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Posted on 07/05/2006 7:04:50 PM PDT by Old Sarge
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For those of you (ol farts) who are old enough to remember, that was the day which began, what later became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Here we were a bunch of dumb, scared sh*tless, trainees, in their first week in boot camp, wondering if we were going to go to war with Russia (a nuclear threat was a very real thing at that time) and thinking: "What to hell did we get ourselves into?"
Well we made it thru our 8 weeks and considering what the Army, Navy, and especially the Marines go thru, our basic was (in spite of what we thought at that time with all the BS) probably a piece of cake.
Typical of the military, though I was promised electronics, I was sent to Aircraft Mechanic School in (sorry Texans, in one of the most God-forsaken spots in the US) Wichita Fall, Texas.
Was there going to school 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 months.
Again, as is usual with military, I requested Europe and was assigned to Tachikawa AFB, (outside of Tokyo) Japan.
I worked on C-124 Globemasters, which at the time, was the largest transport plane (I believe) in the world.
It was used for troop movement and air drops, but mostly to haul cargo around.
It was one BIG "Mother" (you could actually crawl thru INSIDE the wings to get from--and work--on the engines) and a bitch to keep up with and even worse to fly in. Its nickname was "Old Shaky." It had 4 massive 4,360 cu in. engines; each with 28 cylinders and 56 spark plugs, among other things. Therefore, something like a plug change, was an all-day affair.
I progressed rapidly and ended up as a crew chief with my own plane, which was great, because thereafter, I got to fly all over with the plane.
As a result, I not only got to visit most of the Far East and South East Asia, but got to see and spend some time in exotic places, many have never heard of, such as Pago, Pago, Samoa; Port Moresby, New Guinea and my favorite (for one week) and a true tropical Paradise, Aitutaki, which is one of the Cook Islands and inhabited by the Maori.
At that time, there was but a dirt runway and no hotels. The people were the nicest I have EVER met in my life. A family moved out of their thatch house and let us stay there for the week. Our plane had broken down and it took a week to get replacement parts shipped in.
After a year in Japan, our unit (1503rd Military Airlift Wing) was split and I was transferred to the 1502nd at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
That was pretty good duty (especially if you have to work outside on planes) but even then, it was very expensive, especially for us Airmen (had been promoted to E-4 by then) who were earning (I think) about $150 a month.
In the meantime, I had flown in and out of Nam quite a few times and used to see troop movement thru Hickam as well as fighters going to SEA and decided that I was going to do my part and get over there, before it was all over. LOL
Anyway, somehow learned that AF was looking for French speaking personnel, so I applied and after several interviews and background check, was accepted in AF Intel and sent to Saigon in January, 1966.
I will refrain from naming unit as it may still be used to this day and as we were covert (wore civilian clothes and had civilian ID's) would not want to compromise the identity of this organization, which had small units throughout the Far East and SEA.
Mostly what I did in Nam, was debrief POW's and Chieu Hoi (Open Arms) Returnees, although we did do some other spook stuff as well (including going into Laos and Cambodia—yes John Kerry, I actually did go into Cambodia, more than once) and worked with other Military Intel types as well as CIA and Embassy personnel.
One of my assigned duties, was to try and verify status of MIA, Air Force personnel; whether they had been captured; by whom; and if so, the location of captivity; etc.
That was fascinating work and loved it.
On the flip side, due to the nature of our work and access to much classified info, it was terribly frustrating to observe how the war was being prosecuted and the decisions, which were being made directly from the oval office (and especially that so called “wiz kid,” A*sshole, McNamara) in micro managing the war.
While numerous examples could be shown, just one, which at the time was frustrating beyond belief and we could just not understand the reasoning behind it, was the effectiveness of the bombing of the North.
Day after day, I (and others) would sit across North Vietnamese Regulars and in our debriefings, they would admit how effective the bombing of the North was (especially, B-52’s); how demoralizing to the population; how it disrupted their flow of goods and man power towards the South, etc.
