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Have seen pics of of a 105 on rear gate of C-130, cant find the book it may have been in. I’ll check with few friends that may have a pic.
Snubby in Vietnam
- Thread starter SF VET
- Start date
M E Morrison
Member
Bad move charley....
My favorite people are Navy Corpsmen and Marine medivac helicopter pilots and crew.
Just a Grunt, 67'-68'
Ferret Face, part II
When I was about to retire some years ago, I was really looking forward to living life on my terms, and it has been just that. But even though others told me that there were always more things to do, to accomplish, to enjoy than there was time to do so, I didn't comprehend how true it was to be. To say I have been a bit busy would be a huge understatement. But....
Back to Ferret Face. He was one of those peculiar people we encounter from time to time. He kept to himself, and I assigned him some of our many pediatric patients; of course they were refugees from the terrible circumstances they were in. One day, the nurses told me that a child was in a terrible plight, and Ferret Face, of course they did not refer to him as such, was nowhere to be found in our compound. I went and assumed care of the very ill child.
One of the worst physician misconducts is when a provider abandons a patient. Esp in time of great need. I had made it absolutely clear to every physician that they were never to leave the hospital without "checking out" their responsibilities, ensuring continuity of care. No one ever violated that premise. Except Ferret Face....
So when Ferret face returned from an all-day PX run I met him at the truck, and told him to come with me. I walked him over behind a tent, and told him he was never, ever to do that again. Never, never, and he was to "check out" his patients to me before ever leaving again. He was a full COL, and I then an LTC, but he was subordinate to me.
Some people just don't get it. It was only a few day later when again the nurses needed urgent decisions on a child in extremis, and once again, Ferret Face was nowhere to be found. When later he returned from another PX run, I told him when he climbed down from the truck to follow me to the command tend.
Our hospital had one GP medium set up for our command and admin team. I had a small field desk there, about half the size of a card table, with fold up legs. I sat down and motioned for him to stand in front of me. He started his excuses and leaned over and put his hands on my "desk". I told him he would remain silent, put his heels together, come to the position of attention and not touch my desk. I dressed him down, and ended by telling him there would be no more failures. I told him him if he ever, ever abandoned a patient, I would drive him far out into the desert and drop him off at some remote God ForSaken Hell Hole, and leave him there to somehow, someday, find his own way back to St Louis, his home. I did not permit him to say another word, and told him to solute me and get out of my sight. When he turned to leave, I added that he was removed from any patient care in my hospital, and assumed care of our pediatric patients.
In my prior years of service, I had leaned from the best about how to handle soldiers like him. We had little to see and do with him until a few months later I rotated back home in charge of our return party.
My wife and I are in the process of selling two homes and moving to Columbia SC to be nearer one of our kids and their two boys. So I will be back, but it might be a while.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
When I was about to retire some years ago, I was really looking forward to living life on my terms, and it has been just that. But even though others told me that there were always more things to do, to accomplish, to enjoy than there was time to do so, I didn't comprehend how true it was to be. To say I have been a bit busy would be a huge understatement. But....
Back to Ferret Face. He was one of those peculiar people we encounter from time to time. He kept to himself, and I assigned him some of our many pediatric patients; of course they were refugees from the terrible circumstances they were in. One day, the nurses told me that a child was in a terrible plight, and Ferret Face, of course they did not refer to him as such, was nowhere to be found in our compound. I went and assumed care of the very ill child.
One of the worst physician misconducts is when a provider abandons a patient. Esp in time of great need. I had made it absolutely clear to every physician that they were never to leave the hospital without "checking out" their responsibilities, ensuring continuity of care. No one ever violated that premise. Except Ferret Face....
So when Ferret face returned from an all-day PX run I met him at the truck, and told him to come with me. I walked him over behind a tent, and told him he was never, ever to do that again. Never, never, and he was to "check out" his patients to me before ever leaving again. He was a full COL, and I then an LTC, but he was subordinate to me.
Some people just don't get it. It was only a few day later when again the nurses needed urgent decisions on a child in extremis, and once again, Ferret Face was nowhere to be found. When later he returned from another PX run, I told him when he climbed down from the truck to follow me to the command tend.
Our hospital had one GP medium set up for our command and admin team. I had a small field desk there, about half the size of a card table, with fold up legs. I sat down and motioned for him to stand in front of me. He started his excuses and leaned over and put his hands on my "desk". I told him he would remain silent, put his heels together, come to the position of attention and not touch my desk. I dressed him down, and ended by telling him there would be no more failures. I told him him if he ever, ever abandoned a patient, I would drive him far out into the desert and drop him off at some remote God ForSaken Hell Hole, and leave him there to somehow, someday, find his own way back to St Louis, his home. I did not permit him to say another word, and told him to solute me and get out of my sight. When he turned to leave, I added that he was removed from any patient care in my hospital, and assumed care of our pediatric patients.
In my prior years of service, I had leaned from the best about how to handle soldiers like him. We had little to see and do with him until a few months later I rotated back home in charge of our return party.
My wife and I are in the process of selling two homes and moving to Columbia SC to be nearer one of our kids and their two boys. So I will be back, but it might be a while.
