Replies

Yo step,

My guess is that you were not in Khe Sahn in Jan '68 where we deverted due to
battle damage while attempting rescue of 2 downed USMC airdales. Those Marines
helped bandage the bird back together and the following day we flew cover for the
bird that performed the extraction.
Perhaps you were in Chu Lai in Jan '68 when a SAR was called for an A-4 down in the
Karst in Laos. The initial objective was the A-4 driver, but eventually included the
Marine CH-53 crew which attempted their own botched operation. The final toll of that mission
was 6 USMC returned, 3 scum-sucking AF KIA.
I am certain you were involved in the cluster f*ck involving 22 Marines were
pinned down outside of Hue awaiting transport from Marine air which would never come
due to contaminated fuel. All 22 returned courtesy of the folks you so disdain.
But then again, I am positive you were involved in the operation in Mar '68 to extract
a USMC F-4 driver downed in RP6. This 'man of all men' failed his IOSPREPS verification
due to extreme pucker factor. To complicate the operation the Folks out at Yankee Station
Could not provide CAP due to the 'Cats down' (that'll happen to you when you operate from
an unimproved air strip). The alpha was downed within 30 klicks of Hanoi and the decision
was made to execute even though he blew his ISOPREPS and no CAP available. The result was
a successful extraction. The downside was that a CCT operator
was inserted to assist in the extraction due to heavy 3A and SAM presence. He was able
to successfully call in strikes to afford the alpha a 30 meter perimeter until a PJ was
inserted. The alpha was in total panic mode. The PJ had to wrestle to remove the .45 which was
locked in his grip. Once he was aboard the Jolly, we were nearly downed due to the alpha's
wingman defying the OSC orders and attempting to get into the mix. THe wingman ultimately
ended up dropping ordnace after the alpha had been extracted wounding the CCT operator.
That CCT guy is now sporting a prostetic leg.
You may think that this appears to be bashing the Corps. Not at all. This is simply
reality. I was involved in more the 100 SAR missions. Not in the cozy confines
of SVN. The real flying occured in Laos and the North. I lost many friends during that
period. These examples I have given are but a small sample of what many have
experienced. As you know, war is hell. But then again, what do I know?
I deeply respect the Corp, its members and folks in every branch of the military.
You mentioned the Navy Corpman in one post. Got to give them their due. Dedicated and
brave. But I flew with men that not only were given the same medical training but also
went through jump school, HALO, BUDS, combat diver school. I was simply a gunner aboard
the chopper but was required to attend weapons training at Benning and RECONDO at Nha Trang.
You seem to be into listing things in priority so I will take my shot.

When the balloon went up for a SAR we knew, depending on the branch of service,
that:
1) If the objective was USMC or AF, the individual would be a 'smart' survivor
and make the operation less complex that it already was.
2) If the was Army, he would do his best, but basically was unfamiliar with
terminology.
3) If the objective was the Navy, he would do his best to let you know that
he has spent enough time on terra firma and greatly wishes to return to the
'steel beach'.

I think you are just harboring a latent jealousy of our bus driver uniforms.