More Paint, Less A/C and getting down to work at Nha Trang July 1969

Just a short one today....

I put in another 4 to 5 hours painting yesterday...did the west side of the Garage, and painted the white edges on the "kitchen" part of the back of the house, that alone took at least 2 hours, and it was a small bit, but had to be done. Today, with an American Legion baseball game at Van Wert tonight, I will do some more trim, this time the beige supports...like I said, it will be a long process...you paint 5 hours, you drink a six pack and smoke a cigar that evening in the back yard admiring your work....that is my plan.

Meanwhile the high yesterday never got out of the 70s, so another day saving the A/C and keeping the Skyrocketing Utility Bills at bay...today dawns cloudy, but the rain missed us again, the yard is pretty much in it's annual "no mow in July mode".

The American Legion game tonight, will mark the end of 3 straight days of no baseball, the longest stretch since the handful of days between Spring District and Regional action back in mid and late May....a double header at the ACME District on Saturday, and then some more rest...I have to say, I am glad to see it wind down. Last season I did about 85 games. This year, counting scrimmages, regular High School season, Tournaments, and the summer games, it appears I will have done at least 100 by the end of July...plenty of work for this 60 year old body. Then a couple of weeks off, and it's on to football season.

Nha Trang July 1969___Getting to work

By the time I had been at Nha Trang a week, I was fully into the everyday workings of Law Enforcement...those workings included how to hide from the brass when I was on patrol duty, when to call for a latrine break mid mornings, and how to BS with the local kids that hung around our gate shacks, and which parts of the C-Rations to give those kids. They always appreciated whatever leftovers we had. One thing about the kids(from those just learning to walk to the mid teens), they may not have liked all of us GI types, but they at least faked it, because they knew, if they even pretended to like us...we would usually give them a snack or something. Sky Cops, for the most part, were softies, at least for the kids.

The first guys I remember working with{those that I can remember their names and faces} were Marcos Payen and Harry Bevan:

http://harrysrantsandraves.blogspot.com/

Marc was from El Paso and has been a federal agent for many years down on that border city...Harry went home after the Air Force to become a Philadelphia cop, and worked with the K-9s at the Philly Airport, although not a dog handler when in Nam.

I also met guys like Bruce Thompson, Tony Niemotka(who sent me yesterday's firing range photos}, Johnny Claflin...and my supervisors, Phil Lange and Melvin Sloan. Tom Johnson was there at the same time as well, and every once in awhile another name and/or face pops into my brain...amazing that 40 years later, that I can have a good amount of recall on those I knew for only a short time. Of course many of us have hooked up via the VSPA, otherwise these names and some of the memories may have been lost forever. Phil just passed on, and I have yet to find Melvin Sloan{who would be in his mid 70s I am guessing}...but in this large world, the amount of old contacts is surpassed only by the number of new friends I have made through the Vietnam Security Police Association:

http://www.vspa.com/

Off to a few hours of painting the trim, shower, baseball, and maybe a few beers to top off the evening....

back later>>>>

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photos--Szack and Beven, Szack(with the gun) passed away a few years ago, Harry Beven is alive and well and on a vacation cruise to Alaska with his wife Anna, whom he married before heading to Vietnam. Horse play was something we did, and probably shouldn't have, especially with the weapons, but we lost nobody despite it all....The second photo is me on Jeep Patrol, and yes, even though it's hard to tell, I was pointing my .38 Special towards the camera{amazing we all survived our tours}, and #3 is Marc Payan, QC Sgt Ky of the South Vietnam Army, and Harry Bevan..maining the main gate at Nha Trang, probably the one place a Sky Cop couldn't screw around, too many brass passing through and eyeballing you. This LE Post you were in the view of just about everybody who passed through Nha Trang.

A Cool July Breeze, Painting Project....and that "Dog" Gone Firing Range at Nha Trang

Well yesterday I started, finally started the outside painting project on the old house....the roof is finished, the gutters and downspouts are done{although the removal of the gutters from the driveway never was completed, so Patricia and I moved those to the side of the garage, out of site for now}, and it was time for me to get at the painting. A project I figure will take me 2 or more months....Could I get it done quicker? Would Patricia be glad to help? The answer to both questions is probably yes....but this is a project I want to do when I want to, take time off when I want, and move at my own pace, one designed for my 60 year old body....which means slow and sometimes steady.

I finished up the Green on the back side of the house, scarped some of the beige trim, and will get with some of the white trim today on the bare facing. The Amish crew put up white facing, so instead of 3 colors, the base green and 2 trims{beige and red}, this time around it will be 3 trim colors, with the added white. I still have to get some more green mixed, and hope it matches pretty close{meaning I will have to make sure that different sides of the house are painted with different 5 gallon buckets of paint{long story}.