All the best, and stay safe... SF VET
Glad to see you posting again SF VET.
Good luck with your endeavors.
Good luck with your endeavors.
You will be missed. Looking forward to more life stories and lessons when you return.
Good luck with the sales and move.
L
Good luck with the sales and move.
L
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
As I frequently experience, found myself wide awake about 4 hours ago (3:00AM). Came back to this post and spent those hours going back through from the beginning. Certainly a lot of ground covered in the past year and a half or so. Posts by others have stimulated my own memories, so as I have learned maybe I've also been able to share a bit.
Thanks to all who have participated.
Thanks to all who have participated.
yeah, I too often awaken in the dark hours of the night, and just get up and start my day. As we grow older, we typically need, or get much less sleep than in our earlier years.
Been very hectic, to say the least, the last few weeks. After thinking about moving from UpState SC, near Charlotte, we abruptly just decided to move to the Columbia SC area to be nearer our son's family, with their 8 and 5 year old lads, who are just so much fun to be around. Being a Gramps and a Mimi is more rewarding than just about anything we can imagine.
So, in five days, listed and sold our home here and our place at the beach, and now are in a mad scramble to pack here, and get into our new home there. You can imagine what it is like to sell two, buy one, and accomplish all that in less than three weeks from first thought to done.
But when I am at least partially "moved in", I will be back with more, and likewise, thanks to all who have contributed their memories and experiences to this thread.
All the best to all of you, and see ou soon...... SF VET
Been very hectic, to say the least, the last few weeks. After thinking about moving from UpState SC, near Charlotte, we abruptly just decided to move to the Columbia SC area to be nearer our son's family, with their 8 and 5 year old lads, who are just so much fun to be around. Being a Gramps and a Mimi is more rewarding than just about anything we can imagine.
So, in five days, listed and sold our home here and our place at the beach, and now are in a mad scramble to pack here, and get into our new home there. You can imagine what it is like to sell two, buy one, and accomplish all that in less than three weeks from first thought to done.
But when I am at least partially "moved in", I will be back with more, and likewise, thanks to all who have contributed their memories and experiences to this thread.
All the best to all of you, and see ou soon...... SF VET
SFVET - Good to hear from you. Being a “Gramps and Nana” are just a wonder, and a tonic for the soul. Good luck with your move. Hope to hear from you again. You’ve made many friends here.- regards fordson
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Hope your move will be ok, really rough the older one gets. Columbia seems to be a nice area, good luck.
Spartanden
Member
Good Luck on your move. Don't lift anything heavy!!!
YkcorCal
US Veteran
I have to be careful about getting to emersed in this stuff because of what it does to me. I SALUTE ALL who were in country.
Yes. Wonder how his move went……
SFVet….if you have your “ears on”, check in… let us know how you doing….…
SFVet….if you have your “ears on”, check in… let us know how you doing….…
I sent home the obligatory picture of my M1A1. As a tanker, I had the luxury of taking it with me to augment the grease guns. The battalion commander wanted it, he never found it.
Attachments
The long time bride of an officer I served with, and much admired, told this story of their Christmas 1969:
"I arrived in Hawaii December 21, and spent a couple of days with family in Kanehoe Bay on the windward side of the island. On Christmas Eve, hours ahead of the time I needed to be there, I arrived at the reception center at Fort DeRussy. Not the modern Fort DeRussy with high rise Hale Koa Hotel, but the old WWII wooden barracks version that existed in those days. One of those old WWII barracks had been converted in to a reception center with a snack bar at one end. We had to check in with an NCO to see what flight our soldier was coming in on. I checked in and Charley’s name was not on the manifest. The Sgt looked at me and said “don’t worry honey it happens all the time.”
I went in to the snack bar and sat down to have breakfast. Sitting next to me was a beautiful young woman, with gorgeous gray eyes, and we soon began chatting, albeit a little nervously. We discovered that we were both married to pilots and felt so fortunate to have husbands that were doing what they loved and not tramping in the mud and the sludge of the jungle. Her’s was an Air Force fighter pilot and mine was a Wobbly One, Army helicopter pilot. The loud speaker soon told us to check in, if we hadn’t already done so, with the duty NCO; the buses were inbound from Hickham. I checked with the same Sgt and he looked at me and smiled. “Happens all the time.” There was a single name on a single sheet of paper, but it was the name I wanted to see. Charley’s name was on a page by itself.
The buses arrived and all spouses that have gone through tough deployments, know the feeling of that rib crushing hug, that first embrace after a long tough separation. The speakers told the military personnel to exit through a door in to a small room and get their malaria pills and continue to the area where their bags were being held. Taxis waited to take us wherever we were going. Charley left to get his pill and bags and I turned and saw my breakfast partner sitting on a metal folding chair at the end of the barracks; next to her stood two men in uniform. Her face was buried in her hands and as I approached her she stood and with tear filled eyes, took my hands and told me “treasure this Christmas, it may well be your last.” Christmas R&R in Hawaii was magical. Christmas dinner was a huge banana split, as ice cream was nonexistent in Vietnam and Charley savored every bite of it. We knew the time would come when he would get back on that plane and return to hell. Riding in the taxi to Fort DeRussy to get on his bus to Hickham, he said “I guess I’ll have a seat on this plane going back.” I asked what he meant and he told me that he had flown in standby. Someone else didn’t make it."
