Post Vietnam Reunion, Watching K-man, and Surgery Update....

We finished up the "mini" Vietnam Security Police reunion at Wright-Patterson, and Patricia and I drove home in the sunshine...temperatures reached a near record 70 by mid afternoon....thunderstorms overnight, followed by some sun and highs in the low 60s.....

The Reunion was, as usual, a good and relaxing time...30 of us in total attended for varying lengths of time, some for the entire weekend, some Friday night and Saturday, and some just for a few hours on Saturday at the Museum....

Saturday Night, Hal and Lisa headed to the Dayton Gems hockey game and we were able to watch Kasyn for about 5 hours, and got to spoil him with some of the other attendees at Packy's at the Hope Hotel...he was, as usual the most pleasant of grandsons....

Today, was my turn to watch the 3 1/2 month old "K-Man"....as it approached Noon, I received a call from the cardio doc's office in Lima, requesting that I accept a change in my surgery date.....I could move it forward, or back....both them and I preferred a move forward...so I did.  The surgery is now scheduled for my birthday, this coming Friday, March 16th....Happy Yappy 63rd BD!

The change screwed some things up as far as family schedules, my early baseball schedule and this weekends plans, including the baseball clinic that I was scheduled to work....oh' well, let's get the surgery over with, come out of it OK, and hopefully move on with the Spring and Summer.  I have to tell you, the pills, the wait, the changes, and uncertainty have grown boring over the past weeks....I am ready to move forward, and make what changes need to be made.

Dartball tonight, the All-Start game....for the 15th time in 18 seasons....then things get finished with the banquet next Monday....I hope to be healed enough by that time to attend...but will take it one step and day at a time.

back later>>>>

Photos-15 of the 17 "Sky Cops" who attended the Mini Reunion at Wright-Patterson...Kasyn, with us on Saturday night at the Hope Hotel looking forward to Chowing Down...but at 3 1/2 months, he has a ways to go....and the Defender Statue at the Air Force Museum grounds...always the gathering place for our reunions at Dayton, rain, snow, or shine!

A Little More Waiting, A Little More Vietnam....and a Little More Global Warming

First off check out the extended forecast for Grand Lake over the next 10 days....doesn't look much like Mid March, to say the least.  Sure we get an occasional warm day or two in March, here is West Central Ohio....but, like much of the Winter, this one is going to be much above normal....and as I've said many times before, "If this is Global Warming, I'm all for it"

With the exception of today, which will struggle, despite the sunshine, to get out of the 30s....the next nine days to follow, if the forecast is correct, looks to be 15 or so degrees above normal....We Will Take It!

Aftermath of the Visit to the Surgeon_____

Patricia and I headed over to Lima yesterday afternoon, for my first visit with the cardio surgeon.  I planned on a long wait, paper work, and sitting for a couple hours....I could not have been more wrong or pleased with that part of the visit.

With the paperwork and CDs of last weeks tests in hand, we waited no more than 5 minutes, were ushered back into the small room, a quick check of the Blood Pressure{as usual 50 points higher than at home, thanks to the "White Coat Syndrome"}, and the doc, who I was meeting for the first time, introduced himself, and got right to the point.

"Your left artery is 100% clogged, your right one is 85 to perhaps 90% the same...do you want to see the CT of your head and problems"?  "Sure, let's do it", was my response....the changes in Medical Imagery are something to behold, especially over the past decade.

"We want to operate soon" was the gist of the visit.  He talked about the procedure, the chances of failure/stroke and success, recovery time, and limitations....all things considered, I could not have been more pleased, except for the fact I will wait another 12 days before the operation.  I would have preferred it to be next week, but we will wait until March 20th.  Even with that,  I can expect, if all goes well, to be back in action within a week "or so"....and given that, although nothing in this life is a given, I have already got replacements for a few baseball games, giving them to Garry, and Sam, who will be home most of Spring break, from Ohio State, the week I will need for recovery.  Problem solved, now trying to stay calm and rested, without much working out, until March 20th.

The Next Vietnam Reunion is here______

With the surgery set, and on our way home, I had time to see what scrimmages and games I would initially have to "dump"...and also time to move forward with plans for this weekends "mini" Reunion at Wright-Patterson AFB, and the Air Force Museum near Dayton.  I coordinate this annual{well most years}event.

We just had the VSPA(Vietnam Security Police Association) annual meeting last October in Dayton...so I was not sure, when a few guys made the request, of how many would show for another get together in just 5 months time.  I guess I will find out tonight and tomorrow...but I suspect in total, with wives and family members included, we will have some 3 dozen or more....some will stay the weekend, but just as many{mostly local guys} will just come for tomorrow, and spend the day at the Air Force Museum, which is getting to be a great meeting place, especially for those of us, in and around the Midwest.

