Where did it all go??....

[Ray Newman]

W/in the last 20-30 minutes, my computer calendar told me that 42 years ago today I left Vietnam. As Echo battery, 12 Marines, pulled out of Phu Bai for Conn Thien, this young Corporal watched the trucks roll by, waved a goodbye, & said a prayer for their safety.

I've been sitting here in a daze for the last few minutes.

Where the hell did all the time go?

[cshold]

W/in the last 20-30 minutes, my computer calendar told me that 42 years ago today I left Vietnam. As Echo battery, 12 Marines, pulled out of Phu Bai for Conn Thien, this young Corporal watched the trucks roll by, waved a goodbye, & said a prayer for their safety.

I've been sitting here in a daze for the last few minutes.

Where the hell did all the time go?

Well there's a verse somewhere in the bible that says
Something about our life on this earth is no more than a blink of
an eye in time.

[Blaine]

I feel your pain. It helps to do a "George Baily" and think of all the good stuff you helped put together.......

[jnyork]

I get to thinking about that sometimes too, doesn't do much good.

Guess we just press on.

[marlinman93]

So you were one of those guys who rode back home from Vietnam on the 141 cargo jet I was assigned to?!

[Modoc ED]

Yep, that was a hell of a long time ago. Those times bring back many memories for those that were in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and all the DOD/CIA civilians that supported us over there. Of course many of the civilians back here in CONUS did all they could to disparage us.

Ray Newman -- I often ask myself where did the time go.

[Boreman]

W/in the last 20-30 minutes, my computer calendar told me that 42 years ago today I left Vietnam. As Echo battery, 12 Marines, pulled out of Phu Bai for Conn Thien, this young Corporal watched the trucks roll by, waved a goodbye, & said a prayer for their safety.

I've been sitting here in a daze for the last few minutes.

Where the hell did all the time go?

Ray you are right.Where did the time go? Your comment got me to thinking.This June, 41 years ago I was landing at Kunsan AFB Korea on one of those C-141's as weapons load crew member with 166th TFS. It was in support of the South because the North was getting ready to do something stupid and they had already hijacked the Pueblo and shot down the EC-121 radar RECON aircraft. That was another life ago.

[AJMD429]

The 'Nam veterans seem to be the last generation that 'gets it' politically. Younger people all think that it is 'normal' for everything to be 'provided' by the government. They accept even blatantly corrupt 'authority' without a blink of an eye. There were the 'hippies' of that generation, but some of them were 'genuine' hippies, and are still found living in rural or urban areas, usually doing their own thing, usually poor, but generous with their time and abilities, and assets to the community. They may have a streak of 'peacenik' in them, but they're self-sufficient and believe in helping others to grow physically, spiritually, and economically via their own strengths. The OTHER 'hippies' were mostly spoiled brats of wealthy families, merely 'playing' at being hippies, who protested everything, but eventually went home to live off trust funds and become board members of big businesses and politicians. They still serve as hypocritical shills for every government power grab that comes along, and want the 'masses' put down and dependent, rather than out there learning and growing and earning.

If we don't get the political system back on track before the 'Nam' generation goes to the nursing homes, we'll never recover our freedom...

[Sixgun]

Yep---Time flies............especially when your having fun

About a year before my Dad died, I asked him if it seemed like he lived a long time. (at the time, he was 78) He said, "It seems like yesterday that he was a kid".

Life is short------play hard ----------Sixgun

[Streetstar]

My father was a Tet offensive era Vietnam veteran. I always looked up to him and other combat veterans. In early 1991, i became one myself in a much more limited exchange. Its "only" been 18 years for me since that time frame and i sometimes wonder where the heck the time went too. Hell, i'm only 37 but feel like i'm going on 50. When i visit my mother and the little farm i grew up on, i still have vivid memories of my childhood

Bless you brothers. I'll raise a glass in a silent salute

[Griff]

Yep, that was a hell of a long time ago. Those times bring back many memories for those that were in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and all the DOD/CIA civilians that supported us over there. Of course many of the civilians back here in CONUS did all they could to disparage us.
Ray Newman -- I often ask myself where did the time go.

Ed... you had me... right up until that "...CIA...that supported us over there..." I believe they were out to get us killed every bit as much as "Charlie"... but, maybe my hospital bed wasn't the BEST place for the @#$^%$ to de-brief me! Wish my leg hadn't been in traction...

Edit: Oh yeah! Time does fly when you're having fun! A couple of years ago I asked my Dad on his 81st B-day if he was feeling ok? His reply, "I don't know... I ain't been 81 before... but early this morning, everything hurt... but that sure beats the heck outta the alternative!" I sure hope I can keep my attitude up for the next 23 years. And I pray I still have him around to keep me humble.

