Posted on 11/25/2007 9:02:23 AM PST by MindBender26
>>>>the country folk want to move to the city, and the city folk want to move to the US
Same as 40 years ago. They all wanted to go Trans-Pac to the Big PX.
RE: the topo map
My section was nestled right behind Bravo battery 2/32, in a big field. I think it is the northern arrow on your topo. To the west side of the airfield.
Battalion pretty much left us alone unless they needed an NCO to take a convoy (my additional duty, it seemed).
Super glad to see another PROUD AMERICAN.
....Bob
Yup, that’s where Bravo Battery was, along that North-facing berm. When were you there?
same as you. all of 69. 12 Jan 69 till 11 Jan 70.
Remember the battalion commanders name, LTC McDonald. I remember when the Battalion motor pool was hit, got all of the vehicles EXCEPT MINE.
By the way, my RVN tour was not the worst overseas tour. Read about my Greenland tour in my FR profile.
.....Bob
bump and save
Remember, Greenland is ice, but Iceland is green!
Spent 2 weeks in Keflavic. Women were the most outstanding I have ever seen. About 2/3 were “Strong Nordic Women - I Pull Plow” types, w/o deodorant. Other 1/3 were most beautiful women in world, and guys were all doofusses!
Be well.
:~)
A bump, with thanks.
Di Nada
T T F N
:!)
(That’s my best Churchill, complete with cigar)
“Remember, Greenland is ice, but Iceland is green”
HEADLINE
Dwarf psychic escapes jail!!!
Thats right, Small medium at large.
....Bob
Somebody should ask how well have the government removed the explosive mines from the countryside in Vietnam. I can just imagine stories every few weeks of some poor unfortunate victim tripping off a mine every now and then.
Mines are still “found” occasionally;, primarily up near the DMZ.
Here’s an idea. I haven’t been to VN for two years, but I enjoyed hanging out at a VN bar next door to the Omni Hotel in Phu Nhuan district on Nguyen Van Troi street - the name of the bar is the Chot Nho. It’s not a big place. If you go in early afternoon, after the lunch crowd, it will be empty. Talk to the bartenders about what you want; they’re friendly, speak some English and will be happy to help, I’m sure.
Otherwise, try the open air bar on top of the Caravelle Hotel in town center - it’s a big hotel, backs up to the Sheraton and, again, has very friendly bartenders (better English thanChot Nho) who will likely be happy to help you.
VN is very safe, no need to worry about a Vietnamese Vet attacking you.
You might also consider the outside bar on the 5th floor of the Rex Hotel (near the Caravelle) although it’s a Commie hotel so I don’t know how much help you’d get.
As in most Western countries, money talks, Hillary walks. I’d suggest you offer the bartender $10 for his help - you’ll probably get it.
If I were you, I’d ask about a guided tour by someone who speaks English but is not part of a tour agency. Tell them you want some iced down beer, the ability to stop at a few places, crawl around, get dirty and take pics.
A 50 dollar bill on top of their expenses for the car, gas and incidentals would probably do it. Maybe a little more.
“I have no desire to return to Vietnam nor to Tay Ninh, but have wondered if any of the buildings / bunkers I lived in were still standing.
I remember the lines of rubber trees from the old French plantations on the road between Tay Ninh and Cu Chi. Miles and miles of trees, all in a straight line, evenly placed.”
The jungle had reclaimed virtually everything; there was little sign of the former Air Force Base though it was clear that it is now the HQ of the VN Air Force since there were about 100 Migs parked in a big formation visible from the small terminal.
Old memories are already flooding back.
Will shoot plenty of pics and vid. Will post.
Will shoot plenty of pics and vid. Will post.
A big thanks again.
God bless you both.
Heck, I wasn’t even born then. Thank you for serving. Funny how decades pass, miles separate, but memories can bring two so close.
>>>>Funny how decades pass, miles separate, but memories can bring two so close.
Sounds like a Hallmark card.
Should we kiss?
:!)
Seriously, we spent about 2 months in same battalion, about 500 meters apart! Life IS strange.
ping
I was in Khanh Hoa in May-June this year. I went back for the High School graduation of a lass I have sponsored since I met her in 2003 when, at age 14, she told me she had just quit school because it was time to go to work for her family. She was about the smartest 14 Y.O. I had ever met so I made a deal with her daddy. She started at the University in Sai Gon in the math department this fall. You will find that everybody over there loves Americans. Do not make the mistake lots of old soldiers make when they go back. Don’t apologize for America’s role in the War. They have a different outlook on it. War was fated to happen. It happened and it was a terrible thing. It is long over. They really don’t want to hear about it. No matter which side they were on or their daddies were on, they think Americans make the world work. They love Americans.
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