General Discussion

DustyJoe

(849 posts)

86. Ft Benning

Thu Jul 31, 2014, 09:46 PM

Jul 2014

Me too, you weren't in the 199th Light Infantry by chance were you ?

I was in VN from Nov 67 to May 68. 'joined' the Army on my 17th birthday at the urging of a juvenile court judge unhappy with some joyriding with buddies in HS.

I made it thru the first phase of Tet in Jan/Feb and got my million dollar wounds in May 68 in the 2nd Tet phase. Married my HS sweetheart on hospital convalescent leave 11 days after her 16th birthday before the Army got me killed. After 3 months in Army hospitals I got light duty assignment in Ft Huachuca AZ on the Mexican border. Worked at a monitoring station far in the AZ desert tracking Apollo missions.

My sis a year older than me was a full fledged commune living hippy ensconced in the anti-war make love not war crowd. But her and I never butted heads about our 2 different directions in life. When I got out of the Army in 70 I did have a horrible time finding a job, but thank goodness for family members paying an employment agency where I finally found work in a warehouse.

I was more than glad to leave 1968 behind.

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Highlight:

1968 (Your Help, Please!) [View all] H2O Man Jul 2014 OP

I watched all of 1968 from abroad... kentuck Jul 2014 #1

Interesting. H2O Man Jul 2014 #6

Woodstock happened after I returned home in April '69... kentuck Jul 2014 #41

were you drafted? When did you go in? Your name implies Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #55

Yes, I lived in Kentucky. kentuck Jul 2014 #75

I hear you totally - and I love you. nt Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #78

" H2O Man Jul 2014 #82

Thank you, Laura. kentuck Jul 2014 #85

Me too. blueamy66 Aug 2014 #180

Those are fascinating posts, kentuck. The last paragraph made me feel very sad. To be alone, sabrina 1 Jul 2014 #106

I had a similar experience of spending the night on a Georgia road to Warner Robins AFB to pick up ancianita Aug 2014 #125

What a story--here's to you kentuck! panader0 Aug 2014 #188

My music store sold tickets to Woodstock. RoverSuswade Jul 2014 #61

my bil's dad found a Woodstock poster in the garbage and made $15k nt Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #68

Wow! What a post! KT2000 Jul 2014 #72

I was a freshman at the Univ. Of Kansas SoCalDem Jul 2014 #90

Better than TV blueamy66 Aug 2014 #177

Thank you for sharing these memories, kenuck... Mike Nelson Aug 2014 #184

Thank you for your service minivan2 Jul 2014 #111

Not to minimize your sincere comments.. kentuck Jul 2014 #113

What sticks out? The betrayal by the Democratic Party of the anti-war movement. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2014 #2

Thank you. H2O Man Jul 2014 #10

yes. n/t KoKo Jul 2014 #27

agreed.... mike_c Jul 2014 #33

Betrayl of the anti-war movement by "The War Party"?!? ieoeja Aug 2014 #195

The Democrats at the convention went for Humpty rather than McCarthy. Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2014 #197

I call that "expected" from a party mocked as "The War Party". ieoeja Aug 2014 #199

The party that H2O Man Aug 2014 #200

Biggest event…. safeinOhio Jul 2014 #3

I've heard that H2O Man Jul 2014 #13

That too. n/t safeinOhio Jul 2014 #19

The assassinations: Bearing the news of one, waking up to the other villager Jul 2014 #4

Well said. H2O Man Jul 2014 #14

Apollo 8 - Our first look at the Earth above another world LongTomH Jul 2014 #5

I was quite young in 1968. Jenoch Jul 2014 #11

I've always admired that photo.Earth looks so peaceful from space. SummerSnow Jul 2014 #17

I remember that Christmas (Eve) greeting Art_from_Ark Jul 2014 #39

Beatles White Album? Loudly Jul 2014 #7

CNN has been emphasizing the music in this series. amandabeech Jul 2014 #34

Yeah,....because us long haired hippie types were responsible for this... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #52

I take no responsibility for him... Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #135

In '69 I was tripping on the moon. Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #137

Definitely better than ol' Charlie. Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #138