[Ray Newman]

BlaineG: there is no pain. I'm just amazed that so much time has gone by in what seems like a short period of time.

MarlinMan93: I can’t recall the USMC aircraft that I flew on from PhuBai to DaNang. If I recall correctly, we boarded a commercial 707 @ DaNang on 3/13. Landed @ Kadena, AFB, Okinawa. From Kadena we went up to Camp Hansen for limited uniform replacements, claiming of duffle bags, medical checks, etc. Had about 2-3 days of unlimited liberty. We were pretty much left alone. We left Kadena on another commercial 707 on 3/16 & landed @ USMC Air Station El Toro on the 16th in the dead of night. I could have kissed the ground. I finally got to LAX & on a plane to NY-Kennedy about early afternoon on 3/17. It was a Pan Am(??) Royal Ambassador flight & the last leg of its around the world flight. The Captain put me in 1st class. It all seems like yesterday....

[Griff]

My last flight back home was on a contract flight that originated in the Philipines, then to Tokyo, a jump to Seattle, but no de-planing, then final into Oakland; where we had to go thru customs... I ended up about the middle of the line; when it got to be my turn, the customs officer asks me, "do you have anything to claim?" I said, "yea, I've got about 5 guns I'm supposed to sign some forms for"... he groaned... and told everyone behind me to get in another line... "this young man will be the last one outta the terminal." He was right! A Remington 870, a Winchester 94 in .44Mag, a Winchester Mdl 64A in .30-30, a Colt Gold Cup and a Gov't Mdl 1911. Boy, times were different... just had them in a soft case or the factory boxes, some duct tape and labels, even PSA didn't squawk getting them down to John Wayne airport in Orange County.

A lot of water has been under the bridge since then... very little of it I regret...

[Modoc ED]

Ray you are right.Where did the time go? Your comment got me to thinking.This June, 41 years ago I was landing at Kunsan AFB Korea on one of those C-141's as weapons load crew member with 166th TFS. It was in support of the South because the North was getting ready to do something stupid and they had already hijacked the Pueblo and shot down the EC-121 radar RECON aircraft. That was another life ago.

WOW!! I was a Cryptologic Technician (CT) while in the Navy and the mention of the Pueblo and the EC-121 that was shot down really bring back memories. I knew several guys on the Pueblo -- mostly the Cryptologic Technicians (CTs) (CT1 Don Peppard for one) and two guys (CTC Richard E. "Snuffy" Smith and CT3 Philip D. Sundby) on the EC-121 also CTs. Those were exciting yet trying and sorrowful times. I hadn't thought of ole "Snuffy" Smith for some time. He and I were stationed together in Hakata, Japan from 1966 to 1968 and pulled liberty together many a time. He was single. Phil Sundby was a newly married young kid who had only been in Hakata for about two months before I transferred out and only went on that flight just as a trial to see if he might like making those flights. I also knew some of the CTs on the USS Liberty that was shot up and bombed by Israel. Ole CT1 Doug Hurt-Rittenberg was in a passageway hunched over on the deck and took a 20mm Cannon round through his lower back that went straight up his back and exited his shoulder. Messed him up pretty bad. He stayed on active duty but never fully recovered.

Dang!! Time does fly.

[Gun Runner]

I got out 37 yrs ago, thats after a little over 20 yrs service and have woundered where the time has gone.

Modoc Ed, I served with one of the CT's from the pueblo at NavComSta SFran (stockton) by the name of Dave Ritter. Also ran into Loydd Buker(sp) when I was TAD with MineRon-1 in the P.I.. It only took 2 mins of being near him and his attitude and it almost came to a knock down drag out. If not for the Squad Dog and the Commander where I was at would have lost a couple stripes.

Gun Runner

[Modoc ED]

I got out 37 yrs ago, thats after a little over 20 yrs service and have woundered where the time has gone.

Modoc Ed, I served with one of the CT's from the pueblo at NavComSta SFran (stockton) by the name of Dave Ritter. Also ran into Loydd Buker(sp) when I was TAD with MineRon-1 in the P.I.. It only took 2 mins of being near him and his attitude and it almost came to a knock down drag out. If not for the Squad Dog and the Commander where I was at would have lost a couple stripes.

Gun Runner

Yeah, I knew of Ritter but never met Bucher. Not sticking up for anyone but all of those guys on the Pueblo were really screwed over when in captivity. Changed a lot of them.

I put 24-years in the Navy and this July I will have been retired for 20-years. Time flys.

[jeepnik]

Coming back was worse than being there. Landed at Travis, took a bus to SFX for a flight south. Not real happy about the treatment. Should have took the bus south, especially if I'd had the same driver. WWII vet. He understood.

