. when the DOC is turned into a SEAL and whos goal is to get to you AT ALL COSTS, including fighting through the front line of a combined chinese and russian mechanised force. then huffing it an extra 50miles. to throw upto 600lbs of seal blubber over their back, then fight their way back out, while doing open-heart surgery at the same time.
That movie 'black hawk down' would have been much fucking shorter if there was PJs doing the fighting rather than just 'search and rescue' before being shot down.
Every branch of the military has its point and its job. the PJ's are to get to you and fuck everything up in its way to you. then get you and themselves out alive. that is their point. in and out... and they for sure, carry enough body bags for everyone they rip a new asshole.
As a 88m that fought in Iraq thank you for the shout out. My unit hauled 5500 gallons of gp8 "jet fuel" to supply the tanks. most dont realize what we do so thanks love your channel
Love your content, the mixture of truth and humor is awesome. Had a suggestion, maybe do a video series on the divisions of the 18th Airborne Corps eg 82nd, 101st , 3rd ID.
As a 0411 I spent a lot of time watching 3531s and without a doubt they could parallel park a train without tracks. I used to watch them do pick up practice with ISO containers and an LVSR. Back from one side of the motor pool to the other 90 degrees all the way to the back line up lock pull up and away 60 seconds.
Absolutely FUCKING AWESOME as always! " Freedom seeds" is definitely one I'm adding to my already extensive vocabulary! 🤣
Bro, where have you been for like... _at least_ the past 10 years?
They've always been called freedom seeds
@@mr.nobody68
Dude, I've never once heard someone call them "freedom seeds".. living in South Georgia you'd think I would have.
Thanks for the shout out for my mos 88m!! 03-04 Iraq. Wild ride!!
I was always friends with the 88Ms my platoon never waited on our supplies. Be friendly with the people that bring your food
And fix your shit. Heard a story that some operator did not wanna be out in the cold with the mechanic fixing his vehicle so the next morning his heat magically stopped working
this is true, if i can fix your stuff i can also make sure it never works for you as well. i can even make it so it works when i am around and stops when you try it.
2T1X1 AF Ground Transportation. Did two tours in Iraq with the 424 MTD. Even the AF was in on the convoy gig.
“Just like Squad all over again”
“You don’t fuck with the Logi”
In 2004 we rolled into Ramadi with canvas doors on our humvees and spent the next seven months hanging armor kits on trucks as they became available. Thank you for the shout out.
88M here!!! 8 years in 96th TC Heavy Truck!!!! Thank you for the recognition brother. A lot of people think we’re noncombat; fact is, we probably see more combat than other support MOSs.
CAV?
@@robertlopez3271 what about CAV
As an Army veteran and a current civilian trucker, parallel parking a train is a very apt description.
88M/92A can confirm, our battlecry was "you make it happen, anything, anywhere"
30 minute delivery or its free!
I had a friend in my 2nd enlistment, (I changed from 13F to 88M), who as also an 88M who said 'there are 2 kinds of 88M, those who are smart enough to do other things, but like driving the big trucks, and those who are too stupid to even be infantry'. And I had a few of the 2nd type in my 2nd enlistment unit, but also lots of the first type. But one thing I will say most of my fellow 88M could do was drive their trucks, and we did certainly get shit moved to where it needed to go. One of my most memorable convoys in Iraq (2004-2005) was one in which we had an Apache assigned to escort us as one of our trucks had some sensitive equipment behind them.
Someone I know was supply and transport. Was never deployed. Got himself into enough trouble. Enough funny stories of stuff happening while his was in service but in the States.
My uncle was a 3531 and yeah, he was able to parallel park a train. Apparently, he was able to bring in, turn around, and back in a truck hauling three trailers.
I am actually loving his videos just waiting for a mechanic video and a 101st video too now
As a 88m that served 26 months In the kitty littler box know as iraq. Being a Gun Truck Operator was a bad ass job. Sir you are correct it is a MOS that don't get its dues. But the Amry did try and change that a bit by offering C.A.B. to some of us. Thanks from the 88mikes for the shout out.
I drove a 916 freightliner with a low boy trailer and was attached to a route clearance company and hauled several tons of c4 on my trailer along with blown up vehicles in Afghanistan
Late to the show but here I am. I was expecting the usual trash talk about the 88M. Thanks for the flowery words 👊🏻
"Getting Shit Done; Regardless of What it Takes" sounds like the motto on the next DISTRO Platoon T-shirt.
Thank you fat electrician I was an 88 Mike truck driver in the army from 2007 to 2012. Deployed Iraq 2009 to 2010 and it got blown up and shot
Loving the channel brotha! I binged all the episodes yesterday, so glad to see a new one!
I've had my share of riding with the 88m in my unit. I was a 77f. Petroleum supply. We had very "interesting" convoys in Afghanistan. Always fun getting from camp to camp with fuel running out the tankers from bullet holes.
