Relationships were a problem in police work too, However we lacked the authority of the UCMJ. I learned early on after giving a house away.
Snubby in Vietnam
- Thread starter SF VET
- Start date
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
The two story wooden barracks at Riley were thrown up in '42 with mobilization for WWII, and were dangerous if they were to catch fire, and would burn to the ground in less than two minutes. Here, a pic of one (not one of ours) which was standing one minute, and ashes two minutes later.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
Fort Jackson, SC was still using the old WW2 wooden barracks buildings in 1968. The funny part was that an order prohibiting human occupancy was posted on the doors! Apparently those in charge feared violating the occupancy order less than they feared the consequences of tearing down a lawful order.
Two guys per building were on "fire guard" duty at night, one upstairs and one downstairs. There were "butt cans" in the barracks, but my mutual agreement we kept those perfectly clean for daily inspections and did all of our smoking outside in the coal bin (which was always empty, see next paragraph).
In the barracks I occupied our plumbing did not work, and the coal-fired furnace was not functional. We marched in formation about a half-mile to another unit that had shower facilities. We shaved every morning with cold water. We performed our excretory functions in buckets for disposal each morning. We shivered all night in cold beds in a cold barracks. When an outbreak of meningitis went through the area about 1 in 10 troops ended up hospitalized, and a few died.
Our company mess sergeant had a little side hustle going on, selling the mess hall garbage to local pig farmers. That sometimes meant that very little food went on the serving trays so that the garbage cans were plenty full. When I complained about the food I was forced to sit and eat, and eat, and eat for an hour with two drill sergeants yelling at me, then outside for a little extra physical training until I puked.
Somehow I made it through basic training in good shape. Winning the post rifle trophy brought with it a 3-day pass, spent at the Heart of Columbia Motel in a $5 per night room that seemed absolutely luxurious!
Our company had several Mexican nationals, college students who were drafted when their GPA fell below the minimum for maintaining a college deferment (very possibly because they did not speak English very well). Having had a couple of years of high school Spanish, I was detailed to herd them through each day's training. By the end of basic training they were all thoroughly proficient in American profanity and slang, and I got pretty good with cussing in Spanish. One became a lifetime friend, but has since passed away.
I am right now only a couple of miles from Ft. Jackson, and this afternoon, wife and I are running over to the base PX with the two grandchildren we are watching for a few days.
Basic training is much different than back in the '60's.
I will later post a short story of how our Advance Party was sent back to KS via Ft. Jackson when us early troops were returned a week earlier than the main body.
Stay Safe, and all the best.... SF VET
Basic training is much different than back in the '60's.
I will later post a short story of how our Advance Party was sent back to KS via Ft. Jackson when us early troops were returned a week earlier than the main body.
Stay Safe, and all the best.... SF VET
The two story wooden barracks at Riley were thrown up in '42 with mobilization for WWII, and were dangerous if they were to catch fire, and would burn to the ground in less than two minutes. Here, a pic of one (not one of ours) which was standing one minute, and ashes two minutes later.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
I was billeted in those on Camp Forsyth mid 70's, not the best accommodations.
TheHobbyist
Member
Thanks for your service. Appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences as well. This has to be one of the best posts on here that I can recall.
If you may have interest, contact your local museum or historical society and see if they would be willing to do an interview or allow you to submit this information. The preservation of the record will be beneficial to folks years from now. Just an idea or suggestion. Thank you
If you may have interest, contact your local museum or historical society and see if they would be willing to do an interview or allow you to submit this information. The preservation of the record will be beneficial to folks years from now. Just an idea or suggestion. Thank you
Growing up in Tullahoma, TN (1960-1965) I spent a lot of time camping and fishing around Woods Reservoir and roaming about in the old Camp Forrest. The camp dates back to the 1920's, but it really took off at the beginning of WW II. In the 60's you could still see the remnants of the old wooden barracks, which were essentially the same barracks as you would see at Army Posts all over the country. It's amazing these quarters were around as long as they were. Now it is part of the sprawling Arnold Engineering Development Center, named after Hap Arnold.
PM Failure
taking care of two young grandchildren for a week while their mom and dad are away, so hindering my time to further post on this forum.
But I do want to say to those who have sent me PM's, that I have tried to respond to your comments and questions, but doubt I have been successful. So if you never heard back from me, trust me, I appreciate your thoughts and interest, and I at least have tried to respond.
