Thank you to all the Vietnam veterans out there. Thank You for your service.

One just for the Executioner....

I served with the 203d RAC at Qui Nhon from November 1968 until October 1969

http://www.203rdhawkeyes.net/

I had an uncle that served in Nam. I don't remember the details of his stories, but I do remember him talking about areas known as Dodge City and The Land Of Bad Things.
I have the utmost respect for you guys that were there.

Operation Pegasus

362nd Avn Co 1st Cav 71/72 I LOVED the Cav!!!!

No one in my family served in Vietnam, and I can only imagine what it was like for those that did. What I always remember thinking about was the parents of those who were over there, that far away where the balls were flying. Especially with the BS that was going on here at the same time. That had to be rough on them too.

I went over with the 1st cav !

On very special occasions, I enjoy the movie We Were Soldiers.....

I can't imagine spending the night perched up there on that rock.

Thank you Nam Vets. Your service is appreciated.

Thanks to all the guys and gals that served over there. God bless

I wish I had info on the tunnel rats.

I know one , a fellow member on my gun range , who was a tunnel rat. Himself it was that convinced me that I'd love a type of trap shotgunning called the Wobble ....and he was right. I loved it using my Beretta 20 G when all the rest of them used their 12 g ....but I held my own with them. A most polite, kind man , but underneath, boiling with everything survival mode imagined or explained. And yet, he admires the chopper pilots and gunners....he loves watching We Were Soldiers too....but the guys as gunners and pilots admired him for volunteering to squeeze into those horrible underground holes to clear them out of every varmint imagined....

To these warriors, many things unspoken are sacred, held between them all.

I wish I had pictures of them.

When I have seen them gaze at each other in placid conversation, I see and feel the unspoken river of feelings that speaks volumes in between the lines.

We love them all. And welcome them all home....even if they didn't hear us embracing them, each one. My father and I sure did wave the banner of welcome home as they returned . I wish they all could have seen and heard us....

I knew a tunnel rat too Sharron. Over several years of doing business with him he only talked about what he did over there twice. It was some pretty crazy stuff.

a123, love that photo. Looks like you were , what is the right term, calibrating the blades ? Can't recall what that's called.

Thanks Trapset, it is amazing how well our vets can hide how they really feel around those who just couldn't fully understand , as much as we try so hard and want to understand. It is good they have their mates if they can keep in touch with them , as their brothers who can be encouraging for them.

It's called "tracking". That is a tracking flag he is holding. It is slowly moved into the path of the blade tips. Each tip is marked with a different color grease pencil.....red & blue. The "flag'" is usually made of tape. The blade tips contact the tape and leave marks. That way you can assess if the blades are tracking. It is nice if the two marks overlap.....but that isn't the goal. The goal is to find the relationship between the two blades that results in the least amount of vibration.

I doubt that this is done these days as now there are all sorts of digital products that can take measurements of blade track and balance while inflight. Track can also be changed in flight on modern helicopters.

Also, use of a tracking flag always carried some risk to the guy holding it. Probably more information than you were looking for.

Thanks 123. Haven't seen that in over 50 years.

Oh thank you, I enjoy the info. I can listen all day long.

Yes sir, tracking, that's it. I saw images of men doing that and a discussion of vets explaining it just as you did. That was a while ago , and I forgot what it is called. I found it fascinating.

Thank you for refreshing my memory, Sir Ken.