REM 3200
US Veteran
Tchepone was a bad place to fly. Had a friend, now gone, who used to fly Blind Bat missions
around that area. He told some hair raising tales.
Snubby in Vietnam
- Thread starter SF VET
- Start date
Tchepone was a bad place to fly. Had a friend, now gone, who used to fly Blind Bat missions
around that area. He told some hair raising tales.
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
I can't "like" this story, it makes me want to cry. My gut tightened up as I caught my breath. Even today these young, tough kids face death every day for us. When they are hit, they hurt, bleed, and die. And those of us who have been there, or not, feel the hurt almost as if it is our own sons and daughters.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
USAR 1969 - 1975 USNR 1987 - 2007
No combat. Love all of y'all for your dedication and service.
That wins the prize for "Humor in Uniform" in this thread.
For the beer record herein, I found that Balboa beer in Panama was pretty doggone good and Schwabenbrau beer in Vaihingen, Germany was outstanding!
No combat. Love all of y'all for your dedication and service.
That wins the prize for "Humor in Uniform" in this thread.
For the beer record herein, I found that Balboa beer in Panama was pretty doggone good and Schwabenbrau beer in Vaihingen, Germany was outstanding!
When I was posted to Vietnam, MACV, the Advisory command, in Oct of '71, my only photography experience had been with the popular Instamatic 126 cameras. One of the first things I did in-country was to buy my first 35mm an Olympus Pen F, a half frame 35mm. It was and still is considered a fine small SLR. But I soon sold or traded it for something, and shortly there after it was stolen from the other chap.
I then bought a simple Ricoh semi-automatic 35 mm, and started shooting Kodachrome 25, which I would buy at the PX. Some of my earlier slides were with the Ricoh. Later, looking at the PACEX catalogue, which had items not available stateside, like high end music systems, cameras, Rolex's for $200, and Nikon, Cannon, Minoltra and Pentax (actually Asahi) cameras. Ordered and was sent a "Pentax" Spotmatic II, with the 1.4 and a 28 mm, all in nice leather cases. At that time, Asahi had the best anti-reflective coatings.
I had to be pretty choosey of what pic's I took, as my supply of Kodachrome and occasionally Ectachrome 160 was very limited. I had these little Kodak mailers, and would send my slide film back to the stateside lab, to be returned to my Nebraska home. I never knew until I returned if they were any good or not, having never seen any of them 'till then. I was lucky.
I learned a lot about basic photography with that manual camera, which has stood me well in my continued hobby of photography and darkroom work with different formats.
I took my "Pentax" every where with me, in a plastic bag, then and later all over the world, and to Desert Storm later. Eventually lots of lenses and bodies, and more. Even parachuted with it.
I have probably 5 or 6 hundred slides from Vietnam, and a few years ago selected some for hi-resolution digitalization, which are the ones I post here.
This is one of my bodyguards, an X-VC, we are about to go somewhere in my Whaler, with the two Johnson 40's. That is his silenced XM203 with a 40mm launcher under the barrel. My PRC 77 and rifle too. I never carried any grenades, just too much chance of catching one on some vines or the like.
One thing about the Vietnamese, they had NO radio discipline at all. They talked constantly on the radio, they never quit communicating. Once, the VC jammed my own radio with repeated playing of the Beatles Yellow Submarine song. I just enjoyed listening to it, and left it on.
When I was an A team CO, we had two Leica M2's for our team.
Anyway, stay safe, and all the best... SF VET
Harbor Security in Danang ran around in those Boston Whalers with dual 40hourse Johnsons, we called them "skimmers" just the props in the water. They could get just about anywhere fast, if anything larger was needed they called up a Swift boat, there was always one out in the harbor somewhere. When the Vietnamese took over you could look down at the pier and see all of the Swift boats tied up, little kids and pigs running around on the decks, laundry flapping in the breeze.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Yeah, that story was a real gut punch.
Reminds me of one my Father-in-law shared before he died. He was a radio operator on B-24's in the 8th Air Force. He came down with a case of dysentery, and ended up in sick bay. The crew that he had flown with for a long time went up with a replacement RO. That ship never came back, all men on board were KIA, and he suffered serious survivor guilt.
The only upside was that while being assigned another permanent crew he did fly a couple of missions with Jimmy Stewart as PIC.
This was during his bombing days, earlier in war he flew with the "Carpetbaggers", the air arm of the OSS. As such, they flew unarmed B24s, painted black, and dropped assets and equipment at night in support of the Resistance prior to D-Day.