Anyway, I'm about 15% done, and that only took 5 hours{using a brush, not a spray gun}....not sure if the rest will go so quick, and I'm betting it won't,

July weather____

53 this morning when I woke up...the A/C has been off all but a few hours for the past week...which is good considering the utility bill was almost $300 last month...THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA and the City of Celina...YOU REALLY DO SUCK! Anyway, a nice breeze and a high of 77 for today....77 for a High? On July 8th? I will take it! Good weather for painting, baseball, and getting in some road work. In preparation for the finish of baseball and the beginning of football season, I figure I needed to get back to walking and push ups, along with some light weights...so that began yesterday as well. Now about dropping those 25 pounds which I was supposed to do this spring ?.....wish me luck, or I'm gonna need it come football and especially basketball season.

That "Dog(s) Gone" Firing Range at Nha Trang, RVN____July 1969

I had been at Nha Trang for about a week. I had been assigned to "A" Flight Law Enforcement, and TSgt Phil Lange was my NCOIC....Law Enforcement at Nha Trang consisted of the following: Jeep Patrol...you drove the streets of Nha Trang AB, issuing tickets{seldom}, checking on the posts being manned by other LE guys, and giving them lunch or latrine breaks...it was basically the "gravy" job of Law Enforcement, and probably every body's favorite. In addition to Jeep Patrol, the grunts of LE also manned gates, including the base Main Gate, entry control points for civilian workers, and some guard shacks sprinkled throughout the base....it was by all accounts, the best job I ever had during my Air Force tour of duty.

One morning a group of us "Newbies", guys who had been in country less than a few weeks, were loaded up in a deuce and a half truck, with a boat load of weapons...Grenade Launchers. M-16s, M-50s, M-60s, hand grenades, etc, and were hauled off to the Firing Range north of Nha Trang City.....this was to be our baptism of fire and quick learn of the various weapons we would be handling in case of a manned attack on the Air Base. I kind of figured, if the VC got past the Green Berets at Camp McDermott, and our Security guys on the perimeter, we LE guys were shit out of luck anyway...but what the Hell? I loved firing these weapons.

After unloading, the dozen or so guys and the handful on instructors set up our "equipment" and began firing at marked targets on the rocks...I remember 2 things from that day that are as clear as yesterday in my mind. The sky was a mass of grey clouds, and it was humid....then there were the "Dogs". Wild feral dogs in Vietnam were not pets by any stretch of the imagination...the carried rabies, they were mean, and they were scavengers. This pack of 6 to 8 dogs of various sizes made the mistake that day of coming into the firing range area, while a bunch of Air Force Security Police guys were learning weapons training and doing target practice...it was the last thing most, if not all, would ever do.

Given permission by the lead instructor...a dozen or so trigger happy Sky Cops opened fire on these local mutts...the dogs never had a chance. Now given the fact I have had dogs all my life and raised Airedales for many years, speaks to the fact that I love dogs...but as I said, these "dogs" were really nothing more that "wolf lite". Did I feel guilty that I joined the rest of the guys in opening up on them? Not at the time, it seemed like the thing to do....all these years later, I probably would not do my share of shooting to kill, but at the time, I joined in....we seemed to enjoy it way to much.

After this I was fully "qualified" to shoot the weapons of choice...however, being in Law Enforcement, I was only assigned to carry my .38 S&W Police Special, and my M-16...but Hell, I did get to ride around in the V-100(See Photo of me leaning up against one at the top of the blog) on occasion...which contained some big guns.

OK, that's it for today...time to head outside and continue the painting project.

back later>>>>

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Photos-The Vietnam shots are from my buddy Tony Niemotka, who was stationed at Nha Trang with the 14th SPS at the same time as me...he arrived a little earlier and was sent home about the time I was heading for Tan Son Nhut{Saigon}. The two photos are among several that Tony sent out yesterday...they show him firing a Grenade Launcher(top) and doing the prone position with .50 cal machine gun....both photos were taken at the same firing range that we "dogged" it a few months later.

And the back of the house after the main green part has been completed...today I will start with some trim before moving on to the area above the kitchen...it will be a roof work day.

Sarah Palin Resigns....The Media goes bonkers and 40 years ago this week.

The 4th of July weekend in west central Ohio varied from cool sunshine on Friday, with afternoon rains and drizzle on Saturday(the 4th) and back to more sunshine with nice breezes for yesterday to wrap up the weekend.

Sam was off to Pittsburgh, Hal was home on Friday night and Saturday morning before returning to the Dayton area. I finished off my string of 46 baseball games in 34 days(out of a possible 36 days) since June 1st. Now things will slow down, at least hardball wise. I've got some American Legion games to do, and help out in a couple of Pony League tournaments, which I do once a summer, and then wrap things up the final weekend(July 31 through August 2nd) with some Little League work at the local Celina Tournament. Have not done the little league thing in about 10 years, will in interesting to see how my legs and back hold up after doing 3 double headers in 3 nights with my legs being lowered to calling balls and strikes on kids 5 feet or less tall.

Anyhow, some days off until this Thursday, so I can get at the paint and some other yard work. Maybe, now that I'm not facing games each night, I can get off my procrastination highway and do something besides baseball and beer drinking...although the beer drinking won't be completely given up on.