With that... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #211

My favorite albums from 1968... kentuck Jul 2014 #118

All of my friends H2O Man Aug 2014 #149

For some adults, my parents for example, Kent State and Watergate were the unravelling of their LuckyLib Aug 2014 #221

what's a juicer ? someone who drinks alcohol ? nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #179

Memories of that year which stand out in my memory..... northoftheborder Jul 2014 #8

My mother's baby brother SummerSnow Jul 2014 #20

I'm sorry for your family's loss. n/t amandabeech Jul 2014 #35

I was at the Democratic convention. Mz Pip Jul 2014 #9

I was in command of an Army riot control squad that was on alert to go there pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #18

I was there too, and indeed the fact that none of us were killed remains suprising. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #23

I was inducted into the Air Force in Chicago during the convention. HubertHeaver Jul 2014 #30

student riots at columbia dhol82 Jul 2014 #12

MC5 - Speedway Meadows L0oniX Jul 2014 #15

I remember the Motor City 5. kentuck Jul 2014 #42

They played in Golden Gate Park SM a lot back then when I was there. L0oniX Aug 2014 #172

I will be watching SummerSnow Jul 2014 #16

The good guys kept dying at the hands of "lone gunmen". I smelled a putrid, stinking rat. Scuba Jul 2014 #21

tet, king, riots, lbj, rfk, chicago, riots, Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #22

I was being mentored by Pirkle Jones that year Brother Buzz Jul 2014 #24

When I think of it, I get dizzy and nauseous. amandabeech Jul 2014 #25

Like your post,... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #156

There was H2O Man Aug 2014 #163

Thank you. It was cathartic writing it. amandabeech Aug 2014 #208

i can feel the gut punches of losing bobby kennedy & martin luther king like it was yesterday. spanone Jul 2014 #26

how did you know about it? I vividly remember my mom waking me Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #56

well, i was 17 yrs old and living it. spanone Jul 2014 #99

The Convention. elleng Jul 2014 #28

We are still feeling the political reverberations 4now Jul 2014 #29

What Warren Stupidity said in 22, but especially antiquie Jul 2014 #31

north korea capturing GP6971 Jul 2014 #32

I remember that one, and its more tragic "sister event", Art_from_Ark Aug 2014 #139

My husband of eight months got drafted into the US Army in 1968.. Tikki Jul 2014 #36

Sound familiar? Yes: Hissyspit Jul 2014 #47

Thanks for the headsup malaise Jul 2014 #37

The year started off with LSD becoming illegal randr Jul 2014 #38

Soviet Union GP6971 Jul 2014 #40

Yes. We have degrees in European Languages (among other things) JDPriestly Aug 2014 #120

I remember watching a news video of Alexander Dupcek Art_from_Ark Aug 2014 #140

Mid to late 68 GP6971 Jul 2014 #43

1968 shaped my life louis c Jul 2014 #44

There should be a national holiday in honor of McCarthy volunteers. Smarmie Doofus Jul 2014 #77

A Few Words... MLK, RFK, Tet, Chicago, Nixon... WillyT Jul 2014 #45

MLK, Jr. assassinated on my eighth birthday, rateyes Jul 2014 #46

I had just gotten out of the hospital & convalescent center at Cam Ranh Bay with Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #48

We were only a couple of miles apart on that night. kentuck Jul 2014 #54

I was at LZ Uplift, just outside of Bong Son. Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #79

I was about halfway down the peninsula. kentuck Jul 2014 #88

North of Qui Nhon, somewhere near Phu My. Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #101

I never made it up to Qui Nhon.... kentuck Jul 2014 #105

I was in college. TNNurse Jul 2014 #49

I remember much of it like it was last year. femmocrat Jul 2014 #66

One of my earliest memories if of RFK's funeral deutsey Jul 2014 #50

Bobby Kennedy's assassination was my low point CanonRay Jul 2014 #51

i often wonder how different things would DesertFlower Aug 2014 #133

Yes, I believe he would have won as well CanonRay Aug 2014 #160

I think he would H2O Man Aug 2014 #165

The Army commissioned me as an Infantry officer in '68 at the age of 19 pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #53

I understand how you got there. kentuck Jul 2014 #62

Ft Benning DustyJoe Jul 2014 #86

Thanks friend! kentuck Jul 2014 #92

My brother and I served together in the 101st Airborne Division pinboy3niner Jul 2014 #110

iirc, 199th LIB was at Long Binh pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #127

