An early Christmas Present

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Jun 17, 2001
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Some of you by now know that I am a Vietnam Vet. Ever since I have had a computer and been on line I have tried in vain to locate a few fellows that I had served with and last night my searching finally paid off. I just happen to use the right words and click on the right link and located my best friend I had while I was over there. One thing that was real common was most the fellows just went by a nicknames over there. Most the guys that knew me knew me as Frog. C-rations gave me gas and I flat out spent a lot of time burping and farting, thus the name. :D Fortunately my best friend over there just went by his real name and I actually remembered it. I really am feeling good about this find. After we had returned from a trip to Cambodia in May of 1970 we got to spend a few days resting at one of the main base camps, I think it was called Camp Ratclift or something like that. While I was there I started to get pretty sick but not sick enough to go to one of the army hospitals there cause my temp hadn't reached 105 degrees. Less than that you weren't considered sick. After a couple days of simmering at 102 to 103 degrees while in the rear my unit got sent back out in the field and I was asked to join them. I believe it was the very first day back out in the field I managed to steal a thermometer from one of the medics and started to check my temp every time I started to feel hot. Finally on the second day of being back out in the field it hit 105 degrees and I sent one of the fellows to get our medic and he called for a med evac chopped and was finally taken to a hospital over there. I never got to say good by to any of the fellows I was with over there not to mention very few knew what had happened to me. After around a month in the hospital what ever was causing the problem had finally gone. Here I am with less than 3 weeks to go with my tour of duty not to mention 3 weeks left till I get out of the army and I'm being sent back out to the field for another week before I can come back to the rear to process out of the whole mess. Here's the link that my friend Gil had on the internet: http://1-22infantry.org/pics3/brown.htm After doing some more searching I was able to locate his phone number and got hold of him this morning. What a thrill! Best Christmas present I have ever had.......
 
Awesome story, Ray. I think you just made my day:).
I'm so glad for you!
 
So you found one of your buddies, Ray!
That is super wonderful!

Have a great new year too!

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
Congratulations Ray. Great story.

I turned 18 when the war was going on and drew a high number in the draft lottery.

I had quite a few friends and acquaintances that spent time in Viet Nam and a couple of guys from my town didn't make it back.

There were a lot of strong feelings for and against the war back then, but there is no doubt in my mind that those that served are heroes that risked their lives to support our country.

I happened to be in D.C. shortly after the Memorial Wall was built and it was an eerie feeling to look at all those names.

Thanks,
Peter
 
Thats really Great Ray. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
# 1 GI
 
Congratulations Ray. Great story.

I turned 18 when the war was going on and drew a high number in the draft lottery.

I had quite a few friends and acquaintances that spent time in Viet Nam and a couple of guys from my town didn't make it back.

There were a lot of strong feelings for and against the war back then, but there is no doubt in my mind that those that served are heroes that risked their lives to support our country.

I happened to be in D.C. shortly after the Memorial Wall was built and it was an eerie feeling to look at all those names.

Thanks,
Peter

I've yet to see the real Wall but someday I sure would like to. Actually the worst thing about going to Vietnam was coming home. I won't go into that but but it was at least 20 years until someone actually thanked me for my service. And we think this country is screwed up now.......
 
I've yet to see the real Wall but someday I sure would like to. Actually the worst thing about going to Vietnam was coming home. I won't go into that but but it was at least 20 years until someone actually thanked me for my service. And we think this country is screwed up now.......

I can certainly understand your feelings Ray. I THANK you and ALL those that served immensely.

I remember protests and discord were rampant for a LONG time.

I also knew a few people that left the country rather than serve.

Those that served NEVER received the recognition and thanks that was deserved.

I can say with certainty that many people that I know that lived through the Viet Nam war, have nothing but the utmost respect, and are thankful for those like you, that risked your life to serve your country.

Have a great holiday,
Peter
 
Right on!!!!!! What a great story!!! :)

I was over there in 67-68, but didnt have to eat that stuff-we got real food (mostly!)-I havent seen any of those guys since I left, they were all from the East Coast and I was from Cali.........seems like a dream now.
 
Right on!!!!!! What a great story!!! :)

I was over there in 67-68, but didnt have to eat that stuff-we got real food (mostly!)-I havent seen any of those guys since I left, they were all from the East Coast and I was from Cali.........seems like a dream now.

Tom, Welcome home! Actually the real thing was more a nightmare than a dream. We got hot chow, maybe more like warm chow from time to time. I've got a story about one of the times we got the so called "hot chow". Actually my friend Gil is the main person in the story. I believe Gil was 21 and very blond. Gil had been growing a mustache for months but in order to view it the sun light had to hit it just right. Anyway hot chow had been flown out to us on this one hill we were positioned on. One of the first sgt decided to be a prick and stood at the front of the line and turned anyone away that hadn't shaved or even had a mustache. It wasn't Gil's day, he was told to shave it off or go without eating. He chose to eat but he was sure pissed. I thought that sort of thing only happened in the states but I was wrong.
 
Man, what a cool story Ray!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, and I do profusely thank you and everyone else that has served...
 
Thank you for sharing a great story! I am so happy that you got in touch with your bud.
 
Ray, you and most of your generation of "Old Soldiers" never probably think of this but the goat roping y'all put up with laid the foundation of military leadership that trained, equipped and lead the troops you see now. I was taught and lead by men that vowed "never again" and for that you deserve more than a little thanks. Course I wasn't really appreciative at the time I was being taught. :p

Thanks.

Merry Christmas!
 
Great story Raymond. :thumbup:
Will no doubt make Christmas a little more special for you both.
 
I've yet to see the real Wall but someday I sure would like to. Actually the worst thing about going to Vietnam was coming home. I won't go into that but but it was at least 20 years until someone actually thanked me for my service. And we think this country is screwed up now.......

I can certainly understand your feelings Ray. I THANK you and ALL those that served immensely.

I remember protests and discord were rampant for a LONG time.

I also knew a few people that left the country rather than serve.

Those that served NEVER received the recognition and thanks that was deserved.

I can say with certainty that many people that I know that lived through the Viet Nam war, have nothing but the utmost respect, and are thankful for those like you, that risked your life to serve your country.

Have a great holiday,
Peter

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Thank you for your service Ray, I lost several high school buddies in the war, I was never called, I was married and had a child, but I always supported and thanked the guys that did serve.

Have a great Christmas,
Thanks to you and others we get to celebrate it again,
Jim
 
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