Sarah Palin says...."I'm outta here"____

Friday afternoon Sarah Palin, the hero of the true Conservative movement, and the Anti Christ of the Left Wing Loons, in and out of the press, announced she was stepping down as Governor of Alaska on July 26th, she was not going to run again. Immediately the press, left wing and other wise, began to question her motives. Was she going on a speaking tour, planning her early run for President in 2012, running from scandal? Just what was/were her motives?

I say, anything that can drive the left wing bonkers, with rumors, gnashing of teeth, and shrill squawks, is good enough for me. Personally I hope she sticks around and begins to build a new or within an old(Constitution, Conservative etc) Political Party that believes in less Government, killing terrorists, and that Barack Obama is one evil son of a bitch, that is out to destroy the Republic.

Go Sarah, and tell the Media to "Stuff It" no matter what your plans are, some of us have your back, while the Country Club GOP types and the loony left tries to stick a knife in it. It will be interesting to see what the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh have to say about her stepping down, both have been fans since before she ran for VP on that disaster called The John McCain Campaign.

Early July 1969____my tour at Nha Trang begins___After stepping out of the C-130 Hercules on the metal runway next to the control tower and terminal at Nha Trang Air Base, I walked towards a desk staffed by a A1C(Airman First Class, same as me at that time). Showing him my orders, he pointed me towards base police. Not that far away, so I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder and walked back out into the hot and humid afternoon sun....it had rained earlier in the day, and Nha Trang at this point, reminded me of my old home in Venice, Florida....July's that were hot, humid, and with rain mixed in...and I was to find out that Nha Trang, like Venice, would be sitting on a beach, on this beach was on the South China Sea, not the Gulf of Mexico.

I walked into Base Police and eventually was greeted by a Buck Sgt(3 stripper) named Clarence Wilson...we chatted and Wilson told me that I had been assigned to Law Enforcement and would be working "A" Shift...that being Day Time Law Enforcement patrols and guard and gate shacks, wearing the infamous Blue Helmet or piss pot as well called them. That worked for me...never had worked LE, and would not again after I left Nha Trang, I was destined for Security for over 3 years of my almost 4 year hitch in Uncle Sam's Air Force. Since I had screwed off my final months back at Dover AFB, Delaware. I was assigned to Wilson for my "training"...which of course would be training in name only....basically reading a few books, pamphlets, with questions and answers intact, and heading off to the Firing Range, located off base and north of Nha Trang City, to learn how to shoot the various weapons we were assigned to carry.

For the next couple of days I would be assigned to get my "Jungle Gear"..that being camouflage uniforms, olive greens with black letters, patches and name tags, Jungle Boots, and get settled into my barracks assignment. I would be placed on the lower floor of the 2 story concrete barracks, right across the street from the base theater and not far from Base Police.....I don't remember much about my first few days "On Duty" but I did get to know a collection of folks that their names and faces remain a part of my life until this very day....That part of the story next.

Back Later>>>>

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Photos-(1) What next for Sarah Palin?(2) Me on a South China Sea beach at Nha Trang, South Vietnam, photo dated 6 July 1969...40 years ago today. Notice I still have my stateside fatigues, the new Jungle Outfit had not yet been returned from the "tailors"(3) Duffel Bag like the type we carried during my Air Force years(4) A Huey lands on Nha Trang's metal out runway...although the main landing areas were concrete, the out areas and the areas near the terminal were made from "breathing metals" with holes to allow drainage.

"Happy ____Dependence Day" 2009

Most of the weekend will be spend umpiring baseball, from American Legion Tournament action{yesterday and tomorrow} down to today's Junior ACME{summer JV High School ball} tournament double header at Rockford. The incoming rain may have something to say about today's games however....actually we need the rain, and if it doesn't rain today or tonight, we have none slated for the next 10 days. I'm guessing a nice steady rain for about 8 hours around 9pm would be nice.

I will get back to my year in Vietnam on Monday....Today I thought I give my short opinion on July 4th....does in mean what it used to, are we truly, independent?

My guess is the answer to both questions is NO! There are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, from cradle to grave, we have become used to Government intrusion in our lives...from getting a Social Security number at birth, plus a blood test, our DNA is given out to the bureaucratic stooges at the local, state, and federal levels. Permits and licenses, at a cost of course, are required for just about everything, including the ones required to flush your toilet. Life in these United States in not as half free as we would like to think it is...and if that Kenyan born son of a bitch in the White House has his way...what little freedoms we have, including the 1st and 2nd Amendments, will be gone as well.

This is no longer the nation of Washington, Jefferson, and Reagan, it has become the world of the Bushes, Clintons, Pelosi, and and illegal, Kenyan born half breed, calling himself Barack Hussein Obama....{Real Name Barry Soetoro, Islamic educated resident of Indonesia, born somewhere outside the US, Kenya? Perhaps}

Is there time to take this country back? Yes! Do we have the soul and will to do it? Some of us yes, some no, and others like it this way, where the Government is their Lord and Nanny...which side do you fall on?

Happy Dependence Day America....will we ever see true Independence again?