One of the guys who won't make it, Bill Harris, who was with us in October, gave me a call last night.   Bill spends most of his time in Vietnam these days, rotating days in Old Saigon{Ho Chi Minh City}, and his Vietnamese daughters beach house on Cam Rahn Bay....he called at 10am Friday Morning{10pm our time last night} asking me to tell everybody "Hello" from the sun kissed shores and 85 degree temperatures of CRB.  Bill, a stanch Conservative, about as far to the right as me, somehow lives and loves the life in Vietnam, I guess patriotism and Communism can coexist if needed....

Back with photos on Monday....later>>>>

Photos-Grand Lake and the marauding Canada Geese have not seen a March or winter like this in the 50 years since my family moved here from Florida in 1962....the Next 10 days look to continue the pattern, making you wonder just what is in store for us come April and May?  The Mini Reunion of Vietnam and Thailand Air Force Sky Cops this weekend in Dayton, looks to be a 'bit"warmer, than the one held in Sub-Zero Chill Factors back on January 31, 2009...thus the move to a more mild month and time.

 

Day of Decision....

The wind, warm temperatures, and sunshine of the past couple of days, was replaced overnight by the sound of thunder, more whipping winds, and rain against the upstairs bedroom windows.....and although the temperatures are warm at this early hour of 9am, the approaching cold front front will pass through by Noon, and the temps will fall off into the 40s.

Last night Garry and I headed for Van Wert...another in a long line of rules meetings for the upcoming baseball season...which frankly, for me at least, is now in limbo.  A week ago, I was trying to budget a couple of hundred dollars for the upcoming season, by deciding what new behind the plate mask I would buy, as well as some new pants and other accessories, and with the sports officials outfit scheduled to be at our meeting, I was ready to plunk down some cash...however, that all changed within a couple of days.

Day of Decision, coming up this afternoon_____

So last night, I purchased nothing, nor did I order anything for shipment...Why?  Pretty simple really, I am not sure if there will be a baseball season for me...and if there is, it may be just the summer ACME and Legion season...my spring baseball season, by far my favorite time and sport of the year, is in a holding pattern...this afternoon may indeed give me the answer, and I am prepared for the worst.

Patricia took off today, and we are getting ready to head out to the local Bob Evans Restaurant, once done with breakfast, I can get my paper work, CDs, and self in order for the road trip to Lima, for a 1:50pm appointment with my near future.  The cardio specialist will decide what I need done with the arteries in my neck...I am guessing surgery is coming, and coming soon.  So even with a warmer March than expected, it appears instead of a opening umpire gig at Lima Central Catholic on my 63rd birthday, March 16th, I more than likely be getting ready, or already have had surgery at Lima Memorial Hospital....

If this happens, I am facing at least six weeks off...maybe more, which would gut my Spring season, probably trash my tournament games, for this year and next, because of numbers needed, and basically put me behind the 8 ball, as I wind down my officiating career.   It is not something I care to have happen...but you need to face reality, and that I am trying to come to grips with that.

Basketball I, frankly, can live without, and would have no problem giving up if needed...baseball and football?  Not so much...so I will do and accept what needs to be done, and hopefully I can move forward....the one thing I don't plan on doing, if I can help it, is turn into a couch potato kind of person.  In all seriousness, I don't want to live that way.  I've been way too active, way too long.  I realize you cannot control all things in your life....but I plan on doing what I can to return to, or at least maintain what I have worked for, in the past dozen years.  After working at many jobs, in different places over my lifetime, I have found a niche...and I refuse to give it up without a fight.

At the meeting last night, I was nominated and elected, without opposition, as President-Elect of the 75 member association...if I continue, which I plan on regardless of today's decision, I would assume the mostly ceremonial position beginning in 2014...as I turn 65...hopefully I will still be kicking and umpiring come that date...but God is in charge of that, I'm just along for the ride.

If, after the appointment today, I find out any surgery or procedure is put off until next week, Patricia and I will prepare for the "Mini" Vietnam Reunion, which begins tomorrow in Dayton.....I'll be back later today, or in the morning to report on that.

back later>>>>

Super Tuesday Has Arrived!

I sit here this morning, basically, a full day for me ahead...those have been rare of late, and frankly I am sick and tired of waiting around for appointments and doctor's visits, that a week ago would have seemed far fetched.  I've given the birds and back yard Squirrels their daily ration of feed, seed, and corn...took the first rounds of meds{that I spread out over a 12 hour period}...checked the blood pressure, which this morning is a ridiculous{for me) low of  105/60 with a pulse of 52 beats per minute...thinking to myself, "How low is too low"?  For somebody with hypertension, so they say....I am not a happy camper.  A month ago, I went back to get my low dose blood pressure medicine prescription filled....and now this is where I stand.