Now, taking the boys to ChickFlaA for lunch, but just had to hacksaw off a door knob one of them locked, and the "key" would not work. So stopping by a Lowes for a new knob.
More soon,
SF VET
taking care of two young grandchildren for a week while their mom and dad are away, so hindering my time to further post on this forum.
But I do want to say to those who have sent me PM's, that I have tried to respond to your comments and questions, but doubt I have been successful. So if you never heard back from me, trust me, I appreciate your thoughts and interest, and I at least have tried to respond.
Now, taking the boys to ChickFlaA for lunch, but just had to hacksaw off a door knob one of them locked, and the "key" would not work. So stopping by a Lowes for a new knob.
More soon,
SF VET
CustomChevyGuy
Member
I have been reading this thread and enjoying the stories for a couple of days. Thank you for your service, and thank you for sharing the stories and pics.
Please keep it going, as allowed by the moderators, of course!
Please keep it going, as allowed by the moderators, of course!
thanks ChevyGuy. So far, the moderators have only cautioned me when I posted some pics with back ground Playboy Centerfolds on a wall.
Enjoying my morning coffee and Danish this AM, and had a humorous recollection of something long ago. When I DROS'ed from Vietnam to be aN SF A Team Leader at Bragg, virtually every soldier and officer in SF had one or usually multiple combat rotations to SEA. Our SF Company had I recall five A Teams, with a CPT and a Lt on each team, if the latter was available.
It was easy, relaxed duty, and I really enjoyed my 18 months at Bragg. Another Team Leader was a blond Captain, who looked like a personification of a SF leader, tall, looked like Adonis in his uniform. Superlative combat record, but had the morals of an Alley Cat. Drove a Hemi Road Runner.
Back then we did not have specialty rappelling harnesses, but used an 8 foot piece of climbing rope which we tied and wrapped around our legs and waists, to click into a rope. It was carried tightly coiled into about a two foot long four inch around coil, and carried strapped to our rucksacks.
One day, we had some sort of formation for awards or some other ceremony, and Capt David W told me he was going to put his rope down into his pant leg, and not clip it to his rucksack. We were going to stand in front of our Teams, facing bleachers of wives and girlfriends. I had neither, he had about a dozen of the latter.
Back then, the Army had not yet changed to the loose Camo BDU of today; our uniform was the usual fatigues the army had worn for decades. Of course, us snazzy SF guys had ours tailored to be trim and a bit tight.
I told him not to do it, but he went ahead and stuffed his rope down into his pant leg, and as our formation went from Attention to Parade Rest several times, his Team was next to mine, and I couldn't help but note the women in the bleachers beginning to giggle and whisper and point to Captain D standing perfectly next to me. I almost couldn't keep from breaking out in laughter.
I guess only the females in the bleachers noted his Endowment, as nothing ever came from it.
The Military historically has attracted sometimes peculiar individuals. About the time I left Active Army, he also left to head back to the pacific North West.
SF back then, and probably today, is a collection of unique individuals. But very good at what their Country asks them to do. I was privileged to know many real heroes.
No picture of this of course,
All the best, and stay safe.... SF VET
Enjoying my morning coffee and Danish this AM, and had a humorous recollection of something long ago. When I DROS'ed from Vietnam to be aN SF A Team Leader at Bragg, virtually every soldier and officer in SF had one or usually multiple combat rotations to SEA. Our SF Company had I recall five A Teams, with a CPT and a Lt on each team, if the latter was available.
It was easy, relaxed duty, and I really enjoyed my 18 months at Bragg. Another Team Leader was a blond Captain, who looked like a personification of a SF leader, tall, looked like Adonis in his uniform. Superlative combat record, but had the morals of an Alley Cat. Drove a Hemi Road Runner.
Back then we did not have specialty rappelling harnesses, but used an 8 foot piece of climbing rope which we tied and wrapped around our legs and waists, to click into a rope. It was carried tightly coiled into about a two foot long four inch around coil, and carried strapped to our rucksacks.
One day, we had some sort of formation for awards or some other ceremony, and Capt David W told me he was going to put his rope down into his pant leg, and not clip it to his rucksack. We were going to stand in front of our Teams, facing bleachers of wives and girlfriends. I had neither, he had about a dozen of the latter.
Back then, the Army had not yet changed to the loose Camo BDU of today; our uniform was the usual fatigues the army had worn for decades. Of course, us snazzy SF guys had ours tailored to be trim and a bit tight.