What the 88M/ 3531 men and women went through during GWOT reminds me a lot of the gun trucks during Vietnam. Most didn't wait for approval by commanding officers, they simply took matters into their own hands because they knew how important of a job they had and did whatever it took to get it done. They are living proof of land of the free because of the brave
Hey, thanks for making this video I had a good friend of mine who was a 88M died in Afghanistan from small arms fire they were in it just like we were, glad someone finally pointed that out.
As a 88N I used to travel with the Mike's a lot. Generally speaking November's kind of like a forward observer for these guys so I really appreciate this video. Because also generally speaking knowing that you're directing men and women into potential ambush locations because it's the only way when it's the only way to get non remf mofos their Scooby snacks and wintergreen long cut is psychologically damaging enough that you almost volunteer to go with them
Proud 88M here! I am glad us IED finders got some props! Thank you! I loved the rich history of how 88M invented gun trucks out of nessecity in Vietnam. Really cool story you should check out, and do a Part 2 of 88M!
The scariest moment for me as an 88m was getting my truck hit with an Ied while standing in a 50 cal turret and having the truck totally disabled. I escaped unharmed but the absolute worst was realizing we still had a 2-3 hour ride from tikrit to kirkuk. 😢
I was an 88M for 20 years. I remember in 03 we were issued Interceptor Vests. I took my old flak vest and strapped it to the inside of my door, and my assistant driver did the same with his. We would try anything to improve our chances.
My dad was 88M. And he's still damn proud of it. As he should be.
My youngest brother, a 88M and 15 years latter he is still damn good at what he does, he now drives for the presents staff!
Missile Maintenance Teams for ICBMs, currently leading these fellows and the shit they do is badass. They handling nuclear warheads on a daily basis. You’re awesome!!!
Missile maint aren’t real truckers. Your “convoys” happen in states like Nebraska. 2T1’s did actual convoys in Iraq and saw actual combat.
David H fuck with a convoy and find out
@@salert-wy4mw all of your security is provided by CRF. Missile maint know nothing about ACTUAL convoys. Try bragging about your “convoy” duty in front of 2T1’s who lost friends to IEDs in Iraq, or who did gun trucks in Afghanistan and see how fast you get put on your a$$
Man, those pics bring back memories. I may have been a 63b, but the first unit i was placed with was a het transportation unit. It's one of the coolest semi's I had the pleasure to train on.
A couple of years ago I watched a documentary about the 88 bois in nam. And those kids were all around 18 to 19 years old
I love your videos!! So I just ordered 2 of your shirts!! Much love and support to you sir!!
I've never had a content creator go from just randomly coming across to daily checking this fast 😂 might have something to do with quack bang
“We Can, We Have, We Will get it there.” The motto of the 88M’s. *salutes*
You need a shirt about the forever box... cordless hole puncher ... and crunches !
I second this! It's Cordless Hole Puncher O'clock!
Thank you for the drink, as an 88M we're also trained to kick in doors and secure a building as a last resort if we're knocked out until retrieve gets there. Yeah we're not as sane as grunts at times.
As an 88M from Iraq, I approve this video.
Love all your videos, excellent delivery
My grandpa was a trucker during WW2 and the leader of a convoy during a long lead slinging party between the Germans and US. . . Later in his life he taught his kids to drive because nothing phased him lol
😂😂😂 accurate! As an army engineer, we has to transport our own equipment. We were trained in evasive movements and how to react to ambushes...
Always look forward to these videos
QUACKBANG OUT!! *TM
My cousin was 88m in Afganistan. He came out alive but has some serious ptsd. Thanks for recognizing those guys and gals.
I'd love to see you do route clearance teams. Going up and poking IED's with a stick is pretty sketchy.
Thank you for the Motor T video! I was a 3531/3534 hauling a tanker full of jet juice through Iraq
Not true about the .50 cal! I remember being told the same story about the .50 cal, even if the round doesn't hit you, the low pressure area behind the round will rip off limbs, and yada, yada, yada.
And then one night in Iraq, a local national driving a dump truck tried to run a hasty traffic control point we had set up. Unbeknownst to him, it was Delta company, our anti-armor/anti-tank company that had set up the TCP. Also, unbeknownst to him, a young gunner up the road in a support position saw him drop the truck down a gear and gun the engine.
So he put a burst from the Humvee-mounted .50 into the cab. Didn't kill the guy, but I guarantee you, the guy had shit himself. I saw pictures- there was a half-inch diameter hole in the back pillar of the cab, right at head level. O_o
You sure about that?
th-cam.com/video/6P3uwl5HzzQ/w-d-xo.html
@@rbhe357 Yeah, pretty sure. th-cam.com/video/0ABGIJwiGBc/w-d-xo.html
There are *SOME* cases of very long-range confirmed kills in Iraq with .50 BMG weapon systems where I suspect the deceased was not actually hit with the round itself. That is where I suspect these stories may have come from.
Namely, SGT Brian Kremer, 2-75 Ranger Regiment (2,515 yards), SSG Steve Reichert, 2-2 Marines (1,765 yards), and SFC Brandon McGuire 3-509 PIR (1,433 yards).