Double dose of BP Meds, and extra BP pill, back to Zocor, and add a large dose of the cholesterol and blood thinning Plavix...I have not worked out in a week, and quite frankly half the time I feel in a fog...a month ago, even 10 days ago, I was the healthiest feeling soon-to-be 63 year old you are going to find....and now this is where I stand.  Well Thursday I should have some answers, and most likely an appointment for surgery on those neck arteries than seem problematical.  Meanwhile I am not weight lifting, not tread milling, and it's been 10 days since I ran up and down the basketball court.  So after a fall of football and a winter of basketball officiating...and now, not knowing if I will have to push back my baseball umpire schedule,  this is where I stand?  Needless to say, I am not a happy camper.  This sedentary lifestyle is not me.

For now I will abide by the requests....Hell with taking meds, I'm hardly touching a beer....so you know, I am not enjoying this at all....

It all reminds me of my bartending days, back in my 20s.....older customers{my age now}, would come in and bitch about the things doctors had told them they couldn't or shouldn't do....I would look at them and think..."What the Hell man, you are 60 something, why would you give a shit, and listen to what they say?, live your life, you only go around once...go out doing what you enjoy"...That's what I said then....it's what I think now...but somehow, for some reason, I am not following my own belief system....It's called reality, I guess....maybe after Thursday and the next round of appointments, I will grow my set back....and live my belief system....meanwhile this is what I have on my plate.

Super Tuesday.....Ohio is the "Heart of it All"

For 40 years or so, The Buckeye State, has had this hokey motto.."Ohio, The Heart of It All".   The reason is simple, Ohio is in the "heartland" and basically shaped like a Heart.  Today, it appears we are the "Heart of it All", politically speaking.  Super Tuesday is here, and despite Georgia having more Republican delegates{even though Ohio has a larger population}, Ohio is the crown jewel...basically because without Ohio, the Republicans don't win the White House...they never have, and probably will not this year.  That doesn't mean with Ohio, the GOP will necessarily win the Presidency over the Kenyan Assclown, but without The Buckeye State they will surely lose.

http://news.yahoo.com/not-super-tuesday-094500389.html 

So this morning, Patricia has already voted, before heading to work, I will head to the polling place, and cast my votes...Rick Santorum for President, however it appears that Mitt Romney may close out a robo phone bank fuled win here, but it will be close.  Regardless, the primary season will continue, and Obama will continue to destroy the nation and Republic until he is stopped...and frankly it make take more than this election to stop a foreign born, interloping Marxist, who has the power of jack boots and the lap dog press at his back.

So, here in the Conservative heartland of northwest Ohio, with Boehner and Latta as our Congressman, I suspect Santorum will win easily,  however, in the bergs of the larger cities, such as Cleveland and Columbus,were chickshit liberals and moderates, who call themselves Republicans {see RINOs}  live...Romney may have enough votes to swing Ohio his way

The game will continue to be played out after this "Super Tuesday", and while Conservatives and Republicans, battle to see who will become Obama's sacrifice come November, the self  and media appointed King of America, who in reality, is nothing more than a a half breed, half ass, half witted, son of a Kansas whore and a African Muslim, will continue to secure cash and power, in his attempt to overthrow the once great nation.  Our founding fathers are surely spinning in their collective graves, or trying to dig themselves out, no doubt disgusted with what has happened to the country they founded, so many years ago.

So for me today, it's vote, then off to the Hospital and Doc office to pick up CDs of my tests from last week...then perhaps to the license bureau, to renew my driver's license, which expire on next week's birthday.  Make an appointment for the aging Airedale, Reagan, to be kenneled for the weekend, in hopes that I will be ready to attend the Vietnam mini reunion for Air Force Sky Cops that I am coordinating at The Air Force Museum in Dayton, come Friday.....stay tuned.

back with more later>>>>>

"Running On Empty"....another Vietnam Reunion beckons

"Running On Empty"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJYRtOPUonA 

And the "Summer of 69"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg 

The songs above are two of my favorites...great beats and lyrics....not a big fan of Jackson Browne and his left wing politics to say the least, but I always try to separate the actor or musician from their politics, if they are good....if they suck, then I'm not going to watch or listen to them anyway, and for sure won't spend a dime to buy or watch their products.

One of the reason I like both of these songs is they take me back to my days when the future, while not clear or defined, was definitely ahead of me...if I could manage to survive what lay ahead.  Also the year 1969 was prominent in both....that was the year I went to Vietnam, and like no other, the pre Vietnam tour and the post Vietnam days were the dividing line in my life.  No, not because I had some soul revival, or saw the world differently, but because I was 20 years old....and like Bryan Adams and Browne, the world was coming into focus, and what I believed in was slowly but surely in my forward looking view....both politically and socially...it would take a few more years of raising Hell, but at least by this time I was understanding what I thought life was all about.