The Cat, the Rat, and the Meat Cleaver, pt 1
I was out on an op with the Vietnamese, and we stopped for lunch at a rice farmer's, way out, he was just trying to stay alive between two warring sides. Very few locals did not live in semi-protected hamlets. Anyway, he wanted to offer us lunch, and I saw his prized morsel, a really big shrimp. I was just hoping he would offer it to me, and he did with bowing and gestures, as it was his only real "meat". He had had a water buffalo, but some time before, a US 'chopper killed it, and it had been hard for them since.
So I accepted the shrimp. I don't know what it tastes like if one were to scrape the inside of a foul aquarium, but that is what that shrimp tasted like to me. But I had to smlle and eat it with apparent relish. I did so, it was part of my advisor job.
He had a small black kitten, tiny thing, and I offered him a nickel's worth of piasters, and bright that cat home in an ammo much, the little guy poking his head out and looking at all the muck and water.
For some reason, that cat seemed to me to be a tiny bit of Americal in our hootch, and we took great care of him, although he never grew much at all and just laid around like cats do.
But he had the heart and courage of a true warrior, we were to find out one night.
All the best and stay safe.... SF VET
I was out on an op with the Vietnamese, and we stopped for lunch at a rice farmer's, way out, he was just trying to stay alive between two warring sides. Very few locals did not live in semi-protected hamlets. Anyway, he wanted to offer us lunch, and I saw his prized morsel, a really big shrimp. I was just hoping he would offer it to me, and he did with bowing and gestures, as it was his only real "meat". He had had a water buffalo, but some time before, a US 'chopper killed it, and it had been hard for them since.
So I accepted the shrimp. I don't know what it tastes like if one were to scrape the inside of a foul aquarium, but that is what that shrimp tasted like to me. But I had to smlle and eat it with apparent relish. I did so, it was part of my advisor job.
He had a small black kitten, tiny thing, and I offered him a nickel's worth of piasters, and bright that cat home in an ammo much, the little guy poking his head out and looking at all the muck and water.
For some reason, that cat seemed to me to be a tiny bit of Americal in our hootch, and we took great care of him, although he never grew much at all and just laid around like cats do.
But he had the heart and courage of a true warrior, we were to find out one night.
All the best and stay safe.... SF VET
THE PILGRIM
Member
Back in my Okinawa days Was out with my Green Beret Buddy Don and wives.
A guy walked by and Don spoke to him.
Then he says see that guy going there.
One day he went into Laos with some S Vietnamese Rangers.
They got hit at the landing.
The Helios started lifted and the Rangers started piling on.
Our SF guy got left as the Helios departed and the Rangers scattered.,
So he decided it was time to leave, picked a route and ran.
Got away but was now stranded in Laos.
So he got his bearings and started walking.
Days later he showed himself at one of those SF border camps waving his M-16 and identifying himself.
They looked him over and finally went out and walked him through the Mines.
Just like in the Movie!
He's my Buddy Don.
A guy walked by and Don spoke to him.
Then he says see that guy going there.
One day he went into Laos with some S Vietnamese Rangers.
They got hit at the landing.
The Helios started lifted and the Rangers started piling on.
Our SF guy got left as the Helios departed and the Rangers scattered.,
So he decided it was time to leave, picked a route and ran.
Got away but was now stranded in Laos.
So he got his bearings and started walking.
Days later he showed himself at one of those SF border camps waving his M-16 and identifying himself.
They looked him over and finally went out and walked him through the Mines.
Just like in the Movie!
He's my Buddy Don.
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The Cat, the Rat, and the Meat Cleaver, pt 2
The day I was dropped off at my second 6 month home, a district HQ, the then Major and SFC Tom C were constructing a new house inside a metal roofed building. We made it out of wood and screens, had basically two rooms, a bedroom, and a "parlor", part kitchen. Then built our shower/latrine/kitchen wash sink up a few steps .
The Major soon left, and did not return , so I as a CPT was the District Senior Advisor, with one or two SFC's. One Moonlite night, heard the pots and pans from our dinner rattling up in the "sink" area, and got up and stepped up and there was the rat eating our left over rice. The rats in the compound were big as footballs, hairless, and mangy creatures.
I grabbed a big meat cleaver, and went to hacking at the rat, slashing my way thru the pans, and the rat went for a hole in the screen, then bolted down the stairs to our bedroom. The SFC's were coming out from their mosquito nets, all of us hollering, and at that moment, our companion, leapt on the rat, and they engaged in a horrendous screeching battle. Our cat let out a terrible cry in pain, and I yelled "...the rat has him by the balls, save the cat!"
