Replies

I joined the Marines because I wanted to go to Vietnam. The war ended and I didn't get to experience that. I guess I did get to experience some of what they went through when they returned home though. Even got in a bar fight with some long haired, dope smoking, Hanoi Jane hippy who was cracking on my USMC high and tight. Told him "your momma liked it."

I guess he took offense to that because he charged me and was then introduced to a couple nice rights to the nose.

(Good beer story) :-)

By the time I turned 17 (and graduated from HS--at 17) it was all over. I had a chance to go to college and took it. I was stunned at the people there who didn't know squat about squat, just diddy bopping through life. I was a volunteer fireman through HS (from 14), and saw enough to know combat is an experience that cannot be imagined, but must be experienced.

No one who has not been there could imagine combat (including me), any more than they can understand being one of two guys with hose nozzles in hand chasing the fire off of 3200 gal of JP4 while standing in the puddle (been there, done that!). All the people around us supported us, no one shot at us. Firefighting may have been good adrenaline-rush material, but nowhere near combat.

Friends from the era include a USMC Sargeant Major. a Navy SEAL, Sherrif's deputies, and a crew of firefighters. Some of the 'older guys' I knew did go to 'Nam, but they didn't talk about it much, and we didn't push them.