On Friday me and one other guy will walk down main street, half way down, walk into the local pup, have a beer of two, maybe if someone else is there we both will get a free beer, put some southeast Asia music on from the 60,70, talk a little about Vietnam but mainly about the democrats next steps. Wife will come later and get me home.
For me I was lucky.
Voluntary for the draft and voluntary for south east Asia in 69. I got to serve my country.
Spent 10 months on a hill top shooting at them and they shot at us. One day the chief of smoke comes along with some high ranker lifer to visit our 175 MM gun. They started belittling my corporal and I could not get my corporal to shut up. So I said what I felt needed to be said at the moment. Told this before but loss my m-16, my command of the gun, my R&R and they wanted my strips along with other than honorable discharge. Well I fool them, a few months later I still had my strips with a honorable discharge.
No one knew I was coming home, not even my folks so it was a surprise for them. One of the few times my dad shook my hand. Saturday put my field jacket on with stripes, went to the small town local bar with pride and a grin to show my pride. A good handful, including my cousin, were in the corner booth, made eye contact and then they look elsewhere. A former SE Asia Soldier was passed out at the bar. Walk over to him, order a beer, he looked up and tore my stripe off one shoulder and as I reach to pick up tore the other. Well you son of a bitch but he said no one cares so forget it. Bought myself a few more beers sitting next to him and then went home. Second time I spoke with him, he was in a coffin. Die young.
I adjusted at that moment at the bar, didn't mean nothing, and the next day with a couple of others planned a trip to California to see what I could get my do-wacker into. A good two weeks but came back home by way of Mustang Ranch.
My memories are positive, have a slight physical problem that was getting on me about seven years ago from over there. Went and seen the VA, took care of it and my limit time with them has been great service. Maybe a little slow but good.
So Friday, a thank you is not needed, it was 50 years ago, but maybe a statement that I see it is Vietnam day and I do think about that from time to time and maybe if it is okay I could buy you a beer. That would be all that is needed and I feel that would be good.
Yes, it would be real good, real good. DB
For me I was lucky.
Voluntary for the draft and voluntary for south east Asia in 69. I got to serve my country.
Spent 10 months on a hill top shooting at them and they shot at us. One day the chief of smoke comes along with some high ranker lifer to visit our 175 MM gun. They started belittling my corporal and I could not get my corporal to shut up. So I said what I felt needed to be said at the moment. Told this before but loss my m-16, my command of the gun, my R&R and they wanted my strips along with other than honorable discharge. Well I fool them, a few months later I still had my strips with a honorable discharge.
No one knew I was coming home, not even my folks so it was a surprise for them. One of the few times my dad shook my hand. Saturday put my field jacket on with stripes, went to the small town local bar with pride and a grin to show my pride. A good handful, including my cousin, were in the corner booth, made eye contact and then they look elsewhere. A former SE Asia Soldier was passed out at the bar. Walk over to him, order a beer, he looked up and tore my stripe off one shoulder and as I reach to pick up tore the other. Well you son of a bitch but he said no one cares so forget it. Bought myself a few more beers sitting next to him and then went home. Second time I spoke with him, he was in a coffin. Die young.
I adjusted at that moment at the bar, didn't mean nothing, and the next day with a couple of others planned a trip to California to see what I could get my do-wacker into. A good two weeks but came back home by way of Mustang Ranch.
My memories are positive, have a slight physical problem that was getting on me about seven years ago from over there. Went and seen the VA, took care of it and my limit time with them has been great service. Maybe a little slow but good.
So Friday, a thank you is not needed, it was 50 years ago, but maybe a statement that I see it is Vietnam day and I do think about that from time to time and maybe if it is okay I could buy you a beer. That would be all that is needed and I feel that would be good.
Yes, it would be real good, real good. DB
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