July 2, 1969....The Flight to Nha Trang

Sam and I headed to Van Wert last night to umpire the elimination game of the Van Wert County ACME Tournament.....the host team scored on a hit batter in the bottom of the 7th to defeat Delphos St. Johns by a 6-5 count...thus moving on to the finals tonight where they will meet up with top seed Crestview, regardless of the outcome, both Van Wert and the Knights will move on to District play next week...St Johns closes out it summer run. This afternoon we are together again, this time at Lima Central Catholic for a ACME Sectional double header. I will have the first game behind the plate, featuring Elida and Lima Bath, the second contest, with Sam doing the dish, will have Lima Senior against the host team. The first game kicks off at 4PM, so another late night is in store. Over the weekend I will switch between the American Legion St Marys Tournament, and the District Junior ACME at Parkway...Sam will be off in Pittsburgh doing whatever....I could use some baseball free time off myself, and that will eventually come around.

Yesterday's high reached only 68, rare indeed for a July 1st in this neck of the woods...pretty nice stuff to umpire in...today a little warmer, with a high of 73 and the humidity back . The next week after today looks dry and mild(around 80 for the highs 60s for the lows) for this time of year. I will finally get around to prepping the back side of the house for the painting...which of course I have been putting off as long as baseball is taking up so much time.

Tan Son Nhut to Nha Trang_____

I spent the night of July 2, 1969, in the Transit Barrack at Tan Son Nhut on the outskirts of Saigon...as I mentioned, the sounds and the anticipation left me with little sleep, and the events of early the next day are pretty cloudy 40 years hence. What I do rememberr is that I walked on to that concrete runway at TSN, and got on board a Military Plane for the first time...I had been a member of the Air Force for a year by this time, but had never flown in a Air Force aircraft...all my flights had been civilian to this point.

Once again, I was lone wolf...nobody else from that Transit Barracks was heading to Nha Trang, north 250 miles on the South China Sea. I would fly out in a Hercules C130 prop driven cargo plane...I remember it was loud, there were 5 or 6 crew members, and I and one old Mama son were the passengers...in my memory I think I remember she had a couple of freaking goats with her...but then again, that flight was interesting enough, without the livestock, and maybe I just imagined those goats in my memory banks, all these years later.

We lumbered off in the noise, heat, and humidity....I suspect the flight to Nha Trang took something over an hour, but really, I can't say for sure. I do know I could see the vast jungles of Vietnam out the portals...and I remember thinking to myself..."I wish we were flying a little higher over these damn jungles".

Although I took quite a few photos, especially in Nha Trang{not so many while stationed at Tan Son Nhut later on}, I wish I had taken and saved more....It took me a few days to buy a camera at the Base BX, and start shooting.

The 130 finally landed safe and sound on Nha Trang's runway...a combination of open metal, and concrete....me, the mama son{and the goats?}, safe and sound in the sunshine, heat, and humidity...noon or early afternoon on July 3, 1969 it was. Into the small terminal building at Nha Trang I went, dressed in my Khakis for the final time for the next year....it would be fatigues, jungle camos, and green underwear from here on out....that and the ever present Blue Piss Pot Helmets that would be with me for my 6 month stay at Nha Trang, at least when on duty. It was July 3rd, I would be here until December 27th, when I would head back to Tan Son Nhut for the rest of my stay.

I headed on foot(that's how small the Air Base at Nha Trang was} to Base Police, to sign it, get my "room assignment" at the 14th SPS Barracks, and settle in before meeting those in charge and receiving my police assignment. I had no clue as to what shift I would be working, or whether it was to be in Security or Law Enforcement...I am sure as I walked into the Base Police office, I had that Deer-in-the-Headlight look....regardless, my favorite year in the Air Force was about to begin.

Next Up---Assignments, names, and faces____

I will continue my look at this year, 40 years ago, in Vietnam after the weekend____baseball and the 4th of July is coming up. Hal returns home for the day tomorrow, his Masters work at Wright State is finished next Wednesday, he will work at Celina Moving and begin his full press look for a High School teaching job within the next week or 10 days, he will need good luck, especially in today's economy, the older teachers are hanging on to their jobs, uncertain what awaits them or the rest of us, under this ObamaNation. Thank God I'm 60...not too much Barack and his minions can do to me....Fock Em'. Pay Back is Hell, I suspect they will find out not all the American people are as dumb as his wild eyed, slave like supporters.

Have a great 4th of July, celebrate the America that was, and can be again, not the America that we have turned into under this Administration.

back later>>>>

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Photos-(1) The C130 Hercules, much like the one I flew in from Tan Son Nhut to Nha Trang in early July 1969(2) Map of Vietnam, with Nha Trang sitting some 250 miles north and east of Saigon{yes I know the freaking Reds call it something else today, but it will always be Saigon, they can stick Uncle Ho up their asses}.(3) Me, decked out in my Blue Helmet at the entry control point early in my assignment at Nha Trang(4) And finally, a view from above at the base at Nha Trang on the South China Sea{this photo from Wikpedia was taken in June of 1968}....without exception, my favorite duty station during my 4 year Air Force tour.

