Hello From Afghanistan (Oregon National Guard Soldier)

[Robert Justice]

I just wanted to say hello and thank eryone for their posts. For the first time I have been trying different techniques and doing more tooling / stamping. It has been a nice way to deal with down time away from family and friends. I have read several posts and can't wait to try some new things.

[Pounder]

Robert:

First, thank you for your service to your country. Second, some very good work done so far, can't wait to see more. Finally welcome to the best leather site im my opinion. I am amazed at the things I learn everyday looking at this site and wish you the best with it and your future leather endeavors.

[Dwight]

As said above, . . . thank you for your service, . . . good looking work, . . . far better than I did early on in my leather "career".

Welcome to the forum, . . . and again, echoing what has been already said, . . . this is one fun place, . . . lots to learn, . . . lots to do.

Give me a holler if there is anything we can do to help.

May God bless,

Dwight

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Welcome Bob, and as Pounder said, Thank You for your service. I know what it is like to spend time away at this time if the year, in service to your country.. Wish I had been doing leather work back then, it would have helped. Anyway, nice work, keep it up, by the time you return back here you will be ready to make tack for some of those cowboys back in Oregon.

Happy Holidays and Be safe and return to us soon.

Bob

[Havamal]

Welcome aboard!

This site & it's people are a wealth of information. I am just starting to work with leather and what I have learned from this site has been very helpfull!

To echo the others ... Thank you very much for your service! Wife was Army and my oldest son is Navy so I know how tuff the life can be.

[King's X]

Welcome to the forum. As others have express, I thank you for your service! Your pictures show your love for the craft. You will find many other projects on this forum to try out. Wishing you much luck and a Happy New Year from grateful citizens of this country~

24th ID

[hornm]

Welcome aboard. Your work is looking good and this is the place to be to find help with leather related questions.

So... What part of Oregon are you from? There's at least a couple of us here from PDX and the 'couve

Horn

[Robert Justice]

All,

Thank you for the kind words. It is an honor to serve in the US Military. I have served in Active, Reserves, and Guard for 23 years now and still find it rewarding. I have already seen some good tips. I developed a pattern using 4 different stamps that I am putting on a belt. My next project is going to be a book cover. I am trying to determine what design I want. I have been doodling a lot in the evenings, trying to figure out how to get the details (examples eyes, details on cones, etc...). Just need to remember it takes practice and that it is art not science.

Bob,

I would like to learn to work on saddles and other tack. I may try to tackle that next winter after getting home.

Horn,

I live in Scio (just a little south east of Salem). When I am not wearing the uniform I work for BPA at the main office in Portland.

All,

Have a great day working with leather. May 2013 be full of happiness and success

[NVLeatherWorx]

Welcome to the forums and network and I wish you a quick tour and return home. I too have given my life to service for our Country (24 years, 2nd ACR, 1st AD, 3 ID, 11th ACR, 1st Ranger Bn, 10th SF) and I was doing leatherwork the entire time. It is now what I call my "therapy" and it beats any of that stuff that the VA wants to do for those of us who have an extensive combat history (everything from 1982 to 2006).

Your work is looking good and I hope to see more of it as the months pass. As stated befor by others, if there is anything you need help with or just want to shoot the you know what, just drop a note and I am sure that someone will be there shortly.

Thank you for continuing that time honored tradition of defending the freedoms and liberties of the US citizen, now if we can only hold on to them.

[Sherkhan1962]

Hello Rob,

Nice flowers, which would certainly also please my girl friend if she was not at work at the moment. Go ahead!

And all the best for your stay in Afghanistan. I had a stop-over in Kabul in december 1980. I remember the tarmac packed with Russian soldiers when the plane landed, called for help a few months before by the Afghan Govt. I've seen worse since then (Somalian border in 1991-92). I'm not a soldier - I am an ex humanitarian volunteer - but I had there my baptism by fire when our escorted convoy fell into a Somali ambush, which could have turned me instantly into a soldier if I ever had a gun at hand (an unexpected discovery about myself that frightened me afterwards I have to say), therefore I am among the very few people who know what it really means to be in this type of situation and I can easily empathize with you, what I wanted to express. You'll certainly be glad to find back the peace of Oregon, with a peaceful activity like leatherwork.

Fred from France

[raysouth]

Robert,

I can only repeat what others have said. You folks are the "REAL HEROES", and wish you a safe return.

Happy that the leather craft has found another welcome crafter.

God bless.

Ray

[aguilerag]

Welcome to the best leather community site around.

I too have served our country 10.5 years till I got medical discharged from an injury I obtained in Kandahar. Thanks for your service and stay sharp over there.

I wish I would have learned how to work on leather while over there too. Good looking work, keep up the good job.