Another Vietnam Reunion______

The past couple of years have seen more and more get togethers with fellow Vietnam Veterans, not only those Sky Cops from my Air Force Vietnam Days, but grunts, ground pounders, and squids, from those days as well, guys I have met at the past couple of Kokomo Reunions...

As I have stated on here many times in the past 4 and 1/2 years of postings...I was not a gung ho type military guy....I despised the Air Force and it's rules, regulations, as well as the spit and polish of the Security Police field...which is why I was much better off working Security as opposed to Law Enforcement, they could hide me there, and I could lay much lower in the boondocks frequented by Security than I could ever do in LE.  This makes it all the more strange that my favorite time in the Air Force was the 6 month stint working Law Enforcement, daylight shift to boot, at Nha Trang, RVN.  I was lucky enough to have a solid NCOIC, the late Phil Lange, and a good shift boss in Staff Sgt Melvin Sloan...they kept me out of the brass asses way, and allowed me to live my life and work within the rules laid down, without giving much in return.

Once I headed south to Tan Son Nhut....I was once again in Security, but at night, working 8pm to 6am....I could pretty much hide, whether it be in the bunkers, flightlines, towers, or the beverage and food patrol I ran with Blue Flight the last 3 months of my tour there...when I was discharged at Griffiss AFB in upstate New York in May 1972, I am not sure who was happier...me or the AF brass who were more than happy to see my leave, Buck sargent stripes and all....May 5, 1972, the day I walked out of the gate, was, to that point, the happiest day of my life.

Times change however, and now, some 40 years and more later...I embrace the time I spent in service...no, it doesn't make me wax nostalgic and want to live those days again...I still hate the military life and rules, but I have gained a greater appreciation for those of us, most who would not have joined, if not for the draft coming after us.  It is with that in mind, I really enjoy, and I believe Patrica does as well, these get togethers we have.....with another one coming up in Dayton.

March 9th through 11th_____Hope Hotel

Just 5 months out from our VSPA Reunion in Dayton, which attracted some 200 or more guests, I am in the process of setting up another "Mini" Reunion back at Dayton and Wright-Patterson.  We last met two years ago at the Hope Hotel on base, after skipping a year because of the main reunion in Dayton last fall.   We have decided to toss another party this March.  How many will show, I do not know....but Patricia and I, along with at least Sam and Ruth Lewis from Virginia, and Doug Davis from Michigan will be there, as will others I am sure....once again we will down a few cold ones, break some bread, and let the BS fly.   As our numbers dwindle, these meetings become all the more important, before we all have faded away.

back later>>>>

Photos-The Defender Fortis Statue at the Air Force Museum is our usual meeting, greeting, and photo shooting stop at each of our Dayton Reunions....I doubt if I ever looked that sharp, spit, and polished, as that dude does.....Wayne Dezarn, shown with me at the statue, the late Larry Dotson, Mike Tillman, Rick Adams, my son Sam, and I held the first mini reunion at the museum for a few hours back in February 2007....the next two photos are from the frozen reunion in January 2009, and a bit warmer view from March 2010, inside the museum.  And these next two show my Nha Trang buddy Harry Bevan{right} and me...first in "That Summer of 69" then seeing each other for the first time in nearly 43 years at the Dayton Reunion last October...

Dogs of War.....Vietnam to Afghanistan

More winter-like weather is here, but even that is not supposed to be anything severe, or to even stick around for any length of time...rain by Monday, and mid to upper 40s by the middle of next week.  On average Saturday is not only the day of the shortest amount of daylight in this part of the world, it is also on average the coldest day of the year...meaning, beginning Monday, the average high and low temperatures will start to rise...the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel{winter}.  I can't say I won't be happy for warmer temperatures, but as mild, as opposed to the dire predictions, as this winter has been, without much snow, I cannot complain so far.  Love me some Global Warming!

Less than two months away from my first baseball scrimmage umpire gig, and my schedule for the coming spring season, is pretty well full....topping it off yesterday contracting for a March 31st Triple Header{weather permitting} at Delphos St. Johns on that Saturday.  Meanwhile, with three of the last four days off, I am back to basketball tonight with a girls JH double at Crestview, tomorrow north to Columbus Grove for a JV boys game, and finishing off the weekend with a morning 7th grade tournament double at Wayne Trace.

The Dogs of War_____

 Being a member of the Air Force Security Police from 1968-72, I had a chance to see the working dogs of war, especially during my time at Tan Son Nhut in 1970, working both perimeter security and the Blue Flight protection of the inner workings of that largest of Air Bases in Vietnam during the war.