THEN, you read in magazines and newspapers (don’t forget, there was no CNN, CSPAN or even live 6 O’clock news) by NONE OTHER THAN our own Secretary of Defense, McNamara who would be quoted as saying that the bombing was probably not all that effective.
Anyway, as I knew I was doing something important, I extended for 6 months and ended up spending 18 months all together.
Could write pages about my time in Nam, (including all the places in country I ended up going to) but suffice it to say, it was (as anyone who was there would understand) an “experience.”
My return date was JULY the 4th (I was thinking about that yesterday) 1967.
I remember it to this day. I was so exited and had planned on spending a couple of days in San Fran., a city I had grown to love in my several visits there.
Unfortunately, it had changed a lot and when I got there (from Travis AFB) it was filled with hippies and anti-war protesters.
Though I was dressed in civvies, I guess my military posture and bearing was a dead give-a-way as I was given dirty looks (which may have been in return to dirty looks I was giving them) and looked upon like something a person picks up on the bottom of their shoes when they aren’t looking where they are walking.
Anyway, while I had checked into a hotel early afternoon, by 5 p.m., I couldn’t stand it anymore and checked out; took a cab to the airport and waited for several hours for the first flight to Detroit.
Was really bummed out.
But that soon changed. Within 3 days, I was in Pontiac Michigan, where I picked up a brand new Pontiac GTO. The people at Pontiac GM, were really super. They gave me a tour of the plant AND, called me to come and pick up my car when it was ready.
Talk about a surprise, they led me to the end of the assembly line and gave me the keys and LET ME DRIVE IT OFF THE LINE AND OUT THE DOOR.
Will never forget that as long as I live. What a thrill. First new car ever and was the first to drive it.
Drove to Montreal, (where my family is from and most were waiting for me from Vermont) as they had Expo 67 going on at the time.
Spent a few days with relatives and enjoyed the Expo.
Drove back to Vermont with my Mom and sister and spend a couple of weeks leave before heading for Bergstrom AFB, Austin Texas.
Took a round-about route thru Chicago and Omaha to visit AF friends and by the time I got to Texas, had put on almost 5,000 miles on my new car.
After Nam, working in an office filing classified papers and maps soon became boring, so cross-trained from AF Intel, into AF OSI (Office of Special Investigations).
Spent 3 months going to school in Washington, D.C. (during the time of race riots, no less) and got assigned temporarily back to Texas, then to McGuire AFB, New Jersey.
One memorable experience in Texas, was once when LBJ flew in on one of his visits to his ranch. The OSI used to augment the Secret Service and we were on the Flight Line when he landed and went from AF One to a helicopter.
What I remember, was that he was obviously “loaded,” as I could hear him boisterously, slurring his words. As we were watching the crowds and not him, was not able to see if he was staggering, but others say he was.
He was the first person I voted for in presidential elections—and the LAST time I EVER voted for a Demon Rat.
Enjoyed my work in the OSI. Wore civvies and was authorized to carry concealed—even on planes, at that time, as long as we notified flight crew. Our credentials gave us Federal Agents’ status.
I mostly did background security clearance investigations on AF and civilians who worked for AF, although did get involved in some criminal and counter intelligence investigations. (We had some pretty good info on the anti-war groups and who were funding them, etc. and some were considered more than a nuisance—in fact, a real threat)
I even liked N.J. a lot back then. South Jersey (near Ft. Dix and McGuire) was very nice, and ended up spending next 15 years there.
I had intended on making it a career, but as I came up on my 8th year (due to my language skills and previous experience in Nam) I was tapped for another tour.
By that time (1970) I had become disillusioned over the way the war had been fought (or rather the lack of will to win) and figured I had given them my 18 months and thought I’d rather not go back. Therefore, it was stay in and get sent back for another tour or get out.
With much reluctance and chagrin (because I really loved the military and AF in particular) I got out.