Of note is the fact that all kills were made using the same weapon system- a Barrett .50-caliber rifle. I won't even bother calling it a "sniper rifle," because it's not. Really, it's an anti-material rifle that fires a round that has enough power and range to take out a person at really long ranges, if only it had enough accuracy. Which it kinda doesn't.
So, rather than change up the rifle, you change up the ammo. ALL of these shots were made using Raufoss Mk211/NM140 MP cartridges. This is what's referred to as a "combined effects" round. That means it is armor-piercing, incendiary, AND high explosive, all in one deadly little freedom seed.
In fact, it's said that one .50 Raufoss round has the same destructive power as a standard 20mm round. Why try to hit a target hiding behind a wall with a standard .50-caliber ball round when you can just hit the wall in his general vicinity and let "combined effects" do the rest?
The pressure wave dosen't necessarily rip limbs off most of the time it causes internal bleeding depending on how close the round actually gets.
@@Tinhead426 a .50 cal round can pass next to a lit candle and it won't blow it out, everything about a .50 cal miss and injuring something is false, unless it's from shrapnel, all that pressure wave and "Shockwave" stuff is nonsense.
@@kompound52 No its called physics, just becaus you dont understand something doesn't make it nonsense.
As an 88M10 for 8 yrs in the Army I definitely approve this message! Lol we are huge moving targets. I was a 50 gunner way back when. ( wearing the lords flannel). 536 trans!!! Hooah
I just keep getting sucked into your videos and I’m not complaining! You should do ones about 91Bravos (wheeled vehicle mechanics) I can’t wait to see what you have to say about us 😂
Also very much appreciated the respect given to those us in that MOS regardless of the branch
Just waiting on the “gun expert” to tell everyone that a .50 cal missing you won’t kill you! 🤣
yeah... about that... lol
@@toasteratemytaco beat him by a minute.
@@toasteratemytaco how is your reply before the original comment what
I came looking for those commenters.
th-cam.com/video/6P3uwl5HzzQ/w-d-xo.html
@@rbhe357 This dude Ryan has the balls to think that only a 50 cal round can create the concussive force strong enough to kill a human being without touching then, and USES A VIDEO OF A DEAR CLEARLY GETTING SHOT IN THE FACE TO PROVE IT!
If you think that the 50 can do what you say it does, you have the GT score of an 88M's big toe.
Bro I fucking love you videos because u give the most raw form of what each MOS is💯🤣
1:27 I still don't know why people say this. Its flat out false and basically impossible.
I have found a new favorite content. I love these videos, informative and hilarious as hell. These just made my day. Please keep these videos coming.
Idk how it could be done or if it would be entertaining, but small arms and artillery repairers would be cool to do, since it's kinda forgotten about sometimes
I was a 91f for some odd years. Glorified parts changer and Depot sender lol
I used to roll with them with my engineering platoon on a regular basis clearing roads. It was not fun most of the time and I saw a lot of things that I wish I could unsee.
That BMG myth has been tested many times. While I love the idea of the concussion wave being deadly, it is unfortunately not even strong enough to really knock over a house of cards.
Rant over :P
I see you're a fan of demolition ranch
@@mr.nobody68 indeed
I joined the army as a 51R burned down a building, got trained as a 64C then cross trained into a 88M got out and became a civilian truck driver, been serving in that capacity for 35 years now.
As a fellow electrician, what do you think our equivalent of; “so skilled at what they do, I’m pretty sure they could parallel park a fucking train” would be? Would it maybe be something like; “we’re so skilled at what we do, I’m sure if we gave just 1 more fuck we could parallel park electrons if we wanted to”
Bahaha yes! Now we need the rest of the skilled trades!
I started my military career as a 51R Elechicken back in 84. Loved it till I found out promotion points were 998. So I switched to 13Fuck-it kill’em all. That a Forward Observer-Joint Fires Observer. Pro point were 556, you just had to be alive. 😂😂
I was a 3534 semi refueler loved driving them in the Marines.
You should do military police
I joined the Air Force because I was told we still drove the convoys for the Army. We did in the 2000s but we stopped somewhere around 2010-2013. I was very disappointed
I’d love to get your take on the army 91 series. I’m a 91E, and I had a chief that described us as “arts and crafts fuckers who tactically acquire any and everything not nailed down”
Blood Ravens!
Mechanics will also tactically acquire any thing and everything, even if it is bolted down. I don't give a shit if your truck runs, but mine will.
@@jasonschomburg614 mechanics are great. But they tend to not steal from a 91E, least in my unit. We’ll just take it back, and take some more, probably take a broco rod and put it through an engine or something. Just depends on how we feel that day.
Great video and very accurate description. I was a 63B before getting injured and getting an honorable discharge. But I was tied onto a transportation unit. Fixing that shit on the side of the road while trying to play dodge ball in full battle rattle. Best times. Great video. I will drink to that.