In the Marine Corps, you have to know there’d be a lot of back and forth between rotor heads and Fighter/Attack Types. Especially when you had separate bases right close to each other. One year, 3rd MAW was having a rash of accidents. The Wing Commander called a meeting at the base theater for all Group and Squadron C.O.’s… Plus all the Safety Officers and Assistants. The General gave a collective “ass-chewing” to all… In fact, he went on so long, his audience was getting pissed. Instead of getting the “message”, lots of groans, shifting in seats, and sniffs occurred. Finally, the General concludes with… “Is there anyone out there who doesn’t understand what I said or has any questions”. Total silence… But our Skipper was fearless, his name was Mike Gehring and I see his right arm starting to ascend!? WTF? The General sees it and says, “State your name and question”. Mike doesn’t miss a beat… “LtCol. Mike Gehring Sir… I’m sick of all the preferential treatment the fighter pilots are getting around here… Something needs to be done about it." The General, along with all the others present were stunned! Finally, the General comes back with; “What the hell are you talking about”? Mike never skipped a beat… He says, “General, YOU might not have noticed… but believe me the rest of us have. Anywhere we go on base… every Primo parking spot is reserved for fighter Pilots! The Club, the Exchange, the Dispensary, even the Wing Headquarters”! The best, closest parking spot is always reserved for the jet Drivers! You have HAD to have seen them, General. The General then replied, “No, I don’t think I have seen them, how are they labeled?” Mike, with a small smirk on his face, replied, “Well sir, they’re marked…..’ HANDICAPPED'. For about 10 seconds there was total silence… the General smiled, then total pandemonium.
