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Vietnam 1970-1971

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Vietnam 1970-1971

Old 10th Aug 2019, 14:31
  #61 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by rjtjrt
Old Dogs.
I assume you are saying, in so many words, “Air America”.
So, he couldn't remember that he flew for Air America or where he was?
It's not a secret anymore. In fact, it really wasn't that "secret" to begin with.
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Old 10th Aug 2019, 17:32
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Originally Posted by LRP
So, he couldn't remember that he flew for Air America or where he was?
It's not a secret anymore. In fact, it really wasn't that "secret" to begin with.
​​​​​​I stated where I was earlier, a country beside Vietnam.
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Old 10th Aug 2019, 18:24
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Air America came thru Pleiku recruiting in the 1965 monsoon season. The money and the admin side were certainly better than what we were faced with but no one bit. This was before the 1st Cav showed up over at An Khe
Air America could be risky business. In 1963 I got a CH-47 qual at Ft Rucker ( Test Board ) via two Boeing Test Pilots who left Boeing for Air America. Both Jim Campbell and Bill Frazier lost their lives in separate actions. Never heard the Jim Campbell story but did hear an unconfirmed report that Bill Frazier was victimized by one of the Laotian troops and those rubber bands they used around the grenade handles, the pins being removed. Our local ARVN’s did that, but our local US chain of command was unsuccessful in doing anything about it.
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 01:50
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Originally Posted by SASless
Outing a Walt is always good fun.....done the right way and in the right company.....and while the Walt is banging on about his heroics to the un-knowing.

Yes....out the Walt...but do it the right way.

In the United States there is a "Stolen Valor" law that allows criminal sanctions for those who falsely claim some "real" benefit due to their false claims...such as Housing Loans, Disability payments, Tax Exemptions but not just for the mere false claim to having been a Combat Veteran.
I saw no "valour" during my time in SE Asia.

What I saw was American Stone Age savagery.

I stole NOTHING.

But I will take the shame to my grave.


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Old 11th Aug 2019, 03:37
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What I saw was American Stone Age savagery
Which was not quite up to the standard of NVA/VC savagery that I witnessed. Amazing the number of people who took to the boats, preferring American Stone Age savagery. Uncle Ho had an unbelievable degree of savagery dished out keeping his own party members in line.
Not everyone who worked in SE Asia flew for a "unit".
Were I to post the name, which I'm not going to do, John Eacott would instantly recognise it and confirm he's a Walt on this matter.

SAS, over here stolen valour is taken seriously and there is a group dedicated to outing them. One made the mistake of assuming the identity of a friend I've known since 1969 to this day, he flew with both 9Sqn RAAF and the EMU's, mistake, found out.

https://www.anzmi.net/
Not everyone who worked in SE Asia flew for a "unit"
What exactly was your role, and who for Old Dogs, flying the beautiful polished Boeing 307 I saw parked on the Tan Son Nhut ramp?
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 05:40
  #66 (permalink)  
 
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I admire John Eacott immensely, but he has no idea what I did between 1973 and 1975
I didn't infer that he did O D, I said it was an individual I once flew with. I simply inquired of you as to what you did and who for in SE Asia, purely out of interest.
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 05:47
  #67 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by megan
I didn't infer that he did O D, I said it was an individual I once flew with. I simply inquired of you as to what you did and who for in SE Asia, purely out of interest.
Thank you for the "clarification".

Not sure what the bolded O D reference means?
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 12:17
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I suppose the reluctance to tell of what you did nearly fifty years ago. Is still so Classified you cannot tell us about it but you can say you did it....whatever it was you offer as giving you some unique perspective from some unspecified location during a year or two....have I got your offering to us correct?

Right now the consensus ms to be you are either a Troll or you are trying to pass yourself off as something you are not.

Which is it?
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 12:41
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SAS, how is it that in the space of a very short time, our group went from being simply “ Deplorable “ to outright “ Savages “?

OD, it is a shame that you feel shame, and you will take your shame to the grave, but there is hope. There is a group, founded by “ Savages “ but called The Friends of Vinh Son Orphanage, who fund orphanages ( now seven of them ) in the Kontum area of the central highlands. The Savages who run it take no salary and pay their own expenses. Recognizing that their existence ( and that of their contributors-all of whom are Savages too ) is limited, they are funding a trust that will go on providing for these Montagnard kids long after we are gone. Go to: FriendsofVSO.org and see about doing something positive.

