Posted on 04/07/2021 6:05:45 PM PDT by BeauBo
And then there’s Marine veteran John “Chick” Donohue, who traveled all over war-torn Vietnam in 1968 just to drop off some beers to his neighborhood buddies fighting in the war.
It sounds made-up, but this story is 100% true, and, best of all, it’s getting the movie treatment with some big stars on the roll call. Actors Russell Crowe and Zac Efron are in talks to star in the picture, and Bill Murray may be cast in a supporting role...
It all started in November 1967, when the 26-year-old Donohue was chatting about anti-war protests with George Lynch, the bartender at Doc Fiddlers, one of many bars and pubs in Inwood, near the northern tip of Manhattan. Donohue had attended too many funerals for Inwood kids killed in the war, and amid all the anti-war, anti-military protests going on at the time, Donohue, a Marine veteran, wanted to do something to let the troops know they were still appreciated. That’s when Lynch suggested that someone bring them some beer. You know, like any other beer run, except all the way out to Vietnam.
(Excerpt) Read more at taskandpurpose.com ...
The Germans don’t seem to deploy anywhere cold sober.
I stopped by the German base in Kabul once, on the Jalalabad Road near Camp Phoenix. Outside their mess hall, were four garbage cans full of empty wine bottles.
brits got that pursers rum
tender? I hated that shit “pop tall sailor”
Cruisers & Destroyers.
hat tip
September of 1969, our company of Marines was holding a hilltop near Hai Von Pass, north of Da Nang. The Gunny would let a few of us at a time head to the Freedom Hill PX down in Da Nang. I planned on buying several cases of Cokes and asked my buddies if I could get anything for them.
“Sure, how about a case of beer!” My Dad was an alcoholic, so I didn’t touch the stuff, but I had no problem bring back a case of 3.2% GI beer for my buddies.
While I was in the checkout line at the Da Nang Air Force Base booze store, an Airman ahead of me purchased a fifth of Johnny Walker Black, no hassle. I get to the cashier and he tells me that I cannot buy a case of 3.2 beer.
“I’m a corporal, an NCO. You just sold a fifth of whiskey to an Airman, but you won’t sell beer to an NCO?”
“Oh, we’re not allowed to sell bulk beer to Marines.”
“You rear area pogues suffer in your A/C four man quarters and A/C mess halls in safety because we Marines are out in the mountains patrolling the rocket belt to keep the 122’s from landing on your heads. And you won’t sell a Marine NCO a case of beer?”
I restrained myself and did not shoot up the place. Instead, I strapped four cases of Cokes to my packboard and hitchhiked back to our firebase, with the sad news that I’d failed my Beer Run Mission.
I guess this means no Hollywood epic, no book signing tour, no starlets craving my autograph?
Sic transit gloria mundi.
/Sarc (need I say it?)
They'd be ignorant if the bottles was still full.
Sorry my brother. That just wasn’t right.
Un-ending respect and love for “Pointy End” your bravery and your sacrifices!
Utterly humbled to live in a great country and eternally grateful for Patriots like you!
Peace be with you and yours always.
This is EXACTLY the movie I was thinking of. I remember seeing as a kid. Phyllis Diller had the hots for the Bob Hope character and they used CO2 bottles to cool the beer, which you had to have a church key to open. Classic!
Some would stash beers in the 1MC speaker box in someone’s stateroom.
Pabst had to be better than the So. Vietnamese beer (Bayon or Bayonne) I tasted and immediately spit out, killing the grass. However, So. Vietnamese flavored sodas, esp. pineapple, were the best I’ve ever had (made by Glaciers de L’Indochine).
Glad I hated beer. Saved my taste buds for some really good Vietnamese food and tea.
I was stationed in Norfolk. I've never liked the taste of alcohol so I've never been tempted to drink.
Thank you, Sir!
Bellycus Maximus.
When I was in the Army stationed in Germany, we would have field problems where the German Army opened up their beer hall to the Americans. Also, our medical battalion always had beer in their big GP tents MASH like. Reforger was always very cool as the Dutch drank and were coed. Us Infantry had our fill of beer (PX beer was cheaper than soda) and we chased our female medics. I got lucky. This was ‘88. We trained hard and partied hard. The Army is not like that anymore.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.