I told him not to do it, but he went ahead and stuffed his rope down into his pant leg, and as our formation went from Attention to Parade Rest several times, his Team was next to mine, and I couldn't help but note the women in the bleachers beginning to giggle and whisper and point to Captain D standing perfectly next to me. I almost couldn't keep from breaking out in laughter.
I guess only the females in the bleachers noted his Endowment, as nothing ever came from it.
The Military historically has attracted sometimes peculiar individuals. About the time I left Active Army, he also left to head back to the pacific North West.
SF back then, and probably today, is a collection of unique individuals. But very good at what their Country asks them to do. I was privileged to know many real heroes.
No picture of this of course,
All the best, and stay safe.... SF VET
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Moderators aside, if you had actually taken a picture of this event we would have serious doubts about you.
Commanders and Leaders
When I was in elementary school, my dad being a Naval Aviator since the late '30's, with thousands of hours in wartime PBY seaplanes, among others, I grew up wanting to be a pilot like my dad. Being color blind derailed that plan.
But I was just fascinated by Naval History, and even had my own subscription to the Navy's professional journal, the Proceedings. At age 12. I began even then to build my own military library, and to his day, my recreational reading is military related, from Waterloo to Isandalwana. Right now I am reading the history of the Russian revolution of '17 to '20. If the White Russian forces opposing the Red Bolshevik's single commitment had half of the latters unity of goal, perhaps the White forces could have won.
Terrible leaders and commanders, who never were able to work together with a common goal.
In my own 30 year career, I worked under, with, and over many commanders and leaders, and saw every sort of superb leadership and spineless failure. As I have previously mentioned, our EVAC's commander was a COL, a family practice physician from a smaller Kansas community. COL Ron S was one of the best commanders, and best leaders I have ever had the privilege of serving under. He cared about the men and women of his command, yet worked tirelessly to complete our Hospital's wartime mission. If ever a commander was the right person for the time, he was so.
The spirit and moral, the confidence and commitment and achievement of any military unit is a direct reflection of its commander. Here, I am honored to post a pic of our commander, with other physicians of our EVAC, with their M17 masks at the ready. COL S is in the center with his arms crossed. By the way, four of the other physicians here soon divorced their wives upon return stateside. Deployments can certainly take a toll on marriages.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
When I was in elementary school, my dad being a Naval Aviator since the late '30's, with thousands of hours in wartime PBY seaplanes, among others, I grew up wanting to be a pilot like my dad. Being color blind derailed that plan.
But I was just fascinated by Naval History, and even had my own subscription to the Navy's professional journal, the Proceedings. At age 12. I began even then to build my own military library, and to his day, my recreational reading is military related, from Waterloo to Isandalwana. Right now I am reading the history of the Russian revolution of '17 to '20. If the White Russian forces opposing the Red Bolshevik's single commitment had half of the latters unity of goal, perhaps the White forces could have won.
Terrible leaders and commanders, who never were able to work together with a common goal.
In my own 30 year career, I worked under, with, and over many commanders and leaders, and saw every sort of superb leadership and spineless failure. As I have previously mentioned, our EVAC's commander was a COL, a family practice physician from a smaller Kansas community. COL Ron S was one of the best commanders, and best leaders I have ever had the privilege of serving under. He cared about the men and women of his command, yet worked tirelessly to complete our Hospital's wartime mission. If ever a commander was the right person for the time, he was so.
The spirit and moral, the confidence and commitment and achievement of any military unit is a direct reflection of its commander. Here, I am honored to post a pic of our commander, with other physicians of our EVAC, with their M17 masks at the ready. COL S is in the center with his arms crossed. By the way, four of the other physicians here soon divorced their wives upon return stateside. Deployments can certainly take a toll on marriages.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
vonn
US Veteran
Read this whole thread. No good stories. Was just north of Hue when Tet hit ,did hard time til 14 Dec.68. I can remember somethings but must have blocked off others. I use the VA because of my disability rating but not for anything important because going brings up memories and I have good insurance and Medicare . Freaked me out a while back when some of the guys I went to Ranger school with started a group email. I get angry when I hear on the news that current military and veterans are suspected terrorists and need to be watched.
The Hide-a-Way
One could make our hospital into almost an endless number of configurations. Each section could attach to the next lengthwise, or at a right-angle. We had wards, corridors, connectors, sections for specialty tasks, all with power and heat and some sort of AC, and flooring. Fairly dust proof, too.