We lit into the battle, and the rat disengaged and ran for the corner of the front room, me hacking and slashing with the cleaver right behind him, across the commo stuff, and then its was over, the rat blew thru a hole in the screen.
When the sun came up, our place was a mess, and I had hacked thru our commo cables, so told the Vietnamese HQ to have our HQ up in Camau send us new cables, as ours didn't seem to work anymore.
We gently comforted our faithful patriot, and then remembered he was a female! We nursed him back to health and his wounds healed.
Not long after, I came back from an op, and Pop, our Vietnamese handy man had cooked and eaten him. The little hero deserved a medal.
Here, a pic of our bedroom, my bunk on the right, SFC T's on the left. His Playboy pics. On my side are pics of the Pan Am stewardess I was pen pals with .
Next, the saga of the three legged dog.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
The day I was dropped off at my second 6 month home, a district HQ, the then Major and SFC Tom C were constructing a new house inside a metal roofed building. We made it out of wood and screens, had basically two rooms, a bedroom, and a "parlor", part kitchen. Then built our shower/latrine/kitchen wash sink up a few steps .
The Major soon left, and did not return , so I as a CPT was the District Senior Advisor, with one or two SFC's. One Moonlite night, heard the pots and pans from our dinner rattling up in the "sink" area, and got up and stepped up and there was the rat eating our left over rice. The rats in the compound were big as footballs, hairless, and mangy creatures.
I grabbed a big meat cleaver, and went to hacking at the rat, slashing my way thru the pans, and the rat went for a hole in the screen, then bolted down the stairs to our bedroom. The SFC's were coming out from their mosquito nets, all of us hollering, and at that moment, our companion, leapt on the rat, and they engaged in a horrendous screeching battle. Our cat let out a terrible cry in pain, and I yelled "...the rat has him by the balls, save the cat!"
We lit into the battle, and the rat disengaged and ran for the corner of the front room, me hacking and slashing with the cleaver right behind him, across the commo stuff, and then its was over, the rat blew thru a hole in the screen.
When the sun came up, our place was a mess, and I had hacked thru our commo cables, so told the Vietnamese HQ to have our HQ up in Camau send us new cables, as ours didn't seem to work anymore.
We gently comforted our faithful patriot, and then remembered he was a female! We nursed him back to health and his wounds healed.
Not long after, I came back from an op, and Pop, our Vietnamese handy man had cooked and eaten him. The little hero deserved a medal.
Here, a pic of our bedroom, my bunk on the right, SFC T's on the left. His Playboy pics. On my side are pics of the Pan Am stewardess I was pen pals with .
Next, the saga of the three legged dog.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
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I am sincerely enjoying this thread. Keep them coming!
Leon, Thank you for posting. I read it several times. You said so eloquently in so very few words what I feel in my heart. I never could find the words to say it for myself. They are indeed our sons and daughters.
7shooter
Member
A Viet Nam veteran gave me a statue of the Three Soldiers which is near the Viet Nam Memorial in D C. It is inscribed " Our Sons, Our Brothers , Our Friends ". It is in a glass container and is beside a beautiful wood replica of a Huey that another Viet Nam vet gave me.
They are on my fireplace mantel
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7shooter
Member
That is it. It can bring tears to me.
Chief Wiggums
Member
This thread (IMO) , is clearly the best on this board.
At the moment , I have nothing else to say , after reading the attached article....
At the moment , I have nothing else to say , after reading the attached article....
Richard Simmons
Member
Thanks for posting the photos and stories. I enjoy them a great deal. My cousin, now deceased, served with MACV SOG RT North Carolina.
Several times I was able to hop a ride up to the big outdoor theater at Saigon, and once to a hanger show at Can Tho, the capital of the Delta region, IV Corps to the military. At the Saigon military theater, I was right alongside the entrance, and Jim Neighbors waved at us when he rode by, and Bob Hope was there with his Gold Digger Girls, I think Joey Heatherton was one of them. Bob had been doing USO shows in WWII and on. He was a real patriot to me.
Once, saw Sammy Davis Jr up close with his all girl troupe. I really respected him for taking time from his shows in Vegas to provide some stateside humor to us. These and others were all heroes to me.