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LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Once again, this thread triggers old memories.
R&R was the military term for "rest and recuperation", short periods of leave for servicemen in Vietnam. There were a couple of in-country R&R centers (Vung Tau and China Beach) that I knew about, fairly basic accommodations with some recreational activities and a decent mess facility. Out-of-country R&R was authorized for a week stay in Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Tai Pei (Taiwan), Australia, Hawaii, perhaps a few other places. Charter flights provided for the service members, but family members coming from the US had to pay their own transportation. Lodging and other expenses were out of pocket.
Each unit had an allocation of space-available slots for the R&R flights. Competition could be rather fierce, seniority (time in-country) counted heavily, disciplinary problems disqualified some guys, and there were no guarantees (standby status was common, no airplane seats went unfilled but a lot of disappointed guys were left behind). Typical allocations were one "in-country" and one "out-of-country" R&R per tour (one year).
Lots of married men chose Hawaii and spent a ton of money for a week with their wives in expensive hotels. Lots of single guys chose Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Tai Pei for incredibly inexpensive lodging, meals, booze, and incidental entertainment.
A common term for the troops was I&I (intoxication and intercourse).
My choices were Tai Pei (first tour), Sydney Australia (second tour). One week each, and each of those weeks could turn into a short book of experiences. Nuff said.
R&R was the military term for "rest and recuperation", short periods of leave for servicemen in Vietnam. There were a couple of in-country R&R centers (Vung Tau and China Beach) that I knew about, fairly basic accommodations with some recreational activities and a decent mess facility. Out-of-country R&R was authorized for a week stay in Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Tai Pei (Taiwan), Australia, Hawaii, perhaps a few other places. Charter flights provided for the service members, but family members coming from the US had to pay their own transportation. Lodging and other expenses were out of pocket.
Each unit had an allocation of space-available slots for the R&R flights. Competition could be rather fierce, seniority (time in-country) counted heavily, disciplinary problems disqualified some guys, and there were no guarantees (standby status was common, no airplane seats went unfilled but a lot of disappointed guys were left behind). Typical allocations were one "in-country" and one "out-of-country" R&R per tour (one year).
Lots of married men chose Hawaii and spent a ton of money for a week with their wives in expensive hotels. Lots of single guys chose Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Tai Pei for incredibly inexpensive lodging, meals, booze, and incidental entertainment.
A common term for the troops was I&I (intoxication and intercourse).
My choices were Tai Pei (first tour), Sydney Australia (second tour). One week each, and each of those weeks could turn into a short book of experiences. Nuff said.
A lot of guys would bring SW-Colt wheel guns and even buy them at PX on R and R. Model 19 357 mag popular and airweight J -frames. One South Vietnam General made the M-38 humpback infamous on National TV. Buying watches like Seiko,Gylcene, Rolex was popular on R-R too at the PX.
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Well, it was a pretty abrupt decision one day, last summer, "...enough off just thinking about selling two homes and moving to be near our son and his wife and 5 and 8 year old sons...", so bought a new home, sold the two others in a week, packed about 200 boxes, and moved in.
Just love it here, Lexington, SC, a smaller town adjacent to Columbia. No more stairs, no more yard to mow, no more trees to trim, no more weeds to pull, no more mud to wash off the driveway, and our pool will be in before long. Got my reloading bench set up, cranking out 357 mag and shooting my 28 and my new Henry Lever in that caliber, and have joined a local gun club which has 13 different ranges! Moved my army truck out to the airport into a hanger with about a dozen other vintage military vehicles, plus a full machine shop and just great guys to be around.
We are finishing up a climate controlled finished walk up attic space, and before long I can set up my projector and scanner, and get back to looking over my slides of my military experience. I have greatly enjoyed the contributions of so many others on this thread.
Our two grandsons spent the night here, and this morning were out digging in the mud of a next door home construction. Boys and mud just seem to attract one another.
Life is just wonderful, and I'll be back soon. SF VET
Just love it here, Lexington, SC, a smaller town adjacent to Columbia. No more stairs, no more yard to mow, no more trees to trim, no more weeds to pull, no more mud to wash off the driveway, and our pool will be in before long. Got my reloading bench set up, cranking out 357 mag and shooting my 28 and my new Henry Lever in that caliber, and have joined a local gun club which has 13 different ranges! Moved my army truck out to the airport into a hanger with about a dozen other vintage military vehicles, plus a full machine shop and just great guys to be around.
We are finishing up a climate controlled finished walk up attic space, and before long I can set up my projector and scanner, and get back to looking over my slides of my military experience. I have greatly enjoyed the contributions of so many others on this thread.
Our two grandsons spent the night here, and this morning were out digging in the mud of a next door home construction. Boys and mud just seem to attract one another.
Life is just wonderful, and I'll be back soon. SF VET
