European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 08, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday february 1990 the stars and stripes Page 9 army logistics expert found transition from horses to helicopters did t change Mission Over Here by staff writers . Weil Germany Joe cab Boscan go on All Day with air cavalry soldiers about hellfire missiles and night Fly a vision sensors hut. When the talk turns to saddles and Curr Combs that s a horse of a different color. I or some of the real youngsters it s a Little difficult to Cali a that Here s a Guy who s still around who was there in the Era when we had horses instead of Cribbins said. Richins was a stable sergeant with the new York National guard s loll c cavalry Day in 19-40. When Igor Sikorsky s vertical flying machine was less thana ear old-1 he Voung Soldier was in charge of the unit s horses which included making sure he troopers look eare of them before they took care he said. Ribbins. 75. Worked As a professional steeplechase jockey and horse Trainer before enlisting so m was with a lot of regrets thai he watched the Runy retire its horses and w Ith them his Job hut it had to happen said a bums. Now the chief of the army a lation logistics office in the Pentagon " in you picture anyone less needed in the Arnn Ihan a stable sergeant without any horses tin1 Mission of the horse cavalry did t fade away though 1 he army simply hired the helicopter to do it. A bins said. And. When it did. Cribbins entered a Field in which he has become known As the Fetherol Arnn Xvi Alan a hat has happened now is thai the mobility and the capability of reconnaissance. Now exists vertically with the helicopter Over the lop of said Ribbins who was in willing in. West iceman. Recently for an aviation conference. Afier out of the horse business he worked in Gen. Douglas Macarthur s Headquarters during world War ii coordinating a military airline operation from Melbourne. Australia to the Philippines. He then reverted to Reserve status and a Job with Delia air lines. In w5i. The army recalled Ribbin Sand assigned him to the transposition corps in Korea. He remained on Active duty after Korea wit assignments in Japan. France and West German. In l 6. He went to Washington and the first in a series of transportation and Materiel positions. In bins retired from the military in l%6 and was hired s a Civ Ilian to pick up where he left off Asa lieutenant colonel in the Pentagon s army logistics office. I Pon his return he Learned that the army vice Chiet of stall. Gen. Craig Hon Abrams. Wanted to see him. Crihbins was not a stranger to the general but he was surprised by the message. I walked into his office and he got up from behind his desk and i was dressed in civvies. The last Lime i d seen him i was an officer in the army. And he put an Arm around me and Shook my hand and said Ribbins. It gives me a warm feeling to have you Back in the Pentagon i said. Sir. Hal makes it All worthwhile " Twenty four years later. Cribbins voice still cracks when he recounts the moment he shared with Abrams. I had such regard and respect for that gentleman that. Coming from him. It meant More than any accolade i could have received from said Sas nose Mari a of licit photo Joe Cribbins now Leader of army aviation Lii Ristics. Was a Oun j 1st c Ai div second lieutenant in november 1942 when the Plinto at right was taken. In this picture taken at a ranch near Reno. Nev., in 1947, c Richins is teaching a horse to jump. Cribbins whose Amlong list of awards includes the presidential rank award of meritorious service. While Cribbins would never admit it. He s earned a similar High degree of respect from people in aviation circles. Maj. Lou Gonharn of Mannheim. West Germany worked with Cribbins about 2% years and describes the Man As a Miracle one of the important things he did in Vietnam and continues to do today is Cut the bureaucratic red tape thai hinders the military from doing its said Bonham who is the 70th trans Lin executive officer. When heels of aircraft Are grounded army wide whether they re chinooks or apaches. Cribbins speeds the process of gelling them Back in the air Bonham said. The father of army aviation logistics knows the business like none other said Bonham. Noting a triple took with Cribbins Losi. Louis. C Ribbins was to Brief several generals on a lest strategy to determine How Many Hying hours different types of aircraft could be logistically sustained during wartime. On the flight. Bonham asked Cribbins if he wanted to review the briefing charts thai had been prepared for him. Of Cribbins said. Ill do Hal when we gel out about an hour before the presentation to aviation systems come leaders Bonham again asked Cribbins if he d like to go Over the briefing material. Of he said again. Ill do that in just a few thirty minutes before presentation frantic organi ers were asking Bonham when Cribbins was going to prepare. I really Don t Bonham was forced to reply. Finally 15 minutes before the briefing lion am again approached Cribbins with the charts which were loaded with computations on repair part status numbers of aircraft involved and eos figures. Sir. You have to look at these Cribbins took the charts shuffled them an handed them Back five minutes later. That should do he said and proceeded to deliver whal Bonham described As a magnificent briefing. Later Hal Day on the flight Back to . Who was then a Captain asked Cribbins How he pulled off the Lawless performance. Well. Lou. Either you know your business or of Don t. And. If you Don t know it you should t be up there to begin Cribbins is behind his Pentagon desk by 6 Day. His staff arrives shortly after and begins the morning ritual of opening about 20 safes chock full of documents Cribbins refers to often. Doctor s orders and his desire to spend Lime with Helen his wife of 43 years get him out of the office at a reasonable hour he said. But retirement is definitely not in the works. I m too Young to Slop working and too old to Start a new career Cribbins said. Long As ii is viewed Hal 1 am being productive then 1 would like to keep on doing whal i m
