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Post by lugnuts55 on Dec 3, 2013 20:10:21 GMT 9
It seems that whenever someone learns that I served in Thailand during the Vietnam war, they always ask if I killed someone. The best answer I could come up with is "Not directly". That and a couple other things inspired me to write the prose below. I shared it with a friend here and I was encouraged to post it on the web site. I hope I put it in he right place. I also hope you enjoy reading it. The lines all came to me in a flash and that's the way I wrote it…in a flash.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A VETERAN DIED TODAY."
PLEASE pass On The Patriotism! YOU can make a difference.
If you are proud of our Vets, then send this to them. You'll be glad you did.
Then send it to ALL your friends.
I was not in combat but my airplane was. I would inspect it every day sometimes 2 or 3 times. Then they would come with bombs to hang under the centerline of the airplane and three more under each wing. They carried 12 500 pound bombs making it 6000 pounds of ordnance to drop on the enemy or to blow up a bridge or road. They found out that more bombs were needed to take out a bridge.
I didn't serve in combat, but my airplane did. It did it so effectively that the enemy would occasionally sneak onto the flight line with a satchel charge hoping to blow up at least one airplane. Most of the time, the bad guy would die trying to accomplish his task but there were a few who wanted to stay alive. They were POW's but I don't know what they did with them, or to them. The actual number of infantry combat guys is small compared to how many people it takes to support each combatant. I would be counted in that number of support people because there were many times that an airplane was called in to save the platoon that was surrounded and would be wiped out without an air strike.
Since I have been out of the military, I have been approached several times by people who see my cap that identifies me as a Vietnam vet. They shake my hand and thank me for my service. I usually don't know what to say except, You're welcome. I am proud to be a veteran and I served willingly. I was luckily not in harm's way but my airplane was.
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