Baseball, Gutters, and July 1, 1969

Finished up the Junior ACME Sectional at Crestview last night, with fellow umpire Jim R behind the plate, in the first game. Van Wert eliminated Wapakoneta 4-3, scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th, the winning run on a bases loaded walk. I did the plate in the 2nd game as Crestview took the nightcap 14-3 in 6 innings, to win the title. Both Van Wert and Crestview move on to the District at Rockford...I know at least Celina will be joining them, not sure of the remaining teams.

The cool temperatures and cloud cover were welcome. Tonight Sam and I do a ACME Sectional game at Van Wert...tomorrow a 4PM ACME Sectional double header at Lima Central Catholic. The rest of the 4th of July weekend will be filled with games, ACME, JR ACME, and a weekend American Legion Tournament at St. Marys will keep me busy...maybe too busy. I have to admit, I am getting burnt out after 3 1/2 months of solid baseball. In June alone, I worked 27 of the 30 days, July, after a fast start will be less hectic, but I will still do plenty of baseball, before getting some early August off before football begins. The money is good, so I'm not complaining, but my 60 year old legs and back are feeling the effects.

Gutters---Done!

The crew from Lima came over yesterday and did the gutter work. So the roof, and downspouts are finis' Now, all I have to do is begin the painting...something I have been putting off. Now with white added to the green, beige, and red trim.....I am guessing this may take until October, depending on my bones, procrastination, and the heat.

The road to Vietnam--7/1/69____

I sat in a lounge at Honolulu International Airport for maybe an hour, had a couple of beers(back when it was legal for a 20 year old to down alcoholic beverages)...then climbed on the orange Braniff International 707 and we flew west towards the International Date Line:

June 30th became July 1st in the blink of an eye....by the time I would land at Tan Son Nhut(Saigon Airport) it would be July 2nd. But stops had to be made...First Guam, an American controlled island country, home of Andersen Air Force Base, and boat loads of Brown Snakes....I can't recall if we ever deplaned, but we refueled and across the great blue Pacific we continued, next stop was Clark AFB in the Philippines. We did get off for a brief stop at Clark, saw some of the base, and grabbed a bite to eat....climbing back on the plane, I knew what was coming____Next Stop Vietnam!

I was lucky enough to have a window seat, as we approached the Airport at Saigon, a place that would be my future home, some 6 months down the road...but not now, the great base at Tan Son Nhut, would be my processing place for a day and night, then it would be off to Nha Trang, on the South China Sea. I looked over the vast jungle of foliage of the forests that covered this war torn country that we were fighting and dying in...the reasons were still unclear then, as they are 40 years later.

The Arrival____

The plane sat down in the late morning of July 2nd...I did some early processing at the terminal, received some orders, my flight schedule to Nha Trang, a meal ticket for the Chow Hall, and some linen for my night's stay at the Transit Barracks.

I remember that night well...my first night in this "war". I didn't sleep well at all. I thought of home, what I would be doing at Nha Trang, the dangers, how I would get there, and if my flight would actually make it. Alone, unlike those sent in full outfits with squadrons, etc...I was by myself, the only one from Dover AFB Security Police to be sent to Nha Trang, I would come to realize soon, just how lucky I was to be sent there, but on this night of July 2, 1969, I had no clue.

Then there was the sound of rockets and incoming in the distance...how far away I didn't know, but regardless, I didn't sleep well that night.

Next, the flight to Nha Trang_____

Back Later

Correction from Yesterday's Post____

My old hometown buddy, Bill Marshall, a fellow VSPA Sky Cop also from the small berg of Scott, Ohio, wrote to tell me he liked the story, but had a correction for me....no way I could have went past Hearst Castle on my way from San Fran International to Travis AFB, unless we went 150 miles out of the way....right he was. As I didn't have pictures or notes from that day, I guess I had imagined that it was Hearst. I know we went by Candlestick Park and another large estate, that the bus driver mentioned...Hearst it was not, but it, whatever it was, was impressive, and stuck in my mind...thanks Billy. Bill Marshall has lived in Southern California since shortly after his days in the Air Force ended.

Photos-(1) top left...The inside of the Terminal Building at Tan Son Nhut, where thousands of us processed when entering and leaving Vietnam.(2) The Roof and east side gutters/spouting are complete, now my part of the job, the painting, begins(3)/(4) Entry control, where the Law Enforcement guys of Security Police were in charge...Andersen AFB Guam, and Clark AFB's main gate.(5)Tan Son Nhut aerial view, a base and it's perimeter that I would become very familiar with in 1970.

June 30, 1969......and a Global Warming Update!

The weather forecast is looking fine, if you are thinking October in West Central Ohio. 50% chance of rain today, and 40% tomorrow...71 today, and 65 predicted for tomorrow, July 1st. Global Warming my ass!

Cap and trade, the phony climate bill championed by the far left is being ramrodded through by our illegal Kenyan born Prez, and we are all getting bent over to receive the benefits of sky high utility bills...."Beautiful, just stinking beautiful"! Not to worry, Barry will have us all worshipping his sorry ass, and we should be thankful so he thinks.