When assigned to SP School at Lackland AFB, Texas, in the summer of 1968, we were given the opportunity to be dog handlers, and even though my family had always had dogs, from Coon Hounds, to Airedales, to toy types, to mutts of all varieties, I wasn't inclined to be a dog handler.  One main reason, I knew where dog folks ended up....that would be Vietnam, working the outer and inner crevices of bases such as Nha Trang and TSN...if I was going there, and I did, I wanted to be in a somewhat safe location...dog handlers did not get those "perks".  Being an Air Force SP Dog Handler was among the most dangerous of duties one could draw in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.

The regular Sky Cops, both Law Enforcement and Security didn't hang around the puppy patrol guys much during the war, they were their own click, and any conversation we might have had, was usually reserved for my time on Jeep patrol, when I would stop and give the handler a cup of coffee...from what I remember, the dogs provided better conversation, than many of the handlers.


fast forward to 1999 the VSPA____

When I found and joined the Vietnam Security Police Association, I noticed that many of the members, and most of the founders of the organization were from that group of Dog Handlers at Tan Son Nhut and other bases in Vietnam....and to this day, 13 years later, they are still the heart and soul of the VSPA.  John Langley, who signed me up, Phil Savage, and Doug Davis, are among the former handlers that I consider friends, even though we never met until after Vietnam, and see each other only on occasion at Dayton or Kokomo, during reunions.  Yesterday I received an e-mail from Doug concerning the hotel accommodations for this March and our annual Mini-Reunion at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton.....while we were exchanging e-mails he sent me a short video and photos of Remmy.

Here is the e-mail I received, along with photos and a short video of Remmy, from Doug Davis:

"Don’t forget to mention that these Retired Military Working Dogs and Contractor Dogs are available for adoption.

I didn’t have a dog until November 08 since I got out in September 70. My last dog was 831F Bullet at WPAFB 6-69 to 9-70. (Mike M401 6-67 to 2-68 Lackland (dog school)  & SJAFB- Smoke 978X Phu Cat 3-68 to 3-69)

November 08 we got Ringo C261 and had him until 2-11. (unfortunately we had to put him down due to illness) In 6-11 we got contractor dog Remmy. These two dogs have changed our life. They give so much to families with their hearts. Both dogs have at least 100+ friends because we take them everywhere and tell the story about their duty.

These dogs are so happy to be free and able to roam in the house and not be stuck in a run. Most dogs are in a run six months before they end up with their family from adoption. Like anyone, freedom is a big deal and they show it after reaching a home". 

Doug     

 When meeting men like Doug, Phil, and John, you realize that even though it has been 40-45 years since they were Air Force Dog Handlers, they never really stopped being one.  They remember the dogs they trained and handled during the war years, even for a short time(usually less than one year), they never stopped remembering those days and dogs....

Frankly the dogs from Vietnam were treated like shit when it was time to retire them, not by the handlers, but by the Military and the US Government....the same so called "leaders" that treated the men of war like crap, treated the dogs that saved many a life, like so much disposable garbage...just one more reason I have no respect for military authority, or our Government...but most of my regular readers know my thoughts on those, so I will move on....here now is a video of Remmy in the war zone.....

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x255/garacer/?action=view&current=OEFIV064.mp4 

The cousins of the Vietnam dogs of war are now treated much better than those of my era....and by chance if you would like to give one a home.....I am sure Doug will be glad to help you....e-mail here{no spam please}:

dedavis@charter.net 

Contact Doug if you are interested in helping out one of these heroes of war.

Photos-"Remmy" in Michigan this past fall, and Remmy in Afghanistan  Doug at the Dayton Reunion last fall, and with Remmy shortly thereafter in Michigan, and Remmy with his American Contractor handler in the Afghanistan front.

Winding down 2011.....Here comes 2012 part #3/Marathon Man

Marathon Man....

 Four games yesterday, four full basketball games officiated....after games Tuesday and Wednesday, with a wrap up game for the year tonight....yesterday, with two Girls JV games at the Holiday Tournament at Parkway High School, and a full house in the small gym at Wayne Trace for a Junior High Boys double header, I was ready to rest my tired butt and legs, with a couple of cold ones last night... and still feel it this morning.  I won't do that much more...yesterday was an accident, having not have the second set of games posted on-line.  But I got through them, and after a Freshman Boys contest at Minster this afternoon, I can relax over the New Year weekend.

The weather remains mild for late December....a front rolled through this morning about daybreak, and deposited another batch of unwelcome rain...still less than an inch of snow so far on the season...and with each passing day, we get closer to Spring....just 83 days to go!  With this coming year being a Leap Year and all.

2011 in Review, part #3____

As the summer of this year passed into early fall, several milestones occurred.  The highlight, at least for me, in September and October, were the Vietnam reunions, and a chance to see some guys that I had not tossed a drink back in over 40 years.

