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Ken, Wayne Peagler, a FO assigned to Charlie Company was also killed on that day….RIP….. I had an X-ray last year for arthritis pain and the nurse said there was still shrapnel in my thigh….I still have a lot of pain in both legs and the older I get the worse the pain gets…..I guess that is the reason the Irish invented whiskey…Short Round… I never knew there were that many casualties from just 2 booby traps…..I figured it was only about 12…..Tooch….Congratulations on your compensation….It isn’t easy to get a fair deal from the VA….You did OK….Well, Happy St Patick’s Day everyone.
email from ty harper–just had a ulnar operatiion.
another 16 march–ugh–25 casualties that day in 1970.
concering a comment about the tampa get together-best lookin grunt is the 1 wearing the fatigue jacket. pink shirt is charley estes-4 months in 1st platoon before being medevaked out. bill young to his right and al taylor-“rocky j” at far right. mac mckinney to his left-ron hurst to mac`s left.
Tomorrow is a day that will live in infamy in the annals of C/2/1 history. RIP SFC Walden and Ga! We will never forget! All those of you who are still suffering physically and mentally from that night may God bring you peace and healing!!
my annual headach started today//hope it is short one….just someone’sway of reminding me I DID MAKE IT BACK STANDING UP..i thank him for that on a daily basis……
It took almost a year, but the V.A. finally gave me a 60% disability rating. 10% for tinitis and 50% for ptsd. It is less than I would have liked, but it is what it is.Tooch
Lee,
Well said! A school administrator at our local high school gave a speech on Veteran”s Day and in it he addressed a young black soldier about how he felt in Vietnam with mostly white soldiers around him and his answer was “Same Mud,. Same Blood”.
You might wear size 18 triple E or size 2A shoes.
You might wear a 9 7/8†or a wear 2 1/8†hat.
You might have an IQ of 40 or you might have an IQ of 175.
You might have an IQ of 70 and act like you have IQ of 150, or you might have an IQ of 150 and act like you have an IQ of 70.
You might have a big job and make a lot of shit or you have a small job and you burn shit.
You might get there early on at 6 or you might get there at 9 or later.
You might have only a handful of medals or you might have 4 hands full of medals.
Your rank might be an O-10 or your rank might be an E-1.
And most of important of all, you might be swinging a 5 pound or only 2 ounces of sausage.
It doesn’t mean a thing, not a damm thing.
We went over as individuals, but we came home brothers, now that’s important.
When one brother informs others of a death of a brother, that’s important. Not having any respect for the death of a brother and complain about being contacted is not cool. It’s also not cool to tell someone they wear a tiny hat during the grieving time.
LT,
My wife’s birthday is today. For 3 months I am 2 years older than her. As of today it is one year. I married a child bride. Yes, I am older than dirt and proud of it. I never thought so many my age would be gone this soon. Enjoy your life as you only go around once in this one.
I often wonder how many veterans die from some side effect or cancer caused by agent orange.
Bill,
Older than dirt, you should talk as you are right there with me almost.
My 50th class reunion doesn’t come up for 4 more years (class of ’67), but we’ve already had 5 of the 15 seniors die. Out of us all, only 2 of us went to Vietnam and only one was “lucky” enough to be grunt.
Guess who that was? LOL
LT,
You must be older than dirt!
Gary,
Well said.
Lookin forward to meeting grunts fromm c/21 in WashhD.C. this summer. The wall has a spirit so pwerful. It maybe closier not ,but the feeling of of letting your buddies know we have not forgottin your safrifice is overwheming.The Heroes on the wall stand for a devotion to fellow man that never be duplicated. Stand Proud my Brothers. GIB
Bill,
My 5oth class reunion is coming up in August 2013. We were a class of 158 and I we have lost 24 that we know of. One died the summer after graduation in a car crash and we lost only one in Vietnam. I guess I was somewhat of an older LT as I “celebrated” my 25th birthday with C/2/1.