In other News, Michael Jackson is still dead, so are Billy Mays, Farrah, and Ed.

Sam and I traveled to Van Wert to umpire an American Legion game last night...the host team taking on Troy, Ohio. In a 3 hour 15 minute marathon{with Sam behind the plate}, the visitors scored 6 runs late, and came across with a 10-6 victory. Tonight I'm back at Crestview for the double header which will decide the 2 Junior ACME teams moving on to Parkway for the District. Sam is with Garry at Van Wert for a second round ACME Sectional game.

June 30, 1969, Vietnam Send Off_____

40 years ago today____

I remember Monday June 30th in the summer of 69 as a cloudy, humid day....my flight out of the Dayton, Ohio, Airport, at Vandalia, Ohio, was scheduled for early afternoon. I had been in the Air Force for 53 weeks on the day of my flight over to the "conflict" zone called South Vietnam.

We arrived at the Airport, and back in the days before increased Airport Security, I had a chance to grab a early flight, or sit around for 2 1/2 hours looking at the faces of mom and dad, and their thoughts on me heading to Vietnam, just get this over I though, little time for tears and worry...I opted to grab the early fight, and the old man and I had to haul ass to get to the gate in time for me to get on the 707 to Chicago. I was 20 years old, not really mature in any stretch of the imagination, and here I was heading overseas to play Air Force Cop in a war zone.

As luck would have it, the flight from Dayton to O'Hare would fly right over Grand Lake, and low enough(since the Airport was only 60 miles from my house) so I could see our place sitting next to the Montezuma Airport...a view of the home, I would not live in again, by the time I returned, the folks would sell that house and move into Celina.

Changing planes in Chicago, we would fly west towards San Francisco...The thing I remember about that portion of the trip was that we hit a hard air turbulence over Colorado, just as the stewardess's were serving out the in-flight meals....not good! We hit a couple of big ones and several folks were wearing their meals...they stopped the meal service for a half hour of so, until the plane cleared the rough ride portion of the trip. The rest of the flight went without problems, and we arrived in San Fran early in the California Afternoon. I deplaned and took an Air Force Blue Bus(just like the yellow school buses, except dark Air Force Blue in color), to Travis AFB outside the city.

After arriving at Travis from an interesting ride that took us past Candlestick Ball Park and the Hearst Castle, I began the processing part of my journey to "Nam"... then with that done, I was hearded on a commercial flight towards Hawaii where we ran towards the setting sun before landing at the Honolulu International Airport while it was still daylight. I thought to myself.."My first trip to the 50th State", that seemed a little exciting, but within a couple hours, after a beer in the lounge, I climbed aboard my final plane of the trip....a orange 707 jet from upstart Braniff International Airlines. Now, the trip got interesting...we soon headed across the International Dateline and it was July 1, 1969.

One notable difference between the Air Force and rest of the services when it came to being sent overseas, unlike the other services, we were sent as individuals and joined up with other individuals to form Squadrons, Flights, etc....much of the movement in the Army and Marines were as groups...I always arrived alone at my different stations....From Amarillo to Lackland, Dover, Nha Trang, Tan Son Nhut, and finally Griffiss AFB in Rome, New York. And for most of my 4 year tour, I served the same way. I did it my way....getting more hard headed and insulate as the time passed.

On the next post we will continue across the Pacific towards Vietnam____

back later>>>>

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photos-(1) June 30, 1969, me with mom in our front yard, as I was preparing to head for the Dayton, Ohio, Airport, on the first leg of my trip to Vietnam.(2)A view of the Hearst Castle outside San Francisco, the AF Bus passed this on the way to processing at Travis AFB.(3)Honolulu International Airport as it looked from the air in 1969(4)Orange was the color of my Braniff Airline plane that crossed the Pacific in the summer of 69...Braniff went under in 1984...but when it was in operation the made a name with their plane's loud colors, and the flight attendents bright outfits.

Wrapping up the Weekend...40 Years Ago Today

Spent the weekend, mostly at Convoy Crestview, umpiring with Sam, the Sectional Junior ACME Tournament{akin to High School Junior Varsity Baseball}. The heat and humidity Saturday was oppressive to say the least, our double header started at 11am and it was already hot by that time...Saturday night a front went through, we got no rain, but did pick up a strong west wind that stayed with us through out the games on Sunday, making the conditions much more bearable.

Now, check the forecast out on the top of this post....June 30th..69 degrees with Showers, July 1st 67 with a possible shower...when was the last time July was ushered in with a high in the 60s in Western Ohio?....I can't remember one, it will be a refreshing change, albeit a short one, from the past week of heat and humidity.

JackO and the Media____Especially Fox News

As one of my readers mentioned in her comments on Friday's Blog....What the Hell was Fox News doing covering Michael Freaking Jackson 24/7 after he assumed room temperature? The House of Representatives were passing{with 8 Republicans help} a massive Cap and Trade Bill, that if OKed by the Senate and His Majesty Obama, will send our Utility and Tax rates through the roofs...not that they are not already high beyond belief. Meanwhile the folks in Iran were being slaughtered by their Government while our Asshole-in-Chief Obama, was having a freaking Tiki Pork Roast at the White House, and Fox was covering Michael Freaking Jackson's death.....