The first reunion was the annual Howard County Indiana/Kokomo Vietnam Reunion and camp out....4 or 5 thousand campers and hotel staying Vietnam Veterans, family, and friends, get together each mid September, for a chance to tell war stories, down some friendly Moonshine, listen to music, eat, and just have a damn good time.   2011 was my first {it been going on for 30 years or so}, but only spent 24 hours...this time I stayed for 2 nights and 3 days.  In 2012 I plan on driving over the 85 miles for the June mini-reunion, and then again for a longer stay in September.  

September was a full month, in addition to the Kokomo gig, I worked a full set of youth, Junior High, and High School football, both at the JV and Varsity level....I stayed busy, usually working football 6 days a week.  As October approached, the weather stayed "summer-like" and it was indeed perfect as the annual Vietnam Security Police Association Reunion took place from October 5th through 9th....this year Dayton and Wright Patterson AFB was the site, and Patricia and I headed down for most of the activities.

This year was different...in addition to old friends that I had met through VSPA, like Sam Lewis, Dave Ramey, and Jackie Kays....I hooked up with guys like Harry Bevan and Tony Niemotka, who I was stationed with at Nha Trang Air Base in Vietnam in 1969....42 years later, we were still kicking...it was a great reunion.

As October cooled off, I worked one final Varsity game in Football...traveling with a crew that I fill in on, all the way to Ironton, some 225 miles from Celina...to work a game at their classic old semi-pro football stadium, in the rain and mud....that night was the same night as it turns out, that the St. Louis Cardinals topped off their meracules turn around from early season woes to win the World Series....I still hate the Cards!   November would usher in the arrival of our first grandchild, Kasyn, and the holiday season....more on that tomorrow, with a final look at 2011.

back later>>>> 



Below-Members of VSPA from Nha Trang....Sky Cops from Security and Law Enforcement from 1968-1970

 < Sam at Ruth Lewis at the final Banquet on Saturday Night....they left for Virgina shortly after the banquet...Patricia and I headed

From the Top....Pat Houseworth and Harry Bevan at Dayton, and the before shot with me and Harry at Nha Trang in 1969...from Kokomo in September, Houseworth, VSPA photographer, Tony Morris, Sam Lewis, Tom McCandless, and "Sweety Pie"...Beven, Houseworth and Tony Niemotka at the Banquet in Dayton, and Tony in 1969 at the Nha Trang Main Gate,

Seems I've freaked out Blogger with all the photos...so here we go with descriptions of the rest: After the Sam and Ruth Lewis photo, from Dayton we have Doug Davis at the Banquet, Howard Yates with Bagpipes in hand at the Statue Bench Dedication, A portion of the attendees at the park dedication, old Sky Cops, Mike Tillman and Rich Adams, who started the first Dayton Mini Reunion back on 2007, me and old Scott, Ohio Alumi, Bill Marshall....Bill's mom and my Grandma Houseworth were best of friends back in the age of innocents, from the 1940s and 50s....and finally from Kokomo, Sky Cops from Vietnam, Houseworth, McCandless, Lewis, and John Langley, a Tan Son Nhut K9er, who got the VSPA started, John lives in my old hometown of Venice, Florida.

Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Processing the Memories, or lack of...part 3

After a quick basketball scrimmage at Delphos Jefferson Middle School on Saturday morning, I basically spent the weekend watching football....both Ohio State, who really sucks this season, and the better than expected Bengals, lost close games.  In addition to the basketball work Saturday, I did do some weight lifting and managed to get a 40 minute walk in yesterday.  Other than than, except for an occasion run out of the house to usual destinations, Patricia, Anissa, and I, spent the weekend around the homestead.  Pat began making her batches of Christmas cookies, although she vows not to make as many this season...good by me, it's hard enough to keep the 30 pounds I have lost over the past couple of years off, without that temptation.

Still no Grandson in site just yet...the official due date is November 28th, but Hal and Lisa thought Kaysn would come early...that doesn't appear to be the plan that he has however.  As of now, he's still not ready to come out, but we do plan on heading down to Centerville, with Sam coming from Columbus, and fix Thanksgiving Dinner for them.  A change over the past years....unless the baby decides to come before then.

Tan Son Nhut a final look(for now)_____

On Friday's blog, I presented a list of names from my tour at Nha Trang, names and faces I remember vividly.  Since Vietnam,  I have hooked up with some of those guys, some have passed, and others remain lost in time and space.  The same can be said for Dover, where I was from the fall of 68 until my Vietnam Vacation which began on 30 June 1969, and my final Air Force stay at Griffiss in upstate New York, from August 1970, until my quickie discharge in May 1972.  Names and faces are clear as a bell, even now, 40 and more years later....but as for Tan Son Nhut, not so much.

