50 Years Ago Today, Second Story

Self [link to first story] ^ | May 20 2017 | Chainmail

[GreyFriar]

You’re welcome. I knew you were a vet, thus I put you into my Veteran’s ping list. I don’t use it often to avoid flooding people. Cheers.

[Chainmail]

I don't remember why I built it without the swastika. It does look a lot less scale without it.

Are you still building models? I am - but in 1/32 ("Braille")scale. Just finished a Hansa-Brandenburg W.12

[MuttTheHoople]

My dad came back from Vietnam in 1969. Since he was an Officer, he had it better than others-he was flown into San Diego where Officers' wives were there to greet them with cookies and lemonade.

He told me that if any anti-war freaks had come up and tried to harrass him, he'd have killed them. I know he didn't because he had a big K-Bar in his rucksack, and since I never visited him in Prison I know he didn't kill any future Obama supporters.

[Big Red Badger]

Link Works Great!
I was Air Force early 70’s and
I always respected Soldiers
like You.

[central_va]

The last one I actually finished was a 1:48 P-38. I quit building altogether, to addictive, to expensive and to time consuming. Here it is (this isn't mine, mine looks better:)

[OldMissileer]

Great story, again! Thank you.

[meadsjn]

Thanks for the story.

[21twelve]

I just finished your first story, and into the second one a bit. Glad that you are sharing your memories with your kids - and us! We had a long-term substitute teacher in Jr. high - 1974 or so. He was a vet, and every Friday would show slides and tell stories about Vietnam - interesting stuff and worth more than the history books. And no politics - just the day to day stuff, and situations they found themselves in - without too much detail for our young minds.

I was trying to find my cousin’s story that she wrote about her time as a nurse in Vietnam - somewhere in the Mekong Delta. (Can’t) But she got some feedback on it as she said how glad she was to have been there - and what a life-changing experience it had been. I too thought it was odd that she had so many good memories of it. She said that even though the situation was lousy - the people she was with were good and that’s what made the difference. I recall that she had memories of so many of the injured “boys” that had passed through, and still to this day she wonders how they are doing, or if they made it.

Thanks again - it is a real piece of history that you are sharing - and very well-written too!

[Chode]

just damn...

[rotundusmaximus]

Thank you for your service, really enjoyed reading your story, missed the first part, will look for it.

I am so sorry for the treatment you received in the military hospitals and then to have people not even give you a ride and the one that gave you a ride, make you get out and walk, it’s too much, unconscionable. Whether someone approved of the war or not, they should have understood that most people didn’t volunteer, were drafted and even those that volunteer should have been respected. I always respected Vietnam Vets and of course, still do.

Thank you for sharing, I will look forward to any other installments.

[broken_clock]

Thank you for posting this. Well written. You have a talent and should consider writing more.

[FoxInSocks]

The Colonel told Captain Steele “Why, that’s excellent – I like innovation” and Captain Steele beamed but he said, “instead of that Marine trying it out, I want you three to do that duty, Christmas, New Years and the weekend after instead and when you’re finished, I want you to come back to me and tell me how it was, OK?”.

Great guy! Thanks for sharing everything. I was at MCAS Tustin in the nineties. Semper fi, Marine.

[rotundusmaximus]

I think Vietnam vets should write about their experiences. We need to hear from you all. Thank you for your service and welcome home!

[easternsky]

Very well written, the first easternsky was my husband of 53 Years who passed away this past January 5th. He to was a Viet Nam Vet Sept of 67 to Sept of 68. We were Married when He was drafted in October of 66, no Children yet so He went to the front of the line. I have every letter He wrote me from there and Pictures galore and Many Many Mementos. We have 7 grandchildren and they would lie on the bed with Him from early years on and say Grandpa tell us stories about Viet Nam, and He would, they got to be able to tell them almost as good as Gramps. They went to many Reunions also with us he was fortunate and stayed with same unit that prepared together at Ft Riley Kansas 17the AhC, who later was infused with the 101st Airborne AHC. He was wounded on January 26th of 68 and in the Saigon Hospital when Tet hit... Could go on and on with Memories but yours was very well written and took me back to His Memories. Thank you for sharing. Not Fonda Jane

[Robin292]

Hey Brother, I just saw that one response recommended you get this all in writing for your family’s benefit. I agree and add to that response that you are in fact doing that here and only need to point a thoughtful, trusted family member to this site.
Even more valuable to all of us is the service of the veterans all over the country who will come to you and offer to create a video of your story with you voice and image to be preserved and shared with thousand of your fellow Brothers and Americans who desire to have the story shared. I offer you the service of locating such a person who will contact you. (No cost) I have shared your writing with one of my grandsons who seems to have a keen interest in knowing what it means to be in a war situation. He is 16 now and very thoughtful in his inquiries. If I can do anything for you please reach out.
Semper Fi
JR Morgan - Sgt USMC 1966-1970

[John Milner]

That was awesome.
I always appreciate a man’s story and you tell yours well!
Much thanks for you service.
Semper Fi from a REMF Army Civilian retired.

[Texas Tea]

bumpity

[cweese]

bump

[Chainmail]

Those giant hangars were something, weren't they? They were lousy for parades, though - the music rebounded off the walls to make a discordant mess.

Semper Fi!

[mcmuffin]

Thank you.