Vietnam Vets-When & Where

[ohioseabee]

Vito...
" Although I was stationed at Camp Eagle".

I've driven many trucks up the "hill" to Camp Eagle. Welcome home.

 

[vito]

It occurred to me today that the youngest Vietnam vet has to be at least 60 now, assuming they were 18 and in Vietnam during our last year there in any numbers of 1973, although there could be a small number of vets a year or two younger. At 71 I know I am not the oldest Vietnam vet by any measure, but that young Captain that I was then, 27 years old (I was considered a wise old man by some of my soldiers!) seems like a different person. Young troops today, when finding out that I served in Vietnam, look at me just as I looked at my uncles and others who served in WWII when I was young. Probably won't be too many more years before one of my grandkids asks me if they had radios when I served or did we rely upon couriers on horseback.

 

[RonJ]

I guess it's appropriate that I come in on the tail end of this thread. I tried fellas, I really did. Volunteered twice for Nam and got turned down both times.
I did however live dangerously in Northern Thailand. If I really wanted to I could walk off into the jungle where there were all kinds of baddies, mostly snakes.
Back in town I faced a chance of food poisoning, STDs the Docs had never heard of and lizards that were telling me to do the anatomically impossible!
So I mostly stayed on base for the most part.
However my separation papers say I served in the Vietnam Nam theater. I show it to people who ask, but I never take credit for places I didn't go. I still feel like the Zeppo of the era. Cheers to you guys who were there and put it on the line.
SP5 C R James

 

[Mickey D]

Looking for Brian Williams post.

 

[CarrieC]

Remembering a lot of faces but not many names from this thread. Interesting change of venue Vito. I was in the first unit to occupy the "new" Camp Eagle in the ROK in 89. Built nominally for us but with a large KATUSA contingent. Right across the street from old K46 I think they call it either Hoengsong or Wonju airport now. I don't recall but I assume the name is to honor the Camp Eagle in RVN. Thanks to all that answer the call.

 

[CH47gunner]

It occurred to me today that the youngest Vietnam vet has to be at least 60 now, assuming they were 18 and in Vietnam during our last year there in any numbers of 1973, although there could be a small number of vets a year or two younger.

I was 18 1/2 when I went to RVN, in Dec. 1969, I am 63 now. We were still issued M14's, in our Security Platoon, for perimeter/bunker guard.
Good thing I was young, I saw the elephant but have no regrets.

 

[rasmith3442]

11th Marines. Southern I Corps. Arty FO with 2/1, then an IOD hill commander in "Indian Country" in the Que Sons.

Semper Fi,

RAS

 

[8th SPS USAF]

Vets

SEA 1973/74 USAF 8th SPS USAF TDY Da Nang
UBON RTAFB

 

[PJO1425]

1st Infantry Div. M.P. 12/65-12/66...mostly convoy escorts out of 2nd Bde. base camp at Bear Cat (not Ben Cat), which we turned over to the 9th Infantry in 11/66...when not doing convoy escorts, I was filling sandbags and/or pulling night perimeter guard...we had M-14s for the entire tour; I've never fired an M-16...

 

[NAM68]

vietnam vets when and where

I was outside of Quin Nhon 1968,

 

[Targets Guy]

I was in Vietnam from Sep 70 to Aug 71. Assigned to the 35TFW, 615TFS (an F-100 wing). Intel guy. Went TDY to Phu Cat for about 10 days during Lam-Son 719 in Feb 71 to debrief our aircrews flying in support of that operation. When the F-100's left Vietnam in Jul of 71 I finished up in the 315 Tac Airlift Wing (mostly C-123's) until I derosed.

 

[jc in pa]

C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment- Vietnam 67/68 Kontum, Dak To, Mang Yang Pass,
Ben Het and many bridges in between at night.

 

[amazingflapjack]

me too...

1st Infantry Division. Di-An, 9/69-5/70. 18th MP Bde. Long Binh, 5/70-9/70.

So Donn-we were neighbors-doing the same MOS-during the same time frame-not to far from each other. I visited Zi-An and I definitely was no stranger to Long Bihn-the worlds largest Army Depot (at that time) with a 60 mile Perimeter. I was in the norther Delta at a little vacation spot (for rats) called Phu Lam. I was part of their security detachment, and did the night roving patrol. 10-69 to 10-70- Hooah!!!