When I started thinking about Vietnam back in 1999, 30 years after the tour began, the memories, faces, names, and places from Nha Trang came flooding back.  From the flight out of TSN to Nha Trang, to the day I got my orders to return to Saigon and the 377th.  I wish now I had kept a complete diary of the time I was there, because although I remember many things from my 6 months at Tan Son Nhut, the names, almost all, are gone from my memory banks.

My drill instructor{TI in the Air Force, for Technical Instructor} from Basic Training at Amarillo, in the summer of 1968, Joe Prokop picked me up at the airport, but Joe would be on B flight, so I only saw him a time or two before he headed back to the states.  My buddy Aceavedo, a Hispanic from Texas, and I spent much time in downtown Saigon, in the bars and brothels together, but I don't remember his first name...we had Tuesdays off, so we spent a boat load of time together.  My cube mate in the barracks, was another Hispanic, a great guy, but frankly, although I remember his face, I cannot remember his name, Martinez? Manuel? Hell I just cannot recall....other names are completely forgotten, although I did connect with one guy through VSPA that I had worked with...but everybody knew Chris Godfrey, although I really didn't know or remember his name, we just called him "Surfer Joe".  Chris, from California, spent 4 of his 6 years at Tan Son Nhut working Security...and is a member of the VSPA...he saw a lot of faces come and go during his tour. I salute him for sticking it out that long, I only wish I had done my final two years there as well, although as I mentioned on a previous post, sometimes you don't know what would have happened, if you had stayed...I am happy with the way things worked out in the long run.

So there is my block or 'brain freeze" when it comes to Tan Son Nhut....I just don't remember the names...not sure why...maybe it was working nights, or having a bout of insomnia.  During that spell, I would get off duty on C Flight, first in Echo Sector, then with Blue Patrol, head to the NCO Club, and try to drink myself to sleep...it seldom worked...I battled the lack of sleep for at least 2 months, finally after returning from my R&R in mid April, and managed to get back to some semblance of normal sleep.

Hawaii April 1970_____

I'm really not sure why I choose to take my R&R in Hawaii?  Most of the guys who were not married, went to Australia, Hong Kong, or some other southeast Asia location...the married guys were hooking up with their wives in Hawaii.  Regardless, I headed out to Honolulu, and as luck would have it, another guy, unmarried, from Army Artillary, Denny Moneypenny, from West Virginia, was seated next to me.  Now, for some reason, I remember his name, clear as a bell.  Denny and I decided to save ourselves some bucks, and would share a room at a off beach hotel called the Kalakaun, we rented a car for the 5 days, and toured the Island, either together or on our own.  We hit the local bars at night, but pretty much went our own way most of the trip, especially during the daylight...each searching on our own, for whatever we were looking for...{insert obvious conquest attempts here}.  

On our final morning, before jumping on that 707 back to Saigon, we grabbed a cab, from an outfit called "Love Cab Company".  A "Hippy Dude" was our driver of the flower power Chevy, he took one look at us and asked "You guys heading back to Nam"?  Answering the affirmative, he opened his dash pocket, where a jar of small rolled joints was stashed....he fired one up, and we proceeded to smoke it on the way to Honolulu International....topping off that R&R, I slept most of the way, or at least a good portion, back to Tan Son Nhut, where I would face about 10 more weeks of duty.

The Final Days____

The next two and one half months rolled by, me and "Ace" continued to spend our Tuesday off days downtown...sure I had some concerns about safety, but I knew life would not be the same when I returned to the states, and wanted to do as much living as I could muster when in Saigon.  

With my insomnia clearing up{I think}, I would get my 5 or 6 hours sleep in, until the sun and heat would wake me....most days, I would head to the outdoor swimming pool, working on my tan, so I could at least look like I was in a tropical location when I returned home for my 39 day leave{30 days plus 9 days allotted travel time}....when 29 June 1970 arrived, I was ready to return home, sure I had my doubts, well founded, about serving 20 months in the USA, but I was ready to come home.....

I have no regrets about my service in Vietnam....no gung ho war hero am I, no draft dodging coward either, just somewhere in-between, someone who has no doubts about my service there, and I don't worry what people think of those of us who served....those that continue to dis us for our service, and those, now some 40 years later, who claim to praise us today, while when we were there protested us, do you hear me Bill Clinton and Company?  Can kiss my ass!

back later>>>>

Photos-top left...the only piece of the self-serving "Award" I received for my duty with the "Blue Patrol"...from March 24 through my late June 1970 final days at Tan Son Nhut...The Terminal at Tan Son Nhut....I traveled out and arrived here on more than one occasion.  The Monsoon Rains come down on our Barracks Compound 1300... On the Beach at Waikiki,  The Kalakauan Hotel, where I spent my five day R&R in Hawaii....and finally, getting ready to leave the Honolulu Airport and return for my final couple of months at Tan Son Nhut.