Last edited by JohnDixson; 11th Aug 2019 at 12:43. Reason: grammar
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 16:36
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Originally Posted by SASless
Right now the consensus ms to be you are either a Troll or you are trying to pass yourself off as something you are not.
Which is it?
probably both...
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Old 11th Aug 2019, 17:36
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Originally Posted by SASless
I suppose the reluctance to tell of what you did nearly fifty years ago. Is still so Classified you cannot tell us about it but you can say you did it....whatever it was you offer as giving you some unique perspective from some unspecified location during a year or two....have I got your offering to us correct?

Right now the consensus ms to be you are either a Troll or you are trying to pass yourself off as something you are not.

Which is it?
Believe whatever pleases you.

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Old 11th Aug 2019, 18:00
  #72 (permalink)  
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If y'all have any interest in not so hair raising stories-

I was assigned as a 'slick' driver to a Cobra company in IV Corps 1969-1970, Can Tho. No combat assaults, very little 'ash' and trash, a plum assignment at a time when the bad guys were recovering from Tet.

The company had 3 Cobra platoons, nominally 6 (8?) AH-1Gs per platoon, pilots to man each and a couple spare Snake drivers. The company mission was to provide guns to whoever needed them at that moment, mostly Vietnamese forces from Ruff Puffs and CIDG, up to regular ARVN and VNAF operations, Air Force and Navy Binh Tuy, Sea Bees across the river, Navy operations off the Sea Float (not a lot of that, the Seawolves were pretty stingy with their fights...).

The company provided perimeter air for the base and immediate area, at that time called 'Firefly'. Later this expanded to "Nighthawk" operations out and about the entire IV Corps AO, mixed teams of a Nighthawk slick and one or two guns, either Cobras or Charlies. Some interesting moments on that type mission, but this post is about a different ongoing, routine assignment, that was termed 'Night Phantoms'.

"Night Phantom" was always a Cobra fire team, the slick as a flare ship, and often an OV1 Mohawk either during the active phase or immediately preceding it, providing a list of possible target sites. The team would leave base in daylight, fly to an outlying airstrip, operate overnight and return the next morning.

After a night of fun and frolic from the Camau airstrip, we were briefed to strike a VC arms depot in the northern U Minh Forest. Probably a little exaggerated calling it a depot, but the U Minh was mythical for the stuff the bad guys kept there. Anyhow, half an hour before dawn, I launch the Slick, setting a course for the target coordinates. The Snakes will come later and faster to be overhead the strike as I get there. Nothing unusual or exciting, Charlie didn't like to shoot at us unless absolutely necessary, thhis was just another 'thang'. Just as the strike was winding up, team lead rolled in hot to shoot his last rockets, but took accurate fire this time, one or two AKs. Again, nothing exceptional the Delta was pretty quiet.

The wingman is on his covering run as the lead breaks away from the target, and the lead front seat comes up on the radio- "Everybody, 'Number 10 is hit'"

"How bad? Can you tell?"

"No, the airplane is sound but he doesn't answer, he's not flying and I can't see him."

"Head to the airstrip, I'll call for medics to meet you". Camau had some US at the base in town, most significantly a SEAL team and their support are there.

By the time I land at the Camau air strip ramp, they are pulling Number 10, limp and 'dead guy grey' out of the back seat of the Cobra. My crew chief jumps out as soon as my skids touch, runs over as they're laying Number 10 out on the stretcher, runs back to my bird to grab some tools and them runs back to Number 10's Snake and the stretcher. Cool-down complete, I shut down. Baby-san walks back to our aircraft, looking kinda happy, which is welcome. The medics are still working on Number 10.

I ask "How is he?"

"Man, he's the luckiest (individual) on the planet. The AK round came into the cockpit from dead in front, went over the front seat's head hit the rocket sight and came apart. Most of the ball, the lead especially went up and out the top but the bullet's jacket hit Number 10 right between the eyebrows. Lots of blood but it didn't penetrate his hard head. Knocked him out. The medics used my needle nose to pull the frags out. He's gonna get a ride back to Binh Tuy, but he'll be back on the line soon."


A week later Number 10 and I are in Hong Kong. Number 10 is sporting a 2x2 gauze bandage and working it, not shamelessly, but definitely to his advantage...and mine too, as his wing man. "What happened you, man, get shot between the eyes?" Laughs.

"Yeah." After that, it gets kinda hazy, a frequent result of the free drinks....

Last edited by Devil 49; 11th Aug 2019 at 18:22.
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Old 12th Aug 2019, 02:01
  #73 (permalink)  
 
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Old Dogs, our Walt organisation has a saying, "If you tell the truth, it becomes part of your past, if you tell a lie it becomes part of your future". Prevaricating about what you did and who for naturally places you under suspicion. Why the reluctance?
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