 

[Rcjr]

DaNang July 67-Jul 68. Purple Heart July 15,1967. Agent Orange survivor.

 

[Long Barrel]

70-71 Central Highlands

Was with a 105mm Battery in Dalat for a couple of weeks, then went up to Pleiku for the rest of the tour. A little light FO work, a lot of Fire Direction work.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Long Long ago, and just last week...

 

[Frank46]

I've already posted in this thread so's here is my story. Was 17 when I enlisted in the navy so dad had to sign the enlistment papers for me. Last day in the navy was an interesting one. As I was walking through Grand Central Terminal in NYC three of the ugliest hippies did their best to ruin my day. Baby Killer, or how many babies did you kill today. When that didn't get the rise out of me that they expected they spit on my dress blues. I wiped it off, put down my sea bag and my cover and was going to kick some but when two of the biggest NYC cops said to me move along son we'll take care of this. They cuffed all three together and practically frog marched them to where ever the two cops were taking them. Now that felt good. When I got home after mom welcoming home she asked to get some milk. Walked into the deli got the milk and the owner asked if I was home for good. Told him I just got home. He walks in the beer cooler and handed me the biggest bottle of Lowenbrau I had seen and said thanks. That really made my day. I'm 69 and sometimes the old brain cells get a little fuzzy but thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who served. Frank

 

[Wrangler Rich]

176th AHC, Chu Lai, 5/71-10/71 I think, then 7/1 Air Cav, Vihn Long until 3/72

Jc in pa, was in the Blackhawk squad too, according to his avitar.

Me, I was the turbine engine tech for A Troop 7/1 Air Cav. out of Vinh Long 70/71

Welcome home Troopers!

 

[gunship]

I wasn't going to look here but I'm glad I did. I was also in A Troop 7/1st Air Cav from about 10/71 to 3/72 when the unit stood down and we left. I was a crewchief but was moved to the TOC in A Troop due to the fact I was good with paperwork and flight records. A Capt. was the CO but I can't remember his name, crazy good pilot. Thanks for keeping our birds flying.

Welcome home and keep in touch.

Bill

Jc in pa, was in the Blackhawk squad too, according to his avitar.

Me, I was the turbine engine tech for A Troop 7/1 Air Cav. out of Vinh Long 70/71

Welcome home Troopers!

 

[Wrangler Rich]

I wasn't going to look here but I'm glad I did. I was also in A Troop 7/1st Air Cav from about 10/71 to 3/72 when the unit stood down and we left. I was a crewchief but was moved to the TOC in A Troop due to the fact I was good with paperwork and flight records. A Capt. was the CO but I can't remember his name, crazy good pilot. Thanks for keeping our birds flying.

Welcome home and keep in touch.

Bill

Just missed you. I left in July of 71.
I take it you were on Cobras, I have a pic somewhere of me adjusting a linier actuator on one.
I'll see if I can find it. Tail # 422 if I remember correctly.

 

[vito]

Funny thing about old threads being resurrected. I saw this one and started reading, and suddenly saw a post that said "26 Med Battalion, 101st Airborne...." and it sure caught my eye. Than I saw that the posting was mine from when this thread first started. I kept reading and twice more I was stopped cold, until I saw that those posts were also mine! So this is post #4 for me on the same thread. It won't be many years from now that my entire life up to and including my year in Vietnam will represent only one third of my life to date. Seems like another lifetime when I served over there, but the memories and impact last forever.

I'll add one sad note. The day I was leaving RVN, one of my friends, who was one of our medevac pilots offered to fly me to Danang to catch the plane down to Saigon for my flight home. About a month later I was told that the very day I left he was killed in a crash due to a transmission seizure over Danang bay. But despite thinking I knew him pretty well, I guess I could never remember his last name, and thus have never been able to find him on the Wall in DC. Recently I was asked my one of my grandkids if I had any close friends who died in Vietnam whose name was on the Wall, and it made me doubly saddened to remember that my one time good friend Al was probably listed on the Wall somewhere but I can't figure out where. I guess its even possible that when I was told he died it was not true, but I'll never know.

 

[bgrafsr]

Went TDY to Bien Hoa from 31Oct64 to sometime in January 65. Was supposed to go to Cam Rahn Bay or DaNang, but those orders were scrubbed and Bien Hoa came up.

We got hit around midnight on 31 Oct or 01 Nov with mortars. Destroyed several aircraft and put holes in the runway.

