Sharing a photo

[Greydog]

This photo was taken in December 1967 in my friend's, Phillip DeMarco, and my hooch across the mountain from Cam Ranh Bay. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I think this captures the essence of our Vietnam Christmas!!!

Another friend of ours Mom sent him a roll of hard salami for Christmas and he hung it up in the hooch to "age" for about a month. We sliced it with my K-Bar on Christmas morning and that knife stunk until I departed in August 1968!!! It's a wonder we didn't all die from food poisoning!!

 

[tfdeputydawg]

God has a special blessing for the Peace Keepers!
Thank you for your service.
I lost 2 close friends over there.
I was in the next reserve unit to be called up when Pres Johnson announced we were going to start pulling out!
Not ashamed to admit, I kissed the ground, I did not want any part of Nam.
Dawg

 

[Greydog]

God has a special blessing for the Peace Keepers!
Thank you for your service.
I lost 2 close friends over there.
I was in the next reserve unit to be called up when Pres Johnson announced we were going to start pulling out!
Not ashamed to admit, I kissed the ground, I did not want any part of Nam.
Dawg

No thanks needed or expected Dawg....but you're welcome. My friend and I set that photo up to show the folks back home that Santa had brought us everything we needed....if not what we wanted. Dry boots, clean underwear, right guard, good whiskey and a faithful weapon!!! What more could a couple SeaBees ask for!!??? We did get a lot of "care packages" from family back home that really brightened things up a bit. It was really nice to share in some of our friends different cultures at Christmas. We had hillbillys (me) an Italian, Mexican, Native American, Cajun....you name it....quite a diverse group and I stay in touch with many of them still today!!!

 

[White Knight 04]

Great picture ...I same as Dawg lost friends over there and was and still am proud to say they were my friends I was in and out by the time we got serious about Nam .... I was very thankful for my bros in arms that served like you and fought for freedom ... But very sad for the way they were treated when they came home !!!! I will step down now from my soap box and thank you also for your service !!!!

 

[Saltywheels]

Grey, you're right that pic is worth a million words. I sailed on a 'merchant marine vessel' running..er I mean carrying 'commercial cargo' to Tonkin Bay etc. Neutral flag (Panama) & a strange mix of international crew. Our Skipper was a great big, ever smiling Dane, