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Bill: Europe. I went to Germany before Vietnam.
Gary,
What was the third continent. I would never sleep inside a line bunker because I was afraid they would walk across me. Heard a number of war stories on rats while I was there. Saw one about that size while pulling guard duty on LZ Ross.
When I first got in country got the duty of burning “shit” before being sent to the field. Nice duty.
Thanksgiving, 1970:
I spent the day on KP at the Combat Center in Chu Lai. Naturally, I was on trash can duty outside, which I actually preferred because it WAS outside. (At least I can honestly brag that I did KP on 3 different continents!)
I saw a mess hall rat, about as big as a good-sized Possum, sitting up on his haunches and casually enjoying his Thanksgiving dinner right out in the open. Somebody’s little puppy ran up yapping and making a nuisance of himself, but the rat just totally ignored him…until he got too close.
Then…he left his meal and spent about 30 seconds of his time to thoroughly whip the pup’s ass and send him yelping away. The rat was about twice as big as the puppy and looked to be irritated more than scared. He then returned to his dinner as if nothing had happened and he had nothing to fear.
Welcome to Vietnam, soldier!
Don’t forget to set your scales back 10 lbs tonight.
Not a poet. I found the poem on the internet with no author listed……But I am truly thankful to God for my wife, children, grandchildren and a special thanks to Larry Harper for this web site….I hope to see you guys in July.
Sr- yea, got a pretty decent meal after pullin’ KP, didn’t we? Great poet is Bill! Great Turkey day to all! Terry & Louise
Sorry Bill. Connell is a poet!
Bill Conner is a poet. You can tell by his feet. They are Longfellow. Happy Thanksgiving.
Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn’t sleep I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned — the dark meat and white, but I fought the temptation with all of my might.
Tossing and turning with anticipation, the thought of a snack became infatuation.
So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes, pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round, till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees……. happy eating to all—pass the cranberries, please
I hope that all of my Grunt Brothers and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving. What with all that is happening around us, we still have a great deal to be thankful for. It’s also another chance for us to be thinking of our brothers who never made it home. May God bless them all!
terry–i may have misrepresented by saying “stickin it” to chuck if 1 somehow implied singularity when multplicity is more accurate.
chuck–when you coming to AZ ?
hope all have a good T-day
terry–43 yrs ago this T-day we sure ate good -best meal for a year.
Tonight my wife asked me if my light winter coat was washable. When I checked the tag I found out it was made in Vietnam. Who would have guess I was supporting a Communist regime whom I fought a against.
Dito…… Don’t forget the Tropical Bar (John Wayne Bar).
Happy Thanksgiving to all my brothers! Time to crack open a can of Turkey Loaf, C Rat crackers, and a Falstaff Beer followed up with delicious Fruit Cake and listen to the Vietnam radio network.
God Bless you all and may you enjoy the bounties of the season!
Ken and Tai
SR Larry’s been harassing Chuck all the time, whenever possible, is that what you mean by “stickin’ it” to him?
chuck–what month when larry stuck you ?
Short Round
I have no idea when that was. Larry, do you remember?
I stuck it to Chuck every chance I got, the month didn’t matter much back then. It was probably in December as it would have been a nice Christmas present.
Bill
I think those were different events…..
Chuck,
Did not know the 90 guy so thought it might be you!
well-WELCOME HOME BRO. GRUNT glad you found this page//
hello grunts it has been my blessing in life to serve with c21 having a leader lt harp cpt stee,.l balls for those who know who im talkin about and all those grunts who saved my ass t scanlin and others to name one in parttcula and others, i cant even remeber how many o f u guys gave up your convictions for fellow americans iwas so impressed by your devotion even then in the 60s 70s that i knew that love for fellow man on the battle field surpasses any survival idealogy I thank you guys for that enlightenment in my lifeand some 40 years in dosnt feel any different Ben BU Bill clark my would be different without you guys my hooch mates carl lacey lovable dan riley plowboy from jamestown ny my first homeboy
Gary,
Ben Buehler, Ty Harper, Ed Davis, John Dorman, and I all winter in Florida. In fact, I plan on spending this coming New Years Eve with Ben and Ty in Winter Haven. Hope all is well with you. It’s been a couple of years hasn’t it?
I watched a dink with an old machine-gun take on a hunter-klller team of helicopters one night. It was out in the big valley west of Danang and I could see it all happen from Hill 151.
The Loach flew low and drew fire, then the Cobra’s went in one after the other, loosing a hail of mini-gun fire and rockets. As they each pulled away, the lone dink let off a stream of bullets at their tails. He did that two or three times, then the Cobra’s attacked side by side. Again, he wasn’t cowed and fired right into their faces.
I don’t know if they got him or not, but I could tell by their lights that one of the Cobra’s was hit and I watched as it barely limped over the mountains into Danang.
How do you defeat an enemy like that?
Bill…. You mentioned that you almost got shot from friendly fire from a chopper…. was that on hill 251 after we got motored across the top of the hill? If that is the time, we were standing around my tent talking about the attack when somebody opened up from a dustoff right thru where we were standing. I had been helping Cpt. Morris with the 90mm shooting at the bad guy in the valley. Infantry, were you the 90 man that time?
Chuck,
Not the same time! Our platoon was ordered to drop packs and proceed up the Hill and check it out. I carried the M 79 at that time. I believe Capt Yap was in place.
I do remember a time later being on a hill and I believe we received 3 motor rounds later in my tour. I carried an M 16 then. One round was short to which most of us walked to that side of the hill because we knew the second would be long. The second round was long to which the same group walked to that side where we stayed as we knew the third would try to split the distance. I remember the motor guy shooting a round or maybe two at the area where we saw the flash. Maybe Capt Morris at the time. May have been one of the times also we had a dog team with us. Not real sure of the last two points.
Was that you Chuck?
I remember an incident in Oct or Nov ’70 similar Bill Beckum’s. It was west of Baldy in the valleys surrounded by big steep hills. We watched from the other side of a valley as a Marine unit went after a bad guy in a rocky, rough, steep area. The routine went: US artillery followed by US small arms vs AK 47 followed by dustoff escorted by gunships. Repeat one or two more times. One tough AK 47 man and stubborn Marines willing to continue taking casualties. I don’t think they ever got him. He had to be in an incredibly good defensive position. Pretty gutty too. I didn’t think it was worth the price of admission for the Marines but they didn’t check with me.
Clay,
I agree with you.
chuck—was that in march of 70 when you paid larry to give you a sham, by sticking you ?grunts can get creative when looking for sham time.
hope all had a good vets day–whew–sure some memories. wife jan made sure i`ll remember this vets day by letting me buy a new washer and dryer. like i need a dryer in AZ ? geesh–never used a dryer in NAM–why need one now ? women—–.
getting cool here–winter soon.
how many heard about the flag//a group of vets want to hang it upside to proclaim the nations is in DISTRESS after the election..???
Where any of you guys around the middle of March, 69 when Charlie and Alpha Company worked a joint operation at Tien Phuoc????
Bill, when I got there in May of 69, that’s allthey talked about. It must have been pretty bad.Tooch
Mark,
Nearly got killed by friendly fire from a chopper. Did get protective fire from the battle ship New Jersey. Will always remember a jet diving and shooting his guns at the the dug in NVA on the far hill & every time he pulled up you heard a single AK 47 shooting at him. A million dollar aircraft againtest a rife. Never silence that AK. Also saw my first dead VC with an ace of spades in his mouth, my first WIA choppered out who later died, & carrying four CO. A KIA’s back up the hill to our defensive position. Never was that scared again until August, 69.
As for the bayonet deal….. we all carried a bayonet as best as I can recall. I got medivac’d out of hill 251 after kicking Larry Harper’s ass in a game of mumbly peg. The bad part is that after I had him spread out and his back to me……. He stuck me in the foot on his next throw…. Hence forth the dust off…..
As for the 45 Tuch….. I carried a 45 due to the fact that I used an AK-47 vs a M-16. I was lucky enough to get two dinks with my 45 about a week before I left country. What a treat.
appreciate the photo’s/getting to see the WALL i think will be breathtaking/the travling one is great /have seen 3 times but i believe i NEED to see the BIG-UN…..
Larry F …I also swapped the .60 for the.79 the first chance I got….It was a bit too heavy for me….I hope everybody has a happy Veterans Day.
prayers for those on the east coast/ /R.I.P. to all who have gone to recieve thier reward and prayers for those still remaining// may this 11/11/’12 be shared with others and be safe..as far as the bayonet–i don’t remember where i put it… what with the radio/the ’60/plus extra rnds- that I was talked into carrying…when an opportunity to swap for the ’79 came along i jumped..still carrying the extra rnds/the radio /// till the booby trap incedent….
HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY NOVEMBER 11, 2012 TO ALL MY BROTHERS!
Hi guys, not only did I carry a bayonet [ I used it to open c rats] ,I also had to carry Tiny’s .45 automatic [ it used to irritate his leg].I was in ST. Louis when the storm hit. I could’nt get home , so I flew down to florida and hung out with mom for a week. We lost power for 5 days. Shep, thanks for your concern.