I did not know he did two tours Our common thread were we were both considered old at the time. I was 23 when we met. I was from Kentucky and he from West Virgina. We were the hillbillies of the squad. Did not know he was a lifer until the end of my tour. He was to good guy. Do you know what he did his first tour in Nam? My memory of those days are not good. It seems after August, 69 I just blocked everything out as I became a short timer. Does anyone remember when he went to the rear.? I remember him going but do remember when. Sad to hear of his passing.
Was contacted about my 50th high school union & can not believe the number who have died since 1964. I guess at 67 should not be surprised. Old age is not for sissies.
thnx Larry got all the info pacs
R.I.P. GRANDPA GRUNT…..
Here is a good site regarding medals:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armymedals/l/blarmedal.htm
If my memory is correct, Grandpa spent some time humpin’ the bush around February 1970. Does anybody remember how old he was?….. R.I.P. Grandpa.
Guys,
The passing of Grandpa and noone knowing about it for a long time shows why we need to keep communicating with each other leave instructions for our wives and kids to get ahold of as many us as possible to pass on the sad news. This web site is great for this if only folks would use it.
I would like to see that e-mail Larry. Assume he was on his first tour when we were in the same squad. I did not know he served two tours.
As for the BSM I agree unless earned it the old fashion way should not be awarded. Create a new one. After a year & 2 weeks as a grunt in the field the only medal I received was the ARCOM & proud of it along with my CIB.
The top left photo is of me and Lloyd “Grandpa” Tolliver that I went and visited in 2008 on my way to the Hilton Head reunion. I got the sad news that he passed away on May 4, 2012 from cancer. I sent an email to everyone I thought might have known him in tribute to him. If you did not get an email about Grandpa from me and want to see it, let me know.
Grandpa was a great man and served 2 connective tours with Charlie Company. Love and miss you, Grandpa.
In some of the recently added photos to the right were some photos that Short Round sent me. There was a mini reunion in Florida that are posted to the current section. These photos are the top right, and the two middle photos. Short Round needs to say a little something about this.
The top left I will explain later.
All righty then! Next subject?
I don’t disagree with anyone. Give them something which recognizes their contribution, but don’t rank it higher than the BSM. That ought to be common sense to anyone with common sense. Maybe equal with the ARCOM?
This is just another example of medal inflation. Like the Close Combat Badge, it’s something for the non-combatants to wear with pride when they join the Peacock Parade at the Pentagon or Building 4 at Ft. Benning. Ever been to either of those places? The inhabitants walk around with their left chest extended for all to see and they all look to see who has what. It’s a way to validate themselves and rank themselves in order of priority. For too many years, the non-Infantry types didn’t have much and they felt left out. Now, they have their own bling.
ok–cut the cordial comments. if they don`t sleep outdoors during a full monsoon season no medal. drone on that with their joy sticks.bet they even want indoor bathrooms to mount their medals. sounds like a sissified medal thought up by——
Always glad to see Chuck bring things into perspective!
Does flying a drone a continent away trump a bronze star medal regardless if it is for meritorious achievement or service. At least the Vietnam guys were in the theater and faced danger far beyond what these guys could face. A papercut maybe???
I say “No medal’s with “V†device for anyone who has not burned a leach off their own package or that of a close friendâ€.
LT: “meritorious achievement” is just another way of saying “service.” It’s for honorable service, regardless of the circumstances, and far different from a valor award. For instance, I have 2 ARCOM’S for “meritorious achievement,” one for planning a battalion-sized airmobile FTX (it took a year and went off like clockwork), but I could have had an ARCOM with a “V” device and they would be worn in exactly the same place on my ribbon rack. Moreover, I’d point out that a lot of folks on the battalion staff got BSM’s for “meritorious achievement in ground combat operations,” but they never left the TOC and got no closer to real ground combat than maybe the C&C bird orbiting over the battlefield at 3000 ft. I’d suggest it’s the same for these folks. They’re not physically present on the battlefield, any more than the S-2 or S-3 or G-4 are, but they ARE contributing to ground combat.
I concur with Gary and have thoughts of what I would like to do with those joysticks. Brother Leon would have a hard time sitting for quite a while for putting together that medal.