Nice going Fox...NOT! I'm a Fox News fan, I can tell you though, with the country going to Hell in a hand basket, why are they covering wall-to wall Michael Freaking Jackson? I have no ideal what CNN, MSNBC, and the rest of the Liberal Obama lap dogs were covering, because frankly, they are so biased, they are not worth viewing....But Fox, the channel of most thinking Americans, drops the ball and covers Jackson's death the entire weekend.

40 years ago___

June 29, 1969, I was our drinking a few beers with Bob and Jerry Jones, and some other friends of mine...one last Hell raising night before my Vietnam send off....my memory may be a little cloudy, because the 29th was a Sunday, but I do know that last weekend saw plenty of suds downed. I knew what was coming(a Summer Trip to Vietnam), I just didn't know what was coming...I know that's pretty redundant, at least in reverse...but in short, I knew I was heading for Vietnam, but I really wasn't sure what to expect or exactly what I would be doing there.

So June 29th, 40 years ago was my last day before heading across the "pond"....June 30, 1969, was my sendoff day....tomorrow on this blog I will be posting my thoughts on that year as they happened. At least once or twice a week I will take a look at what I was doing 40 years ago. I didn't keep a Diary, but I did take a few photos{many of which I lost} and did plenty of reel-to-reel tapes....I will unlock what I can remember, starting tomorrow, and look back on that year, for the next year, on this blog.

Common Sense by Glenn Beck____

I purchased the audio version of the book last week at Wally World...I went back on Friday to get Patricia the written version of it, both audio and written, were completely sold out. Beck has another best seller on his hand. I spent my baseball runs to Lima and Convoy on Friday and the weekend listening to the book....Beck gets it right about 80% IMO. I guess my failure to give him a higher percentage of agreement is minor. Beck says a new Revolution in America in necessary, but that it must be done without violence, it has to be done by winning hearts and minds. I don't believe that it can be done....the American Media, and Education System is so far embedded with Socialists, Marxists, and Progressives, that we will never be able to change enough minds or take back our children and grandchildren from those that are ruining this once great Republic. It will take a real 1775 Revolution to take the country back...am I calling for one? Hell, I'm not that dumb...the Obamanation wants folks like me, and probably you, to call for an overthrow of them so they have a reason to come after us....I'm not going to call for that.

Beck gets most of it right, and the book, selling like Hot Cakes, is worth buying, sharing, and most of all, reading.

Tomorrow my look at my year in Vietnam begins....

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Photos-End of June, start of July, in the 60s??? I'll believe that when it happens. (2) Bob Jones and me, on the night of June 24, 1968...the night before I left for Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas for Basic Training...one year later both Bob and I would be in or getting ready to head for Vietnam, him on a boat in the South China Sea, me playing Air Force Cop at Nha Trang on the South China Sea. Note my skinny 130 pound self and the great outfit of the era, geeze, was I ever that little and able to fit into those size 30 waist, tight assed pants?....(3) My Audio copy of Glenn Beck's "Common Sense"...the books is selling 8 times it's nearest competitor in the first week.

It always happens in 3s...

Beat the heat and the rains last night at Lima...getting in the Lima Legion vs the Ohio State Lima Barons summer game....the temps were at around 97 with humidity to match when I arrived at the OSU field. There were thunderstorms north and east of town, but we stayed dry{well weather wise anyway} until the 2 hour contest finished up about 8pm...having the plate, with 20 pounds of gear, I sweated off more than my share of pounds.

After getting home around 9, the storms continued to pop up, Celina got missed by most, but we did get an overnight storm, and after a week of hot and dry weather, the rain was welcome...however it did little to alleviate the heat or humid conditions....back at 89 with plenty of sun today.

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and "The Glove"______

The old adage is "it always happens in 3s". Well in the case of Pop Icons, that is exactly what has happened this week. Now, don't get me wrong, the pop culture builds up average semi talented folks then loves to rip them down....I can't remember having any Pop worship, except maybe back in the 1950s and early 60s, when Baseball Great Mickey Mantle was my "hero"...talk about flawed human being...old Mick was that it turned out, but he was still the stuff heroes of the 1950s were made of.

Not so the 3 who died this week...let's take a quick look at them.

Ed McMahon was Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" sidekick, and "Star Search" host. Ed seemed like a likable enough guy, who did his job well. He played foil for Carson, and was the erstwhile host of several pre "American Idol" talent shows, including Star Search, which brought us, among other, Brittney Spears....and aren't we lucky for that? I don't think so. Ed lived a long life, dying at 86, but ended up on the verge of losing his house thanks to the Freddie, Fannie, and Barney Frank fiasco, before being "bailed out" by Donald Trump. A Hollywood Icon? Probably not.

Farrah Fawcett was made famous by a poster and a one season stint as one of the "Charlie's Angles" on ABC back in the mid 1970s. That and some battles with boy friend, abuser, and drug addict Ryan O'Neil...Farrah died yesterday after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 62. A Hollywood Icon...Hummm...No!