They used foam to put out the fires and someone said blood was used to make the foam, which I doubt. Several weeks later, I was working a TACAN site by the runway on mids, and was accompanied by a tiger, who was stalking me. He kept walking back and forth along the concertina wire and when I shined my light on it, all I saw were his huge green eyes. I spent the rest of the night inside the cab of a truck.

Called AP headquarters and told him I had a tiger on post, so they sent several AP's to the site in a jeep. Tiger was gone. In the morning when dawn broke, more guys came to the site, and said "let's go" we're going after the tiger. I said no thanks and left after being relieved.

Heard later on that an AP had to shoot a tiger on his post, that was coming after him.

 

[star1]

Memorial

Six of my friends went to Vietnam , 5 made it back

Certainly a sobering site when seen in person, thank you for all who served

 

[REM 3200]

50th Med Det(Air Ambulance) "EAGLE DUSTOFF"
and 326 Med Bn(ABN), 101st Airborne Div, Camp Eagle,
early 1967. Then an EVAC Hospital in Nha Trang, late 1967 & 68.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Three cruises off Viet Nam in USS Neverdock (CVA-31). The "off" counts more than the "Viet Nam." Nobody ever shot at me, and there is no comparison with those who were shot at.

IIRC, the Army and the Marines, with some help from USN and USAF, won that war. The politicians and the ARVN lost it.

I don't know whether we've learned anything from it.

 

[alde]

Not me but my brother. He did 3 tours as a Marine. He never wanted to talk about what he went through or where he was because it was too difficult for him. All I know is he has always been my hero. He earned 2 Purple Hearts and ended up losing his battle with liver cancer 4 years ago due to the agent orange at 66 years old. I do remember how he was treated when he got home and it was horrible.

Thanks to all of you. You have my deepest respect.

 

[caduceus]

USS Oriskany CVA-34 72-73. Here is a link from a fellow shipmate who has been compiling material about the ship since 1998. Paragraph 5 has some interesting data in ordnance dropped, time at sea etc.
One whiff of aviation fuel brings it all back.
THE USS ORISKANY - MEMORIES OF VIETNAM

 

[bgrafsr]

I guess it's appropriate that I come in on the tail end of this thread. I tried fellas, I really did. Volunteered twice for Nam and got turned down both times.
I did however live dangerously in Northern Thailand. If I really wanted to I could walk off into the jungle where there were all kinds of baddies, mostly snakes.
Back in town I faced a chance of food poisoning, STDs the Docs had never heard of and lizards that were telling me to do the anatomically impossible!
So I mostly stayed on base for the most part.
However my separation papers say I served in the Vietnam Nam theater. I show it to people who ask, but I never take credit for places I didn't go. I still feel like the Zeppo of the era. Cheers to you guys who were there and put it on the line.
SP5 C R James

RonJ, we had those lizards in the Phillipines. When I first heard them, I thought someone was outside the barracks yelling at me to screw myself. Their call sounded exactly like what you mentioned.

 

[histed]

I turned 18 in 1973, after it was "over". Lost a few good friends there.Just wated to say

And thank you

 

[amazingflapjack]

we can locate them on the wall...

Funny thing about old threads being resurrected. I saw this one and started reading, and suddenly saw a post that said "26 Med Battalion, 101st Airborne...." and it sure caught my eye. Than I saw that the posting was mine from when this thread first started. I kept reading and twice more I was stopped cold, until I saw that those posts were also mine! So this is post #4 for me on the same thread. It won't be many years from now that my entire life up to and including my year in Vietnam will represent only one third of my life to date. Seems like another lifetime when I served over there, but the memories and impact last forever.

I'll add one sad note. The day I was leaving RVN, one of my friends, who was one of our medevac pilots offered to fly me to Danang to catch the plane down to Saigon for my flight home. About a month later I was told that the very day I left he was killed in a crash due to a transmission seizure over Danang bay. But despite thinking I knew him pretty well, I guess I could never remember his last name, and thus have never been able to find him on the Wall in DC. Recently I was asked my one of my grandkids if I had any close friends who died in Vietnam whose name was on the Wall, and it made me doubly saddened to remember that my one time good friend Al was probably listed on the Wall somewhere but I can't figure out where. I guess its even possible that when I was told he died it was not true, but I'll never know.

KIA's are listed by the date they were lost. That, along wit any other info we have can help us locate our friends. The cyber wall lists KIA's by state, which can also streamline the process.