However, I never regretted one day of my 8 years. I was able to see and do and experience things most people could only hear, read or dream of.
Of course, I won’t go into my next 35 years of shame, humiliation, scorn, etc., as a result of simply having served my country honorably, thanks to the likes of Jane Fonda/John Kerry as well as bouts of PTSD, and other reminders of my service.
All in all, I have no misgivings whatsoever about the time I spent in the AF.
I know I belong to a large company of very special individuals (all those who ever served, no matter what branch; no matterwhen; no matter where) as well as more inclusive group who saw duty in Vietnam and who I pray for daily—as well as for those who did not return.
God Bless and protect our Military, wherever they may be.
LOL!! You GOTTA be fearless taking on all these Canteen chicks!
Howdy TL
I'm afraid so
Was laid up for days with it..confined to bed..
*sigh*
Ms.B
Yummy!! Ribs are good......should I find a bib? Oh, beef or pork?
Many heros here tonight..
I feel so honored to have them here!
ms.B
bummer bees
I hope you had a good 4th regardless.
They shot fireworks of here last night that i watched from home
Cool
Aw shucks, Luv...!
Nana's fine, the Princess has been here for two days and we're just lovin' her to pieces.
Work has let up a bit, so I have time to visit once again.
Jinxy!
*HUG*
I got swooped up in posting..
So your screen name was picked up in the service?
Thank you, for your service to your country!
*HUG*
Ms.B
Cool that you are getting some of that work done. Who is doing it for you...anyone we know? ;o)
A pajama party sounds fun, but we don't want to run you out of your home. We can stay in a hotel. I just want a chance to walk down to the river behind the house with Chancie! It looks like such a pretty area...with the trees. You know...I don't have too many trees around here to look at! LOL!
Hey, Dave! Good to see you here!
Thanks for your service to our country! (((hugs)))
WOW!! Thank you for your post. And welcome home!! Thank you for your service to our country!
Oooooo...the Princess is THERE? I hope you are taking pictures that you can maybe show us somehow! She's just got to be such a big girl now.
I am glad to see you here. I miss you when you're gone!...we all do!
"The truth is that active duty types have no time to hang out here."
I just got a quick email from my son who is serving in the Army in Afghanistan. He says he is so busy because they are having the heaviest action since he arrived at the beginning of the year. Since he won't have time I will write something on behalf of his father who served as an Army 1st Lt. in the Korean conflict. His training included college ROTC, Ft. Benning, and Ft. Leonard Wood (food service school?).
He had lots of funny stories a la Klinger in MASH. Like the Great Garbage Exchange. He was in charge of a mess hall. Koreans were always stealing the garbage and getting shot(at). He was badly in need of heavy generators (or maybe transformers, I can't remember), but they were all down in port. He went to the chief honcho (crime boss?) and worked out a trade. If the boss could get him the heavy equipment he needed, he would have the garbage sorted (meat can, mashed potato can, vegetable can, etc.) and give it to him at the end of the day. Worked like a charm he got the equipment, and the Koreans got food they badly needed.
He also had some very bad stories, but would never talk about them. I knew he felt very strongly about civil rights. After extensive counseling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD, which caused BIG problems for our marriage, here is one story that was revealed. There had been a mortar barrage, and one of his black soldiers was severely gut blasted. He sat in the mortar hole holding the man while his life gushed out of him and he cried for his Momma.
For you guys coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and you wives and husbands and lovers, please help your soldier get help if you see signs of PTSD. It can save a lifetime of hurt. In my husband's cased, because so many in his graduating class had died, he didn't feel he had the right to have a happy life.
It's wonderful. Every one of them has a great story to tell, and all the stories make up the tapastry of this wonderful land we live in. God bless them all.
Can't say wether or not they're like M&M's, but they do melt gently into my guiding hands.
yep, grab a bib
Pork ribs coming right up!
ms.B
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