And then there is Michael Jackson...What can you say about the so-called "King of Pop"? Jackson came from a dysfunctional family out of the American Shithole called Gary, Indiana. Little Mike, and his brothers formed "The Jackson 5" back in the late 60s and 1970s. Michael went solo following that and had some great albums including "Bad" and "Thriller"....however for the past quarter century, he became a freak show. A black kid who wanted to be a white women it seemed, a media made him a freak without money or talent. I hope he finds peace in death, he could not have had any in the last half of his 50 years. A Hollywood Icon? Yep, but the folks that made him one, need to look in the mirror, because they are every bit as sick as the tortured soul known as Michael Jackson.

Three pop culture made people gone in the span of a couple of days...may they rest in peace. Were they important in my life? Hardly...didn't watch the Tonight Show, always thought Farrah was not the real babe of Charlie's Angles....she might have ranked 3rd of the 5 or 6 women who played the roles over the shows 5 season run...and Jackson, I didn't like the Jackson 5 music, but did think Thriller and Bad were pretty good....then came that putrid duo with Paul McCarthy..."Ebony and Ivory"...probably the worst recorded song in history, and after than Jackson and his music, went south.

Speaking of 3 I'd like to see gone_____

Well let's just say they probably all reside in Washington DC.....and rather than see them dead, I'd just like to see them gone...before they destroy the Republic....as for who are the 3? Pick any you care to, whoever you choose, the country would be better off.

Enjoy the weekend.....

ALERT! Cap and Trade is up for a vote today in the House....Call Your Congressman and say NO to out of control utility regulations>>>>>

back later>>>>>

Passing of Phil Lange 1932-2009

The Hot and Humid weather continues...kind of early for this type of weather, but I've seen it before in June. Today is scheduled to be the most brutal...93 for a high with the heat index nearing 100. Garry and I are scheduled for a ACME game at Crestview(Convoy) tonight...I've got the plate duties and it promises to be a warm one. I might have to have a few beers when I get home.

Phil Lange 1932-2009____

I posted a story back on May 1st about my old NCOIC{Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge} Phil Lange sending me some items from our time at Nha Trang:

http://patsdailyrant.blogspot.com/2009/05/phil-lange-gifts-from-nha-trang-rvn.html

At that time I did not realize just how serious Phil's health situation had become. I received an e-mail from Phil's son Paul about a week and a half ago to notify me that Phil's cancer had spread and that Hospice had been called in. Phil would spend his remaining time at home in New Hampshire with his wife, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, and family.

Paul had a request from his father for me....He would like to pay for me as a gift of friendship, a life time membership into the Vietnam Security Police Association{VSPA}:

http://www.vspa.com/

Phil and I had met up 30 years removed from Nha Trang, RVN, back in 1999 through the pages of the VSPA Bulletin Board:

http://www.voy.com/287/

I of course accepted the honor to go along with the gifts from Nha Trang that Phil had sent me back in late April.

It is with great sadness and honor that I report the death of AF Security Police retired veteran, New Hampshire college professor, and my friend, Phil Lange 1932-2009. Paul Lange informed me that his father and best friend had passed away peacefully last night at 7 o'clock in New Hampshire.

Paul has other items, photos, etc, that he needs to go through, along with the upcoming services in New Hampshire....I have other stories, and photos I will share on this blog later on.

May your journey have just began old friend...Good bye for now.

Phil Lange Life Member #154 VSPA gifts to Pat Houseworth Life Member #575...Thanks for everything Phil.

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Photos-the gifts from Nha Trang that my old boss with the 14th Security Police Association had sent me...QC(Crossed Pistols) Patch that Air Force SPs wore in Vietnam, A regulation Security Police/Air Police Badge from the 1960s, we wore these both stateside and in Vietnam, and a genuine flag from the South Vietnam Republic.

Random Photos of the Week

Sunny, hot, and humid for the week, but as they say, the breeze helps....sure it does. Been busy, and heading for another baseball game within the half hour. Here are some photos of this weeks activities:

Me with my Uncle Jack DeVore of Antwerp, Ohio, on Saturday night for the celebration of his 80th birthday...he had just played 18 holes of golf....

The Amish Crew has the roof done and the old chimney down...just the gutters and downspouts to go...then I can begin the painting process. Shoud be nice hot summer work....the South Vietnam Flag, the Air Force/RVAF QC patches, and the Air Police Shield that my former NCOIC Phil Lange sent me back in early May are now behind glass and matted and framed. More on Phil Later in the week. And finally Glenn Beck has come out with a new version of "Common Sense" based on the 200+ year old Thomas Paine novel. Beck's book sold more than 8 times any other new book that came out over the weekend....much to the gnashing of teeth in the Liberal Lame Brained Media I am sure....As for me, I don't read many books these day, just too time consuming, but I still love to listen to them on audio, thus at about twice the price, I picked up the "book" at Wally World that I can listen to while driving between games for the rest of the summer. Take that NY Times and MSNBC!

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