Heh heh, Wolf.
I never go close enuf to smell the bad guys , but "helped" the friendlies from above.
A-37 in 604th Special Operations Squadron, previously 604th Air Commando Squadron. Escorted SOG folks and their little friends on insertion/extraction forays in northern Cambodia and southern Laos when we "had no troops on the ground in Laos or Cambodia". Hit bad guys trying to kill them when things turned into Prarie Fire emergencies. Also covered another unnamed outfit's insertions that were most cool - not as noisy as SOG and flew a foreign type chopper.
Flew night armed recce in southern Laos in that same outfit until Tet '68. On best mission got a few trucks by myself that were found by Covey and Raven FAC's. Pleiku, early '68.
A-7D, 356th TFS. Flew helo escort of Knives and Jollies in '72 (CH53's), plus flew Sandy role on several CSAR's. As Sandy 3, escorted one burning chopper outta an ambush scenario to safety, but survivor was captured - Acosta of Kansas 01B.
Last tour was a Sandy lead in 3rd TFS, Korat.
I enjoyed Sandy most, and nights over Trail were most scary. Very scary in mountains on moonless nights - was a challenge as we drppoed CBU from 300 -500 ft.
Gums sends...