One day, when our hospital was about "finished', another Physician, an old friend from KS, and I walked each ward and connector, looking to see if there things left undone. It was just he and I at the moment, and inspecting deep in the "interior" of our complex building, we heard muffled voices, seeming to come from behind an interior "wall". It didn't make sense, there wasn't supposed to be any ward or section there.
So we unsnapped a wall, and lo and behold, several of our industrious and clever troops had constructed their own little secret hide-a-way, accessed by slipping behind a section's wall and liner. They had build themselves their own little cabin, complete with a medicine fridge, power, lighting, AC, flooring, and other bits of hospital comfy items. It was really spiffy and had cots for about four of them.
LTC Jimmy B and I smiled, and complemented the surprised troops on their ingenuity, and told them to take down their secret entrance, and to move their personal items back to their residence tent, and continue their duties.
Military units need resourceful troops like these chaps. It is vital to have soldiers who approach their duty with imagination and enthusiasm.
Here, a pic of one of our wards, with one of our proud and talented nurses and a ward staff trooper. Note her big smile, not grumpy, and just anxious to get to work on our wartime mission. Thousands of miles from her home and family, thee two were typical of our EVAC. No wonder we saw more patients than any other hospital In-theater.
I just got back my 1915 Enfield No1Mk III 303 today. I had bought it in '59 for ten bucks, and sourced a new barrel for it, and sent it to an Enfield specialist, who put the new barrel on it, told me it had been re-barreled in 1938, and tuned the bolt and trigger assembly, and now should shoot with all the accuracy it had a hundred years ago. I have hundreds of my 303 reloads ready to go.
So all the best, and stay safe.... SF VET
One could make our hospital into almost an endless number of configurations. Each section could attach to the next lengthwise, or at a right-angle. We had wards, corridors, connectors, sections for specialty tasks, all with power and heat and some sort of AC, and flooring. Fairly dust proof, too.
One day, when our hospital was about "finished', another Physician, an old friend from KS, and I walked each ward and connector, looking to see if there things left undone. It was just he and I at the moment, and inspecting deep in the "interior" of our complex building, we heard muffled voices, seeming to come from behind an interior "wall". It didn't make sense, there wasn't supposed to be any ward or section there.
So we unsnapped a wall, and lo and behold, several of our industrious and clever troops had constructed their own little secret hide-a-way, accessed by slipping behind a section's wall and liner. They had build themselves their own little cabin, complete with a medicine fridge, power, lighting, AC, flooring, and other bits of hospital comfy items. It was really spiffy and had cots for about four of them.
LTC Jimmy B and I smiled, and complemented the surprised troops on their ingenuity, and told them to take down their secret entrance, and to move their personal items back to their residence tent, and continue their duties.
Military units need resourceful troops like these chaps. It is vital to have soldiers who approach their duty with imagination and enthusiasm.
Here, a pic of one of our wards, with one of our proud and talented nurses and a ward staff trooper. Note her big smile, not grumpy, and just anxious to get to work on our wartime mission. Thousands of miles from her home and family, thee two were typical of our EVAC. No wonder we saw more patients than any other hospital In-theater.
I just got back my 1915 Enfield No1Mk III 303 today. I had bought it in '59 for ten bucks, and sourced a new barrel for it, and sent it to an Enfield specialist, who put the new barrel on it, told me it had been re-barreled in 1938, and tuned the bolt and trigger assembly, and now should shoot with all the accuracy it had a hundred years ago. I have hundreds of my 303 reloads ready to go.
So all the best, and stay safe.... SF VET
SF VET: Welcome home sir. I served my tour on board a ship that served as station gun ship in the Son Ong Doc area 1970. I knew life was tough for the ground troops as I had two brothers who served in VN as Marines. I wasn't cut out for the Corps but have nothing but respect for all who serve regardless of service. Except for those who shirk their duty as you have stated. They will serve in a special corner of hades I'm sure.
Again; Welcome Home, Sir.
Llance, CWO2, USCG, Ret.
Again; Welcome Home, Sir.
Llance, CWO2, USCG, Ret.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Speaking of the SMLE, I am reminded of a story that my English grandfather told me when I was a teenager. He was issued a MkIII*, and required to carry it everywhere. While serving with the Essex Regiment at the Khyber Pass, he was surprised to find a cobra in the latrine. With very little thought he dispatched this snake with his trusty Enfield, but the sound of the shot soon had everyone running to their duty stations, thinking they were under attack.
