What was happy hour to you?

I believe my father would say - when I left.

Never spoke about it for 30 years. Finally began to heal a bit after he opened up to a close group of veterans who went through similar things....

First 60 minutes on big bird going home. Camp Pendleton.

My oldest brother, was there. (I was 2 when he graduated high school.) I knew he was there because I was told he was. He never mentioned a word about it. We buried him on veterans day this year.

My father never said a word about it for 30 years but I could tell by his actions and reflexes it still haunted him. He discouraged all of us from joining the military and could not stand any politician who dodged drafts for any reason.
I will say I firmly believe his experiences over there helped him draw closer to the Lord. I remember as a young kid watching him working things out with the Lord and giving up things of this world that had attached to him I am sure from over there. My father was hit with shrapnel in a helicopter and his buddy had to dig it out with a knife as it was still burning in him. I will never know what all his medals were but do know he told me it didnt matter what rank you were over there. He told me many trips were made in and out of Cambodia and rules of engagement did not apply. Mini-guns were mounted on whatever and they often couldnt get what was actually needed to fix the helis. I will always remember his actions when he would hear and observe chinooks and the smaller helis flying around back home - don't know what it meant to him but could tell it meant something.
I could tell as a young kid - quail and deer hunting were a release for my father. He would put on his field jacket and hunt with it on - I often wondered what all that jacket had been thru. That was the only possession from Nam my father kept past his anger outbursts when he threw all his medals and uniforms away.
For all you veterans - thank you.

I was stationed at White Sands Missile Range in NM. Most workers in my shop were civil service who were in Nam. One told me that there were always sounds out in the night and they didn't know if it was water buffalo or Vietnamese sneaking in on them. Once a night they had "happy hour" and just open fire out in the dark just to let them know "we're here and ready". It did him good to talk about it and he told some stories.

When plane lifted off from Danang AB and we were airborn !

Much Honor to you'all who served

x2

Thanks for your sacrifices, and sorry for how you were treated when you came home.

I was still in my last year of high school when it ended, so got lucky there but being in the gun trade a lot of the guys I worked with over the years were there, everything from rear line supplies to tunnel rat. The guy that did the tunnel rat thing said he liked it because when he wasn't down the hole everyone looked out for him because no one wanted his job. Another guy was there when the Army switched to the .223 from the .308, from what he has say about the difference in performance when things get nasty made me decide to go with the 308 in my home ugly rifles

Knew a guy in special forces that was in Cambodia with the montanyards, (sp) he talked about his time there freely... would go on patrols with them, there trails through the jungle brush was tall enough to hide them but not him, and he was only 5'-6"lol
Said even after living with them over 6 months their women were still ugly....

Welcome Home!!!

I was talking with my brother in law about my opinion and observations in reactions from 5.56 with good varmit bullets vs 243, 7mm-08, and 260 Remington on coyotes and that I just would not chose 5.56 for people based on reactions from a 30lb dog.

He said I was correct. he often had to hit skinny Afghans 4 to 6 times to put them down but typically only one shot with the m 14 squad designated marksman rifle in 308 with one exception that took 3 . he did say that one must have really been hoped up on drugs because his last shot removed a good part of his head and his body was still attempting to craw in their direction.

I always wondered how the 223 was acceptable, when a 243 would have been an easy swap with the 308 as they share the same case and would have the benefit of low recoil, superior results and a tad lighter, and better range...basically a barrel swap..but I didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn Express lately....

I was in the army back then, but never went to Vietnam.
To all the guys that did, you are the best of the best. Heroes all!
Thank you so much!

Like many have said, when the plane cleared land, and the Pacific waters were below.
Just felt sorry for all my brothers who were still there.
Roy

The M16 wasn't very dependable when they first came out. The M14 in 308 caliber was a much better choice for various reasons, IMO.

I was just a little too young to go. But thanks to all of you. As stated above true Hero’s

X3