Long Binh DustyJoe Aug 2014 #170

LBJ kentuck Aug 2014 #186

We were talking about the 199th LIB (Light Infantry Brigade) pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #217

So I heard... kentuck Aug 2014 #218

Ft Huachuca is about 12 miles from where I live (outside Sierra Vista) panader0 Aug 2014 #190

The entire year stands out for me. SheilaT Jul 2014 #57

nice chronology. CanSocDem Aug 2014 #159

I turned 6 that year hfojvt Aug 2014 #222

Observation: Then and now. RoverSuswade Jul 2014 #58

I graduated from h.s. that year - LiberalElite Jul 2014 #59

1968 brings to mind The Wizard Jul 2014 #60

If you did not live through these years, I pity you - because Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #63

Yes, I remember gwheezie Jul 2014 #67

Well, I was involved on a more tame/peaceful level but I can totally get what Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #70

I was 12 in 68 in Texas rickyhall Jul 2014 #64

What do you think it is about the south and Texas - my theory Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2014 #73

My 1968 started in 1967 gwheezie Jul 2014 #65

This is an amazing thread. H2O Man Jul 2014 #69

I agree H2OMan cilla4progress Aug 2014 #129

I spent 1968 on the Coast Guard Cutter Point Hudson in Viet Nam! yortsed snacilbuper Jul 2014 #71

A place in my heart for you, my friend. misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #84

I was only two in '68, but I have a few vivid memories of the late '60s: Arugula Latte Jul 2014 #74

year I was born nt d_r Jul 2014 #76

How many hours do you have, haha! 1968: Nixon elected during my birthday party. 1968: Chicago police WinkyDink Jul 2014 #80

Woodstock, Vietnam, Janice Joplin, Jimmy Hendrick & my friend's new Mustang.(maybe that car was '69) misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #81

Woodstock was GP6971 Jul 2014 #87

Right. H2O Man Jul 2014 #93

Yes..67, 68, 69 kind of blurred together. so much DID happen in a short time misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #96

Kind of blurred?????? GP6971 Jul 2014 #102

The '69 model year debuted in the fall of '68. amandabeech Jul 2014 #95

Oh yes. That Purple & Candy Apple Red too. misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #97

Oh, man! The Barracuda. That's exactly what I was thinking of! amandabeech Jul 2014 #103

wow you must have seen some of the coolest cars firsthand. misterhighwasted Jul 2014 #100

I was lucky. amandabeech Jul 2014 #104

That's right! GP6971 Jul 2014 #107

There was a incredible amount of hoopla! amandabeech Jul 2014 #109

k and r niyad Jul 2014 #83

Dion's song GP6971 Jul 2014 #89

The middle of my undergraduate years at UC. Every guy we knew had a 2-S (student) LuckyLib Jul 2014 #91

Muhammad Ali was H2O Man Jul 2014 #94

I don't remember hearing about any formal tour, but I did see him occasionally on LuckyLib Aug 2014 #220

Some songs GP6971 Jul 2014 #98

I was in Berzerkely tularetom Jul 2014 #108

Thank you! H2O Man Aug 2014 #183

Wow.... Punkingal Jul 2014 #112

Just out of 1st grade, summer of '68. toby jo Jul 2014 #114

I was born in '67 and was a jaded and cynical little prick by '68. Throd Jul 2014 #115

This is a fantastic thread! xfundy Jul 2014 #116

Right! H2O Man Aug 2014 #152

1968 was a whirlwind of danger and daring all over the world. Zen Democrat Jul 2014 #117

1968 sucked. moondust Aug 2014 #119

That's similar to H2O Man Aug 2014 #142

I watched the series. It's completely accurate and exactly the way I experienced it from high school ancianita Aug 2014 #121

I remember going to school (10th grade) the morning LibDemAlways Aug 2014 #122

Alive, but either an infant or in primary grades senseandsensibility Aug 2014 #123

