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Viet Nam service "edited"
cer
Member Posts: 826 ✭✭✭✭
I was in the Marine Corps,went to Parris Island in May 1970 and to ITR in August 70. I was lucky enough to score high on MOS test in electronics. I was sent to Aircraft Electronics School to NAS J'ville Fla until April 71. to El Toro for more school until Oct 71,
Then i got West Pac orders to Iwakuni Japan. Arrived in Nov 71. Learned to repair Electronics on the A4E Aircraft until May 72. The Easter Offensive of 72 had started in Country. We were sent to Bien Hoa Airbase VN, in the morning of 18 May 72. by nighttime our birds had started missions. for the next 7 months i worked 18-24 hours a day with 1 day or night off each 30th day. keeping the A4's flying and loaded with Bombs,Rockets and 20MM cannons for close air support also gun pods. if a unit called for support,we had 2 planes on Hot Pad 24 hours a day and they would be airborn between 5-8 minutes. sometimes we recieved in coming 122MM rockets sometimes more than 150 at a time some morters also. Several of us were wounded,myself included.And some killed. We were issued M 16's and carried them especally at night. I was not a grunt and have never called myself one. just a Marine along with other Marines trying to help any and all Army,Marine,and and other friendly's from getting hurt or killed. I've had Some Grunts say i wasn't a real Marine. although feel at 60 yo i was and still am a Marine. Maybe i wasn't. All i know is i and other ground personal worked our * off to keep all real Marines alive.Even though i never went into the Bush. I would have if told to. I was a Marine, with two mos' 6634,and 0311.
Then i got West Pac orders to Iwakuni Japan. Arrived in Nov 71. Learned to repair Electronics on the A4E Aircraft until May 72. The Easter Offensive of 72 had started in Country. We were sent to Bien Hoa Airbase VN, in the morning of 18 May 72. by nighttime our birds had started missions. for the next 7 months i worked 18-24 hours a day with 1 day or night off each 30th day. keeping the A4's flying and loaded with Bombs,Rockets and 20MM cannons for close air support also gun pods. if a unit called for support,we had 2 planes on Hot Pad 24 hours a day and they would be airborn between 5-8 minutes. sometimes we recieved in coming 122MM rockets sometimes more than 150 at a time some morters also. Several of us were wounded,myself included.And some killed. We were issued M 16's and carried them especally at night. I was not a grunt and have never called myself one. just a Marine along with other Marines trying to help any and all Army,Marine,and and other friendly's from getting hurt or killed. I've had Some Grunts say i wasn't a real Marine. although feel at 60 yo i was and still am a Marine. Maybe i wasn't. All i know is i and other ground personal worked our * off to keep all real Marines alive.Even though i never went into the Bush. I would have if told to. I was a Marine, with two mos' 6634,and 0311.
Comments
Semper Fi brother.
W.D.
To D. Heffley-that's the best definition of combat I think I've ever heard. When asked if I was in combat, I used to reply "is that where they shoot at you?" as to the Marine that was at Bien Hoa, I just find it hard to believe that anyone who was really there, or that didn't have some serious problems of some kind would question another veterans service. I have never had my service questioned by anyone, but then most of my oppurtunitys to address the subject are at the VA, where EVERYONE is a veteran. I don't drink, and I'm not much of a joiner, so I avoid most war lords and blow hards. Welcome home my combat wounded brother. Flapjack
Same to ya' brother. We lived it once, that doesn't mean we have to keep reliving it.[;)]
Don't ever, ever let anyones WORDS tell, you are not what you are, and will be for as long as you draw air. You sir are a Marine and thats all anyone ever needs to know.....
Semper Fi Brother, Roland
Rick