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50 Years Ago Today, Second Story
Self [link to first story] ^ | May 20 2017 | Chainmail

Posted on 05/20/2017 4:22:46 PM PDT by Chainmail

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To: Big Red Badger

Life is full of choices, paths to take or not. Sometimes we have to listen to the small voices in us and follow their advice.

Then never look back.


101 posted on 05/22/2017 6:44:02 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: <1/1,000,000th%

Thank you Buddy!

Semper Fi


102 posted on 05/22/2017 7:26:18 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Chainmail

Great story! You write well. Thanks for sharing your experience. RVN 70-71.


103 posted on 05/22/2017 7:55:06 AM PDT by Wu (Excuse me while I kiss the sky......)
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To: Wu

Welcome home, Buddy!


104 posted on 05/22/2017 8:06:12 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: VanShuyten

Thank you for your response. I guess that I’m a little unusual in that I have talked about my experiences - and now I’m writing about them - and most of the veterans I know have preferred to keep their memories to themselves.

I think that I have reacted the way that I have because I feel in a sense that these stories, these histories belong to all of you. We are all in this together.

I just hope that many others - from all parts of our citizenry - share their stories, so we can appreciate each other and come together closer as a country.


105 posted on 05/22/2017 6:51:11 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Chainmail

If I had gone the Warrior route...
Probably would not be here.


106 posted on 05/22/2017 7:30:32 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: Big Red Badger
Likely true. I have studied our war pretty carefully and those who served in direct combat (infantry, reconnaissance, CAP units, etc.) had very high casualty rates per numbers of men serving. The rear-area units took casualties too but they had to be really unlucky. You know, the "122mm rocket with your name on it" stuff.

As I said in my story, almost every single infantryman I knew had been wounded at least once (usually by grenade frags - it was almost impossible to throw an M-26 far enough not to get wounded yourself in the process). I am sure that 90% or better of our deaths were in those close-combat positions - and they comprised about 10% of men who were sent to Vietnam.

The joke back then was "we are the first dragon in history that is 90% tail and 10% teeth", but that's the problem of waging war at long distances.

We all have to listen to those little voices inside us before we choose our paths.

107 posted on 05/23/2017 5:29:51 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Chainmail

20 years ago this week I stood on the podium with Arie Lyendyke ...
Winning the Indy 500.
I would have hated to miss that!


108 posted on 05/23/2017 8:08:42 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: Big Red Badger
To each his own - if Dave Johnson and I had died, the world would have been gypped out of nine wonderful children.

Worked out fine!

109 posted on 05/24/2017 3:15:48 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Scrambler Bob

FYI 2


110 posted on 06/08/2017 6:44:51 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Mollypitcher1
Here's the second part of that story...

Semper Fi,

Chainmail

111 posted on 06/09/2017 11:07:34 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: vooch
Here you go, vouch. Hope you enjoy it.

Chainmail

112 posted on 06/11/2017 4:25:41 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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