[JohndeFresno]

... I knew several guys on the Pueblo -- mostly the Cryptologic Technicians (CTs) ... I also knew some of the CTs on the USS Liberty that was shot up and bombed by Israel.

Did you know Chuck Thome? He was one of my roommates at a shared cottage (off base) at my multi-service last duty station on the East Coast ("Big Daddy"). He was extremely bitter about how our alleged allies intentionally sunk the Liberty because they didn't want the U.S. nosing in on their little war. One evening after a few "attitude adjusters," he took his Purple Heart and threw it into the adjoining Horse Corral, never to retrieve it. Indeed, lots of memories - sweet and bitter - from the 60's.

[JohndeFresno]

W/in the last 20-30 minutes, my computer calendar told me that 42 years ago today I left Vietnam. As Echo battery, 12 Marines, pulled out of Phu Bai for Conn Thien, this young Corporal watched the trucks roll by, waved a goodbye, & said a prayer for their safety.

I've been sitting here in a daze for the last few minutes.

Where the hell did all the time go?

Thank you for serving, Ray. You Marines got pretty chewed up in Phu Bai, defending what you thought at the time was only an R&R center at the top of the hill. Several of my buddies owe their lives to you. Hand Salute!

[Lefty Dude]

Ray you are right.Where did the time go? Your comment got me to thinking.This June, 41 years ago I was landing at Kunsan AFB Korea on one of those C-141's as weapons load crew member with 166th TFS. It was in support of the South because the North was getting ready to do something stupid and they had already hijacked the Pueblo and shot down the EC-121 radar RECON aircraft. That was another life ago.

WOW!! I was a Cryptologic Technician (CT) while in the Navy and the mention of the Pueblo and the EC-121 that was shot down really bring back memories. I knew several guys on the Pueblo -- mostly the Cryptologic Technicians (CTs) (CT1 Don Peppard for one) and two guys (CTC Richard E. "Snuffy" Smith and CT3 Philip D. Sundby) on the EC-121 also CTs. Those were exciting yet trying and sorrowful times. I hadn't thought of ole "Snuffy" Smith for some time. He and I were stationed together in Hakata, Japan from 1966 to 1968 and pulled liberty together many a time. He was single. Phil Sundby was a newly married young kid who had only been in Hakata for about two months before I transferred out and only went on that flight just as a trial to see if he might like making those flights. I also knew some of the CTs on the USS Liberty that was shot up and bombed by Israel. Ole CT1 Doug Hurt-Rittenberg was in a passageway hunched over on the deck and took a 20mm Cannon round through his lower back that went straight up his back and exited his shoulder. Messed him up pretty bad. He stayed on active duty but never fully recovered.

Dang!! Time does fly.

The EC-121 Was from VQ-1 Squadron stationed at NAS Agana Guam. The Flight Electrician that was killed, and I went to AE-A school in Jacksonville, Fl. in 1958. I was station on Guam and attached to VW-1 (58-60) as a Flight Electrician AE-2. VW-1 & VW-3 consolidated in to one Squadron in 1960, and later became VQ-1.
If I had stayed in the Navy, that could have been me that was shot down and killed.

For me it has been 50 years, and it seems like it was yesterday.

[marlinman93]

Ray,
I was a loadmaster on USAF cargo jets, and we converted our return flights with seats to haul troops back after dropping off cargo. We usually picked them up in Seoul, S. Korea and brought them to the US via stop in either Hickam in Hawaii then Travis in SF or Elmendorf in Alaska to Mc Chord in Tacoma.
I remember it vividly like it was yesterday; taking fresh naive young troops over, and less than 2 years later bringing back the same guys that were men who hardened into true combat veterans. It's amazing how close you get to guys in just one day of travel in a plane full of guys.

[Modoc ED]

... I knew several guys on the Pueblo -- mostly the Cryptologic Technicians (CTs) ... I also knew some of the CTs on the USS Liberty that was shot up and bombed by Israel.

Did you know Chuck Thome? He was one of my roommates at a shared cottage (off base) at my multi-service last duty station on the East Coast ("Big Daddy"). He was extremely bitter about how our alleged allies intentionally sunk the Liberty because they didn't want the U.S. nosing in on their little war. One evening after a few "attitude adjusters," he took his Purple Heart and threw it into the adjoining Horse Corral, never to retrieve it. Indeed, lots of memories - sweet and bitter - from the 60's.

No, Chuck Thome doesn't ring a bell. Lots of angst about that incident.

[Ysabel Kid]

Thank you for your service to our country! The time has gone by, but it has not been forgotten...

[JohndeFresno]

Thank you, YK. I didn't hear that much, for over 30 years. It is always appreciated.