Sgt. Mike Viet Nam Humor

[AJ]

Very rarely did I tell my Marines "Because I said So!". Now in the new military I would imagine it happens a lot.

It usually works better if you can explain your "request". But, there are times when you need to just spit out orders and have them followed. Part of good leadership is having everyone know those times will happen and understand the need to do what you say and get explanations later when time allows.

Usually, I let my Marines know the "Why & Wherefores" of what was going on. There was no "request" in it, when I told the Marines to do something it was an order. However, there were times when my orders were questioned that "Because I said so!" was the answer they got. A lot of the jobs that I had, we did not have the luxury of explaining things. Things were going on to fast to take the time to explain them. Like of the flight deck of a carrier or during land based launch. Or when the guys on the ground needed our birds in the sky for air support........

 

[steelslaver]

Once long ago while rolling along a gravel road at night going about 50mph, when the lights went out I had a passenger ask what the problem was. While flicking switches on the beater truck, I responded, "Well, among other things, I can't see for **** in the dark" My brother cracked up.

Luckily, shutting the light switch off, hitting the floor mounted dimmer switch then pulling the light switch back on got them going. Those old rigs had a bi metal overload in the light circuit and sometimes it and/or the dimmer switch being on high beam would kick the lights off.

 

[AJ]

Never really happened to us that way. unless you were working "Night Crew" , we got hit at night while sleeping.

 

[steelslaver]

found some more

 

[steelslaver]

I can see how this could happen

 

[AJ]

Cost of War is going up! Not mention the lives of folks attending the festivities!

 

[AJ]

Trying to give hope to the kids caught up in a war zone. Saw enough in RVN to last a lifetime. Also here in the States when helping out with "Toys For Tots".

 

[Retired W4]

Trying to give hope to the kids caught up in a war zone. Saw enough in RVN to last a lifetime. Also here in the States when helping out with "Toys For Tots".

Took these while waiting for the call to go back in for a pick up. We were lined up outside an orphanage. This kid was troopin' the line, hustling C-rat cigarettes. One picture makes you cry and the other makes you smile.

 

[AJ]

Merry Christmas to all! I am sure some are getting presents like this!!!

 

[Retired W4]

Merry Christmas to all! I am sure some are getting presents like this!!!

I'll let you know later. Until then, Merry Christmas to all the vets out there.

 

[AJ]

The House Mouses/Papa-sans/Mama-sans or whatever the name that you called those that cleaned up your hooch, made your chow or whatever. Always knew way before you did where and when you were moving out and to where you were going. They would tell you if you asked. We made a going away gift of everything in our hooch, that was not government issue (refrigerators, tv's, fans, hot plates, electric frying pans and assorted stuff (not to mention a small retirement fund)) to our Mama-San when we left Da Nang for the Land of the Big PX!

 

[AJ]

The count down has begun until next year! Short Timer Santa. Santa has taken his pack off for this year!

 

[AJ]

I imagine it was this way for some. I mean you had some "Nervous Nellies" no matter where or what you were doing.

 

[Retired W4]

I imagine it was this way for so. I mean you had some "Nervous Nellies" no matter where or what you were doing.

SHORRRRTT !!

 

[Doug M.]

I imagine it was this way for so. I mean you had some "Nervous Nellies" no matter where or what you were doing.

*
To be fair, combat arms folks are recruited young and trained in a certain way in part because what they will do is completely inconsistent with our hardwired survival instincts. I experienced it to a lesser extent in LE.

 

[AJ]

I knew a couple of Enlisted/Officer marriages. Doubt if that was a subject brought up at home.

 

[steelslaver]

How does a LT stand a 60' flag pole up in a 20' deep hole? He orders a SGT to take care of it

 

[Retired W4]

I knew a couple of Enlisted/Officer marriages. Doubt if that was a subject brought up at home.

That is hilarious !!

BTW, I married an E-5 Sargent. After she ETS'ed so no fraternization.

 

[AJ]

I think we have all been there and done that at some point.........

 

[Retired W4]

I think we have all been there and done that at some point.........

Reminds me of standing in line, for something, in basic at Ft. Polk. A buddy of mine, who also had orders for flight school was next to me in line. They were doing mail call while we were in line. He had been a star base ball player in high school and opened a letter from a pro team (I think it was St. Louis). He had been hired for their farm team. He cried. He had volunteered for Army helicopter school and he was committed. I saw him again at the REPO DEPO in Long Bien on the way home. He had done a year with the 1/9 Cav, hunter/killer flying aeroscouts (loaches). Man, did he have some stories to tell. I lost track of him after that. Now I will see if I can find him after all these years to find out what he has been doing. Will report.