Interesting thread Nedsdag Aug 2014 #124

Very good! H2O Man Aug 2014 #158

I was 14 in 1968 cilla4progress Aug 2014 #126

I was a Senior in High School 2banon Aug 2014 #128

Very good! H2O Man Aug 2014 #175

I am k&ring this for all the touching stories Sissyk Aug 2014 #130

Thank you! H2O Man Aug 2014 #143

No, Thank You... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #168

I've sent the link H2O Man Aug 2014 #171

The best way I can really express how I feel, Zorra Aug 2014 #131

Beautiful! H2O Man Aug 2014 #144

I was living in Atlanta listening to this song repeatedly. In_The_Wind Aug 2014 #167

i was 27, a divorced single mom. so much happened DesertFlower Aug 2014 #132

"The Village" H2O Man Aug 2014 #146

That's the year I graduated from college, Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #134

Thanks! H2O Man Aug 2014 #192

It was blow after blow after blow, and by the end my heart was shattered in pieces Hekate Aug 2014 #136

The HBO series "from the Earth to the Moon" has an episode called "1968" Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #141

I was born in January of that year. It's all my fault. wyldwolf Aug 2014 #145

I had not planned H2O Man Aug 2014 #147

If you pull back my hairline... wyldwolf Aug 2014 #153

On Memorial Day I was a half mile from the DMZ in Vietnam and listened to the Bandit Aug 2014 #148

Wow! H2O Man Aug 2014 #150

oh my god Hekate Aug 2014 #185

I saw the European events that year GliderGuider Aug 2014 #151

I was just 4 caraher Aug 2014 #154

I spend half of 1968 at a tiny Air Force base in Turkey. MineralMan Aug 2014 #155

It was a horrible year... Historic NY Aug 2014 #157

Thanks. H2O Man Aug 2014 #161

Yes. The nightly body counts from General Westmoreland. amandabeech Aug 2014 #224

The sadness of Assinations fredamae Aug 2014 #162

Yep. H2O Man Aug 2014 #164

Yep! Which is why fredamae Aug 2014 #169

OT but how is the fracking fight going ? nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #166

Okay. H2O Man Aug 2014 #173

mad props to you and much success !!!!!! nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #174

Thanks! H2O Man Aug 2014 #176

I turned 10 that year steve2470 Aug 2014 #178

My family would H2O Man Aug 2014 #182

In January outside of Bien Hoa air base I was upaloopa Aug 2014 #181

Thank you everyone for these reflections. Mike Nelson Aug 2014 #187

It ranks H2O Man Aug 2014 #189

Roger that -nt Mike Nelson Aug 2014 #191

I graduated from high school in Honolulu in '68. I was 17 panader0 Aug 2014 #193

I've been reflecting on how back then cilla4progress Aug 2014 #205

Here are two that stood out for me suffragette Aug 2014 #194

My memories: politix, Vietnam, family philly_bob Aug 2014 #196

It was the pivotal year of my life. nolabear Aug 2014 #198

I would like to read your stuff. Anything published? panader0 Aug 2014 #207

See PM. And thanks! nolabear Aug 2014 #216

Very big year SteveG Aug 2014 #201

I was 13 and already a political junkie Still Sensible Aug 2014 #202

Math exam Jim Lane Aug 2014 #203

The Democratic National Convention skip fox Aug 2014 #204

I'm sharing this with my husband and friends cilla4progress Aug 2014 #206

Right. H2O Man Aug 2014 #209

I was 8 years old that year, but not entirely unaware of the goings on in the adult world. trackfan Aug 2014 #210

NASA and Nixon Octafish Aug 2014 #212

Thanks! H2O Man Aug 2014 #213

Thanks to all here... Kensan Aug 2014 #214

Thank you. H2O Man Aug 2014 #215

The '68 Democratic Convention. I was watching with my husband's family at his parents' CTyankee Aug 2014 #219

Arguably the most historic year of modern times... Spider Jerusalem Aug 2014 #223

kick nt steve2470 Aug 2014 #225

My very first reaction was the Democratic Convention in Chicago. Are_grits_groceries Aug 2014 #226

Because I rarely watch CNN... Stellar Aug 2014 #227

I spent 1968 doing the bbgrunt Aug 2014 #228

The best overview of the '68 election is "An American Melodrama: the presidential campaign of 1968" Rowdyboy Aug 2014 #229

I have that. H2O Man Aug 2014 #230

1968 Hemi Roadrunner, Plymouth's "Elenor" NM_Birder Aug 2014 #231

I forgot about GP6971 Aug 2014 #232