doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vietnam Veterans Day

Wishing all the Vietnam Veterans here a heartfelt thank you for your service. Let us remember those who continue to serve our country and who are in harm's way.
Karl
355TH TFW 67-68

Thanks to you also Karl, I never thought we would last this long but it has been a "ride".
Mike,
36 Engr. Bn. (Const.)
1970

Mike,
I fully understand the "last that long" concept! After "mildly" feeling the effects of Agent Orange/Operation Ranch Hand, I feel really lucky at 79 to be "out there doing it best I can"!
Karl

Bless you both for your service to our country.

With grateful thanks.

Thanks Karl, lest we forget.

I was on a sunset walk last evening when my phone buzzed. It was a text from an old high school friend and its timing and words hit hard. A Viet Nam vet, he wrote in response to my “How are you doing?”

“I am currently treating for cancer. I have agent orange for four years.”

God have mercy upon him and all those who served there.

I read there is a movement to replace the sick, perverted, and shameful Pride Month with a full month to honor our living and deceased military veterans.

It's about time, and it sure wouldn't hurt to call, write, or email your Congressman to urge him or her to co-sponsor and support such legislation.

One example of their character.

Thank you for sharing!
Karl

U.S. Army 1 November 1967 to 31 October 1969. I was at Fort Lee, Virginia when I got my orders for ARVN training. My platoon sergeant got my orders voided and replaced with his name. He was looking for a promotion to E-7 or better. I was never able to find out what became of him. He was probably a short time from retirement. I certainly wish him the best.

Karl, you spoke of "mildly" feeling the effects of Agent Orange. Often, they start mildly but are progressive and all of a sudden, you wake up with cancer, a walker, heart attack or don't wake up. I encourage everyone that may have been exposed to double check symptoms you might otherwise overlook. Early treatment can save you often times (this also applies to Gulf War Veterans). Because I watched what happened to friends that are now gone, I twice got treatment that has so far saved me. Don't be ashamed to check and maybe you too will hold great grandchildren.
Mike

Mike,
When I spoke of "mildly" it was in the term of my good fortune to still be here as you had noted. I developed a Carcinoid in my Pancreas that was successfully treated, and am having my right Kidney followed for same. No regrets and I'd do it again as it was a honor to serve.
Karl

Karl,
Good for you, you did what I was recommending, early diagnosis to enable effective treatment. You are also right that it was an honor to serve, at least when our children/grandchildren ask, "what did you do in the war?", we won't have to say we ran to Canada. We have already lost enough comrades in arms; each one is a loss to all of us.
Mike

I missed this line - sorry. Here is a remastered black & white photo taken with a Minox of me and twin brother at Kontum Special forces B-team B-24 in Kontum on Memorial Day 1968. Jack Williams was in from the A-camp at Ben Het transferring back to the A-camp at DaK Pek. Gene Williams (me) from across the river at FOB-2 of MACV-SOG (I was the 1-0 of RT Delaware). Pretty amazing photo retouching done by AI. (Were we ever that young?)

Gene, "long days; short years." Gil