From time to time, I would be up at our Province HQ, in Camau, a small US compound, where they had AC and a great club, movies every night, and wore civies. I was in their club one night, for a show with a group from somewhere. Their troupe manager had three shows they would provide, one, start with their clothes on, the next, take them off at the end of their show, and then one where the girls started their show with no clothing on at all.
If the stateside girlfriends and wives had any idea of all this....
Here is one of the Rat Pack himself, Sammy Davis Jr himself.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
Once, saw Sammy Davis Jr up close with his all girl troupe. I really respected him for taking time from his shows in Vegas to provide some stateside humor to us. These and others were all heroes to me.
From time to time, I would be up at our Province HQ, in Camau, a small US compound, where they had AC and a great club, movies every night, and wore civies. I was in their club one night, for a show with a group from somewhere. Their troupe manager had three shows they would provide, one, start with their clothes on, the next, take them off at the end of their show, and then one where the girls started their show with no clothing on at all.
If the stateside girlfriends and wives had any idea of all this....
Here is one of the Rat Pack himself, Sammy Davis Jr himself.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
SF VET, Sir you have an extraordinary string going here as mentioned by others. I have been looking forward to your entries each day with appreciation but no comments. Today you got me with "REMFS". Even I as a USAF guy knew that one. I was an airplane mechanic at Tan Son Nhut in 69-70. The other night brought back a memory from 69 with the picture of thhe C-119 Shadow gunship. I was on the flight line and witnessed the whole take off run, crash, and horrific fireball of "Shadow 76". I thought for sure all must have perished. I did some research and there were a couple of survivors. One of them wrote about the event. Amazing story and so many amazing Americans, as stated with the statue, "Our Sons, Our Bothers, Our Friends". God Bless them all!
Well, the moderators haven't yet shut me down, so more:
I was actually quite content to spend six months on this compound. I was living in a far higher standard than everyone else, excepting the Vietnamese District LTC, a superb officer, spoke fluent English, had done training in the US. He lived in the other haft of our metal building, occasionally his wife and kids would come down for a visit. Partly, I think, I was almost happy was because no one was telling me anything I had to do, I could do what and how I wanted. SFC Tom C and I made a good pair.
We had a young Vietnamese war widow as our cook and housekeeper. One day, I came back from an op, and she was washing our dinner, a big fish in the polluted water of our moat. So I told her to give the fish to someone else, and we would eat issue rations for dinner. This is the only entrance into the compound, thru multiple wire lines, across a small PSP bridge into the compound. A sweet and loyal Cambodian solder and his family lived in the mud hovel to the right. Once, one of his children had miserable skin infections, so I washed her in some Issue Antibacterial soap, and in a few days she was well again.
One day, way out, a young child was introduced to me, he was named John. I inquire why he had such a Western name, and was told an American medic had delivered him at a very difficult birth, and the medic's name was John.
All the best, and stay safe, SF VET
I was actually quite content to spend six months on this compound. I was living in a far higher standard than everyone else, excepting the Vietnamese District LTC, a superb officer, spoke fluent English, had done training in the US. He lived in the other haft of our metal building, occasionally his wife and kids would come down for a visit. Partly, I think, I was almost happy was because no one was telling me anything I had to do, I could do what and how I wanted. SFC Tom C and I made a good pair.
We had a young Vietnamese war widow as our cook and housekeeper. One day, I came back from an op, and she was washing our dinner, a big fish in the polluted water of our moat. So I told her to give the fish to someone else, and we would eat issue rations for dinner. This is the only entrance into the compound, thru multiple wire lines, across a small PSP bridge into the compound. A sweet and loyal Cambodian solder and his family lived in the mud hovel to the right. Once, one of his children had miserable skin infections, so I washed her in some Issue Antibacterial soap, and in a few days she was well again.
One day, way out, a young child was introduced to me, he was named John. I inquire why he had such a Western name, and was told an American medic had delivered him at a very difficult birth, and the medic's name was John.
All the best, and stay safe, SF VET
REM 3200
US Veteran
One of my best friends in the Army served in the Delta at Dong Tam.
He was with the 3rd Surgical Hospital. I later worked for him in Germany
while he was The IG of 7th MEDCOM, I served as one of the Asst. IGs on the Inspection Team.
We still e-mail each other every day. Just one heck of a good guy and close friend.
He was with the 3rd Surgical Hospital. I later worked for him in Germany
while he was The IG of 7th MEDCOM, I served as one of the Asst. IGs on the Inspection Team.
We still e-mail each other every day. Just one heck of a good guy and close friend.