Rolex28
US Veteran
- Joined
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Semper Fi "doc". The more I see and hear about Army in Vietnam , there were big big differences in life in the Army and Marine Corps in Vietnam.
vonn
US Veteran
Depends on who you talk with.^^^^^
Shock, and the Ruptured Spleen
Our EVAC was ready. We had been taking care of all-comers ever since we first arrived, first with basic first aid, then as our hospital became more visible just off Tap Line Road, more and more injured people would show up, and we would begin basic care and sometimes more, and arrange some sort of further care after triage. We were really anxious because we had no Ambu bags, the squeezable rubber "bags' used to artificially breathe for someone, either by a mask or an endo-tracheal tube. We looked every where in our boxes and crates. Then one day, a HUMVEE raced up and tossed off a couple dozen, and then we were set.
We knew the ground war was coming, just not when. Our OR's were stocked and prepped, our blood bank full, our triage teams, our litter carrier teams, our chemical decontamination teams, we were ready. Our precious Saw Tooth Viper anti-venom was on the shelf.
One night, just before dawn, we got the message, and readied our ER and Wards. As the fast breaking sun began to come up over our berm and I and my tent mates, physicians, dressed, we noted our radiologist was lying on his bunk, covered with his own vomit, and in obvious shock. So after a quick eval by our trauma surgeons, we littered him to our ER, and found he was in shock because of a ruptured spleen, and half of his blood volume was in his abdomen. He had gone out in the night to a latrine, and tripped on a tent line, fallen on a tent peg, and tore his spleen.
So he got some of our first blood, and was operated on, and soon on an a trip home. He was a fine chap, and our only radiologist, but most physicians are experienced in reading their own X-rays, so we got by quite well. At least he had a story to tell his grandchildren "what he did in the War in the Desert. "
Here is a pic of the one and only formation our whole hospital had in our tine in the Desert. Our 400 willing and able staff, the morning after they had finally arrived from Ft. Riley, KS.
Big formations are rare in a combat zone. When I was in Germany long before, a seasoned MSG had told me when he was in Korea in that that war, he had all 8 members of his squad together in a chow line, and a Chinese mortar round landed among them, and wounded every single one of them.
Next up, "Here they come!"
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
Our EVAC was ready. We had been taking care of all-comers ever since we first arrived, first with basic first aid, then as our hospital became more visible just off Tap Line Road, more and more injured people would show up, and we would begin basic care and sometimes more, and arrange some sort of further care after triage. We were really anxious because we had no Ambu bags, the squeezable rubber "bags' used to artificially breathe for someone, either by a mask or an endo-tracheal tube. We looked every where in our boxes and crates. Then one day, a HUMVEE raced up and tossed off a couple dozen, and then we were set.
We knew the ground war was coming, just not when. Our OR's were stocked and prepped, our blood bank full, our triage teams, our litter carrier teams, our chemical decontamination teams, we were ready. Our precious Saw Tooth Viper anti-venom was on the shelf.
One night, just before dawn, we got the message, and readied our ER and Wards. As the fast breaking sun began to come up over our berm and I and my tent mates, physicians, dressed, we noted our radiologist was lying on his bunk, covered with his own vomit, and in obvious shock. So after a quick eval by our trauma surgeons, we littered him to our ER, and found he was in shock because of a ruptured spleen, and half of his blood volume was in his abdomen. He had gone out in the night to a latrine, and tripped on a tent line, fallen on a tent peg, and tore his spleen.
So he got some of our first blood, and was operated on, and soon on an a trip home. He was a fine chap, and our only radiologist, but most physicians are experienced in reading their own X-rays, so we got by quite well. At least he had a story to tell his grandchildren "what he did in the War in the Desert. "
Here is a pic of the one and only formation our whole hospital had in our tine in the Desert. Our 400 willing and able staff, the morning after they had finally arrived from Ft. Riley, KS.
Big formations are rare in a combat zone. When I was in Germany long before, a seasoned MSG had told me when he was in Korea in that that war, he had all 8 members of his squad together in a chow line, and a Chinese mortar round landed among them, and wounded every single one of them.
Next up, "Here they come!"
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
they're here!
