Posted on 03/21/2023 5:47:38 PM PDT by lowbridge
Long before he found fame riding alongside fellow 70’s heartthrob Erik Estrada in the hit TV series “CHiPs”, Larry Wilcox took on a very different role, one far less glamorous and that won him few fans. In May of 1967, the then 19-year-old, knowing the draft was looming, followed in his older brother’s footsteps and joined the Marine Corps. His unit, the 12th Marines, fought in Vietnam in the I Corps which ranged in areas from Dong Ha to the DMZ and Con Thien, and eventually, the Tet Offensive.
“We were a recon survey team which was inserted by helicopter to survey a mountain top or area for an Artillery Fire Base and upon completion would then run the FDC (Fire Direction Control) by using and computing distance, range, and azimuth via Slide Rule for 105 Howitzer, 155, 175 and 8-inch Artillery,” he explains.
Wilcox actually credits growing up in Wyoming’s ranch life as helping him deal with the rigors of being a soldier. “Growing up in Wyoming amongst pragmatic cowboys was helpful as I transitioned to Vietnam and War. Wyoming was a place where the seasons could romantically hug you and mankind could slap you. The mentality regarding adversity was, find a solution, and move forward-charge! Blissful youth prepped with “cowboy try” is how I coped with the Tet Offensive. I learned to tackle adversity with solutions and not pity.”
He was honorably discharged in 1973 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. His unit was awarded three stars for unit commendation during various operations they ran during the Vietnam Campaign, and he was personally awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal by the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Vietnam, and was invited to attend Officer Candidate School, but declined.
(Excerpt) Read more at larrywilcox.net ...
CHiPs was a good show. I still watch it on Charge.
Snicker....
Marines - Marine
Army - Soldier
Air Force - Airman
Now that's hilarious.
You're killing me here!
Correction:
Air Force - “Fore!”
Bfl
Navy Seabees are soldiers. Trained for combat as well as construction and demolition.
“Bullship. No MARINE would EVER consent to being called a soldier. Rifleman, perhaps, as all Marines are in a basic sense, but soldier? Hell no.”
Did you even read my comment? No, you just like to be a contrarian.
I said in general, and roughly speaking. I know the difference between a Marine and an Army soldier, but the fact is generically ALL servicemen have been called — wrongly — “soldiers,” no matter their branch of service; just as the generic “troops” has been applied to all servicemen.
“Navy Seabees are soldiers. Trained for combat as well as construction and demolition.”
That’s my point: No matter the branch of service, all servicemen are generically called “soldiers” or “troops.” I am not saying it is right — and, technically, it is NOT right — but that is how servicemen are referred to by people in general.
Yes. But I said “generically,” and “generically” all servicemen are referred to as “soldiers” or “troops.” It’s how lazy people address servicemen.
I was USAF, and I was referred to as a soldier more times than I care to remember; I soon tired of trying to explain that in the USAF there are Airmen.
I’m career and retired Navy, and not once did anyone refer to me - or any of my fellow sailors - as a soldier.
“I’m career and retired Navy, and not once did anyone refer to me - or any of my fellow sailors - as a soldier.”
Didn’t I say the possible exception was the Navy? Yes, I did.
The fact remains that many people who have never been in the military DO refer to all servicemen as soldiers, kind of like a generic. I was USAF, and I was called a soldier many times (once by my own aunt), even though I explained that the USAF has Airmen, not soldiers.
Oh! My sisters and I loved CHIPS! Dad hated it since he was more of a Gunsmoke or Bonanza guy.
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