Now I know where I was on Christmas Eve, 1970. Come at me, Swift-Liars.

[DemoTex]

My dear mother finally found my letters home. They are a rich repository for the fuzzy history that was my tour of duty in Vietnam. Things that I thought happened at time X, actually happened at time X-5. I had forgotten how many nights we spent in the bunker due to mortar (60mm & 82mm) and Katyuska rocket (usually the 122 mm version, sometimes the 160 mm) attacks. I had forgotten about the big lobster dinners ($5) at La Nautique, or was it Le, on the beach road in Nha Trang (Bandit?).

I had forgotten about my awful double wisdom tooth extraction by a band of butchers. I had forgotten about that terrible, foggy day that I experienced total radio failure as the gas gage read very near empty on all tanks. Finally landed in Tuy Hoa with a GCA on a battery-powered radio. Turned off the runway and flamed them all out. A tug pulled me in.

So, where was Mac on Christmas Eve 1970? I was, according to my letters to my parents and my now-jogged memory, deep in the heart of Cambodia. How deep? I remember the missions, just not the exact dates. The Khmer Rough were threatening Phenom Phen, so we did a little electronic re-con there for a few days. On 12/24/70 I eased a little west and down low for a look-see at the ruins of Angkor Wat, according to my letter home.

That was Christmas Eve, 1970. Come-at-me-you-lying-revisionists.

[BlueCollar]

1. Right on man...!!! eom

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Those letters must be interesting to read some 30-odd years later.

They must be fascinating to read. Good for your mother!

My mother still has some letters that my father wrote to her during World War II. No missives from Vietnam, since she only had daughters.

[DemoTex]

5. Now, if I could only get the letters and tapes from my then fiancee.

She was a gem. We were engaged while I was in the 'Nam. Ever heard of Jody? I was seriously Jody-ed. When I got back from the 'Nam, that very day, she said we couldn't have the sex she had held out (but promised), because ... because!!!! ... because she thought she was pregnant from a liaison a few weeks earlier! Slut! Oh just fuck Vietnam! Please!

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. OUCH!!!!

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise (not that it probably felt that way to you then) because you then met Dr. DemoTex.

[DemoTex]

8. Indeed and a good point ...

And she and I have been married for 30+ years! Dr. D. is the love of my life. Thanks for that recognition, GreatAunt!

[benddem]

3. welcome home

You'd have thought those jerks (or the ones in the media) might have taken a bit of time to read the contemporaneous reports before shooting off their mouths.
Thanks for sharing.

[DemoTex]

4. Bigannie, welcome home to you!

Where were you? What were you, nurse? Let's talk!

[DemoTex]

7. Ooops, I see now. The 36th Evac at Vung Tau.

Good damn show, my dear. I did Vung Tau often. Getting the new radar in our spy-planes. Thanks for being there, angel. You girls were too much. I get misty to this day thinking about your sacrifices. Thanks, again, dear lady.

Mac

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. Roger that, DeltaTango... to me this is the most moving part

of the "Wall"

[DemoTex]

10. Extreme roger to your roger, WJMS!

BTW ... Are you also in love with Dana Delaney? DAMN HOT LADY! Love that "China Beach"!


Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy is the epitome of the Vietnam nurse. My heat-felt gratitude to all nurses in RVN. They were the angel's in the zone of hell that was our life in RVN.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Absofuckinlutely!

I try to watch her in anything she is in.
Great actress.

[zeemike]

12. As long as there are people that still remember

It will be hard to rewrite history.