We had been receiving assorted injured patients for some time, and when the Ground War began, it became a flood of wounded. Every sort of wound and injury, blast, burn, crush, gunshot, and simultaneous with US casualties, we began to receive many Iraqi POW's, with awful wounds and injuries.
They arrived by BlackHawk medic, sometimes 20 or more by CH47 Chinook, and by vehicle. Our litter teams had made up wheeled carts, and initial triage began literally as soon as the wounded were off-loaded from their transport. Many had had initial care at a forward medical unit, but severe wounds, especially burn patients, came directly by helicopter.
We had guards on the POW's. who received the same care as Allied wounded. But the Iraqi were a pathetic sight. Saddam had been in an awful war with Iran for a decade, and he had staffed veterans of that recent war in his front lines. Many were significantly disabled, with old battle wounds, missing limbs, old men, just "fodder" for the meat grinder. We never had any problems with the countless POW's we cared for. They seemed to be greatful to be still alive.
Our EVAC had six self-contained metal OR's, and as the wounded would be carried or sometimes walked into our ER, our staff would begin triage and care right alongside their carried litter. Some of the grievously wounded never even paused in our ER, but were carried straight into an OR, where our anesthesia MD's and nurse anesthetists were standing by. Some of our patients were on an OR table within several minutes of arrival. It was orderly chaos.
Here, our ER in full swing. The woman in the middle with glasses was our head nurse, and was later promoted to General. Standing next to her, back to us, a LTC nurse, whose husband was a three star General in NATO. More about that helpful relationship later. We were quick to become adept at Mass Casuality care.
When our hospital commander had arrived, he and I being friends back in KS, he knew I enjoyed photography, and told me that someday our EVAC would need a record of our mission, and told me I was free to shoot whatever pictures I wanted.
I shot a lot of Iraqi wounds, and other, but will not post any here. Some were just awfully wounded. The worst wounds were troops who where in an armored vehicle when it was blown up, sometimes Iraqi were in their vehicle for several days before being found. Kuwaiti civilians were also brought in. The Retreating Republican Guardsl committed atrocities on even women and children.
So, here is our ER at work.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day. For me, a time for me to reflect on my blessings, and remember comrades who who gave their lives for this Great Country.
All the best and stay safe... SF VET
We had been receiving assorted injured patients for some time, and when the Ground War began, it became a flood of wounded. Every sort of wound and injury, blast, burn, crush, gunshot, and simultaneous with US casualties, we began to receive many Iraqi POW's, with awful wounds and injuries.
They arrived by BlackHawk medic, sometimes 20 or more by CH47 Chinook, and by vehicle. Our litter teams had made up wheeled carts, and initial triage began literally as soon as the wounded were off-loaded from their transport. Many had had initial care at a forward medical unit, but severe wounds, especially burn patients, came directly by helicopter.
We had guards on the POW's. who received the same care as Allied wounded. But the Iraqi were a pathetic sight. Saddam had been in an awful war with Iran for a decade, and he had staffed veterans of that recent war in his front lines. Many were significantly disabled, with old battle wounds, missing limbs, old men, just "fodder" for the meat grinder. We never had any problems with the countless POW's we cared for. They seemed to be greatful to be still alive.
Our EVAC had six self-contained metal OR's, and as the wounded would be carried or sometimes walked into our ER, our staff would begin triage and care right alongside their carried litter. Some of the grievously wounded never even paused in our ER, but were carried straight into an OR, where our anesthesia MD's and nurse anesthetists were standing by. Some of our patients were on an OR table within several minutes of arrival. It was orderly chaos.
Here, our ER in full swing. The woman in the middle with glasses was our head nurse, and was later promoted to General. Standing next to her, back to us, a LTC nurse, whose husband was a three star General in NATO. More about that helpful relationship later. We were quick to become adept at Mass Casuality care.
When our hospital commander had arrived, he and I being friends back in KS, he knew I enjoyed photography, and told me that someday our EVAC would need a record of our mission, and told me I was free to shoot whatever pictures I wanted.
I shot a lot of Iraqi wounds, and other, but will not post any here. Some were just awfully wounded. The worst wounds were troops who where in an armored vehicle when it was blown up, sometimes Iraqi were in their vehicle for several days before being found. Kuwaiti civilians were also brought in. The Retreating Republican Guardsl committed atrocities on even women and children.
So, here is our ER at work.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day. For me, a time for me to reflect on my blessings, and remember comrades who who gave their lives for this Great Country.
All the best and stay safe... SF VET