Tan Son Nhut Memories, or lack of....part 2

As I headed out for my daily walk around the fairgrounds yesterday, after my weight lifting session, I realized that I would be needing a bit more clothing than I have in the past....so I donned my winter coat with "hoodie" attached.  The wind was whipping pretty strong from the southwest, and the temperature was in the mid to upper 30s, that would be the high for the day.  Today, and again tomorrow, it will be just as windy, coming out of the southwest at 25 mph or so, but temperatures will moderate, reaching the upper 40s today, and mid 50s tomorrow.

Tonight and tomorrow the Regional finals in High School football will be played.  Garry is still officiating, working the Backjudge spot at Wapakoneta tonight as WBL's Elida takes on one of the Columbus teams...due to Elida being in the playoffs, my Varsity girls scrimmage at Lincolnview has been canceled....tomorrow I have a Junior High scrimmage at Delphos Jefferson...taking next week off in anticipation of Thanksgiving, and the possibility of Grandson #1 being born...so far however, Kaysn is refusing to be rushed out into the world.

Tan Son Nhut part 2

I mentioned yesterday that my days and months at Tan Son Nhut, were completely different than those at Nha Trang.  At my first duty station, Nha Trang, I was situated on the South China Sea, we had a beach, and I worked day flight Law Enforcement... the 14th SPS was a small squadron, among the smallest, especially compared to what I would see at Tan Son Nhut.  I believe we had no more than a dozen of us working each shift, and perhaps, if you included Security and K9 handlers, maybe 75 or 80 Sky Cops at one time, on the base.  Also I remember many of the guys I worked with, and their names....Bevan, Claflin, Payan, Niemotka,Thompson, Walsh, Sloan, Lange, and others, and many of those I still have contact with today.  Fast forward to Saigon:

When I arrived at Tan Son Nhut on December 27, 1969, it was a completely different world...same country, still in the Air Force, still a cop,  but the location and duty were completely different.  Once I got situated in the 1300 compound, I walked over to the 377th SPS HQ and processed in.   It pretty much was a blur after that...I was assigned to C Flight Security with as many people as comprised our entire squadron with the 14th at Nha Trang...I ended up working mostly ECHO Sector.  My first night on duty was December 30th/31st and I {although I didn't know the history at the time} was placed at the infamous Bunker O51 location..."51" although rebuilt, was ground zero for the Tet Offensive nearly two years earlier, on the night and morning of 30/31 January 1968.  Four SPs lost their lives that night on that bunker, dozens of NVA and Viet Cong also lost theirs during the assault. 

Of course if you read news accounts of the day, or listened to the American Idiot Walter Cronkite, tell the world that we had lost the war, you would think TET was the American "Waterloo"...in reality, at Tan Son Nhut, and throughout Vietnam, the Americans and their South Vietnamese allies kicked the crap out of Charlie and the north...but of course in the minds of the haters of America, like Uncle Walter and the rabid left, that would never do....so they lied, and the suckers back home bought it, hook, line, and sinker.


After that first night at the new Bunker 051, I do not remember manning it again.  I would spend the next 3 months or so, working mostly the towers in Echo Sector, on occasion I would work foot patrol around the flight line and the LOX{liquid oxygen} Plant.  Then in March 1970, a new flight was formed...It was to be officially named "Resource Protection" or unofficially "Blue Patrol".  We were a small group of mostly trouble makers, long hairs, and guys they wanted to keep away from the inspecting eyes of superiors that liked "spit and polish", the men of Blue Patrol, were anything but spit and polish.

I would work the first week walking the building areas of the inner base..."protecting" the huge base from thieves both military and civilian....then, being one of the few NCO types, a  Buck Sargent, with time in country, but little left, I was assigned the Coffee Wagon.  I, armed with my M16 and .38 Smith and Wesson side arm, would drive that Jeep around for eight hours in the dark and make sure the dozen or so other Blue Patrol guys were awake, BSing with them, giving them coffee, fruit, milk, or a smoke...it was a great way to finish off my duty in Vietnam.  First however, I would take R&R in Hawaii...that, and more Tan Son Nhut, in Part 3, coming on the next post.


back later>>>>

Photos-Me, on typical duty at Nha Trang, before heading to Tan Son Nhut...The firefight at Bunker 51 with Tango Tower 4 in the background.  Bunker 0-51 in it's better days, before the attack of TET...Who Won the TET Offensive?  Not this group of VC who met their maker at the hands of the Security Police and Army at Tan Son Nhut on 31 January 68.  And finally the map of Tan Son Nhut the day following TET....Bunker 51 is located on the Western Perimeter of the base.

  {First photo is from my collection, the others, in order, ASIS International, TSNA, TSNA, and VSPA, with my appreciation}