As I recall, I once visited Dong Tam, and a lot of PBR's were based there. I don't have any digitalized pics though to post for your memories, REM.
PBR's ie, the Brown Water Navy, were really cool jet boats. Lots of firepower too. I will try to look up a pic of one. One of my college fraternity brothers was awarded a CMH for his actions aboard a PBR one night. Lost a foot in the encounter. Later Gov of Nebraska and dated Debra Winger, a worthy encounter too in my opinion.
Let me see what I have about them.
All the best, and stay safe.. SF VET
PBR's ie, the Brown Water Navy, were really cool jet boats. Lots of firepower too. I will try to look up a pic of one. One of my college fraternity brothers was awarded a CMH for his actions aboard a PBR one night. Lost a foot in the encounter. Later Gov of Nebraska and dated Debra Winger, a worthy encounter too in my opinion.
Let me see what I have about them.
All the best, and stay safe.. SF VET
a few minutes before I boarded a plane at Travis AFB fly to Vietnam, I called my wife, and she told me she had been in an affair with an Army Doctor, unknown to me, and would now be living with him. I hung up and completely put all thoughts of her totally, totally out of my mind, something I must have thought necessary for my upcoming Infantry year in Vietnam. I did not confront that 'till years later.
But when I was living among the Vietnamese, I really liked their children. I have been all over the world, in some pretty troubled and conflicted places, and yet children seem to find happiness and playfulness no matter what. Maybe they just don't know any better.
Anyway, I sorely missed my 3 year old son, and transferred some of that love and affection to the children all around me. Here is the wait staff at the small compound cafe, where I would have a Ramen lunch daily, often with a beer 33, with debris filled ice, or just warm beer. The girls would pour boiling water over the noodles, and stir in some pork and spices and it was really good. Plus some Nuc Mam sauce to heat it up a bit.
The children had nothing to play with, so I had my parents send me a bag of plastic rings and toy necklaces and I gave them to the girls, and they must have thought they finally actually had jewelry. It was the first inkling that after this experience, I wanted to somehow devote my life to helping children, and began to try to find a way to do that. I ended up practicing pediatrics all over the world for nearly 40 years, in addition to being an army physician, and flight surgeon.
The girl on the far left is My, an orphan, who still played and smiled as she had no idea of her circumstances. Sweet children. No matter the mud, their parents somehow managed to keep them in spotless white clothing.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
But when I was living among the Vietnamese, I really liked their children. I have been all over the world, in some pretty troubled and conflicted places, and yet children seem to find happiness and playfulness no matter what. Maybe they just don't know any better.
Anyway, I sorely missed my 3 year old son, and transferred some of that love and affection to the children all around me. Here is the wait staff at the small compound cafe, where I would have a Ramen lunch daily, often with a beer 33, with debris filled ice, or just warm beer. The girls would pour boiling water over the noodles, and stir in some pork and spices and it was really good. Plus some Nuc Mam sauce to heat it up a bit.
The children had nothing to play with, so I had my parents send me a bag of plastic rings and toy necklaces and I gave them to the girls, and they must have thought they finally actually had jewelry. It was the first inkling that after this experience, I wanted to somehow devote my life to helping children, and began to try to find a way to do that. I ended up practicing pediatrics all over the world for nearly 40 years, in addition to being an army physician, and flight surgeon.
The girl on the far left is My, an orphan, who still played and smiled as she had no idea of her circumstances. Sweet children. No matter the mud, their parents somehow managed to keep them in spotless white clothing.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
This is a pic of the Cambodian soldier's family, all lining up for my match-needle Pentax. The wall of his family abode is used 105 howitzer cases, made out of some sort of worthless cardboard or the like. Dad was a very small man, no more than just over 5 feet tall I guess. But obviously loved his kids, and doted on them. I had cured one of them of skin empetigo with my special soap. Again, how they kept their kids so spotless in all that mud still amazes me.
Once, the battery of 105's in the compound received a barge load of ammunition for the incoming gun crews, and found that the shells were cases of real brass, worth a lot of money on the scrap market. So that night, they fired off the whole barge load, just blasting away to use it up, and in the morning, loaded the spent valuable brass cases back onto the barge, and headed back up to Camau, up the river a few hours.
Since the gun was just outside our own hootch, its may be part of the reason I have a VA hearing disability, and wear issue hearing aids.
Such cute and happy kids.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
Once, the battery of 105's in the compound received a barge load of ammunition for the incoming gun crews, and found that the shells were cases of real brass, worth a lot of money on the scrap market. So that night, they fired off the whole barge load, just blasting away to use it up, and in the morning, loaded the spent valuable brass cases back onto the barge, and headed back up to Camau, up the river a few hours.
Since the gun was just outside our own hootch, its may be part of the reason I have a VA hearing disability, and wear issue hearing aids.
Such cute and happy kids.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
A I previously mentioned, I sent my slide film back to a stateside Kodak lab in those little mailers, and never saw any of my pics until I returned, and bought a projector. I just hoped that they were properly exposed and not blurry. Glad I shot Kodachrome, as the Ectachrome 160 I sometimes had have faded a bit. K'chrome if not exposed to sustained light, stays perfect "forever." I was trying to learn about photography shutter speeds and aperture and such. But had no idea how it was all working out.
Here, My and her best friend. Smiles always.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
Here, My and her best friend. Smiles always.
All the best, and stay safe. SF VET
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Great pictures and stories - keep posting!
The Three Legged Dog
well, the compound dog really did have four legs, but he gimped around on three of them. Nobody claimed the dog, he was just there, lazing around the compound, snatching whatever food he could grab. He was the only dog I saw in the Delta, too much water for them I guess.
I hated that dog. I think whatever repressed anger or hurt I was subconsciously feeling was focused on that miserable, mangy beast. No one in the compound seemed to feed him, or take care of him.
I don't think that dog ever wandered out of the compound, either.
One day, I was walking around the compound, and some soldiers were squatting by a ammo case, hacking some duck apart for their dinner. They ate every part of a duck, excepting the feathers. Feet, head, guts, all of the duck would be set to boil.
As I was casually gazing that way, the dog went to grab some of the duck, and one of the soldiers whacked the dog with his cleaver, and in a moment, he just hacked the dog apart, and they brought out a bigger pot, and the dog went into it, as soon as his hide was off.
I never saw any other dog eaten, and I sure didn't want any of that hatred dog. Here, the dog in his happier days. Note the girl trying to spear a small fish in the polluted moat water, and now spotless the kids are. Note also the RPG wire around the bunker, hopefully it would catch the fins of an RPG.
When I got back to the Land Of The Big PX, I just couldn't eat American food, just couldn't bring myself to swallow it, after mostly rice and fish and duck.
all the best, and stay safe.... SF VET
well, the compound dog really did have four legs, but he gimped around on three of them. Nobody claimed the dog, he was just there, lazing around the compound, snatching whatever food he could grab. He was the only dog I saw in the Delta, too much water for them I guess.
I hated that dog. I think whatever repressed anger or hurt I was subconsciously feeling was focused on that miserable, mangy beast. No one in the compound seemed to feed him, or take care of him.
I don't think that dog ever wandered out of the compound, either.
One day, I was walking around the compound, and some soldiers were squatting by a ammo case, hacking some duck apart for their dinner. They ate every part of a duck, excepting the feathers. Feet, head, guts, all of the duck would be set to boil.
As I was casually gazing that way, the dog went to grab some of the duck, and one of the soldiers whacked the dog with his cleaver, and in a moment, he just hacked the dog apart, and they brought out a bigger pot, and the dog went into it, as soon as his hide was off.
I never saw any other dog eaten, and I sure didn't want any of that hatred dog. Here, the dog in his happier days. Note the girl trying to spear a small fish in the polluted moat water, and now spotless the kids are. Note also the RPG wire around the bunker, hopefully it would catch the fins of an RPG.
When I got back to the Land Of The Big PX, I just couldn't eat American food, just couldn't bring myself to swallow it, after mostly rice and fish and duck.
all the best, and stay safe.... SF VET
Ziggy2525
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Sort of a tropical medicine question. Always been curious about guys in Vietnam that were living semi-native. While you were there and when you got back to the states, did you have any issues with things like giardia or other types of intestinal parasites from eating local village food. Seems like the conditions would be ripe for that type of infection.
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Thanks for the trip down memory lane...It never ceased to amaze me how the Vietnamese mothers would maintain the sense of family no matter how rough it was. I remember being brought to tears one morning watching a young mother give her young children a morning bath, followed by washing her lovely long black hair, wringing it out. I also remember how tough the "slicky boys" were, one little guy selling me a fistful of cocoanut popsickles, getting beaten up for the money by another boy who then got beat by another older kid...tough. Came home and watched local "tough guys" that must have been sixteen and told one of them that a twelve year old Vietnamese kid could eat his lunch and send him home crying to his mommy.
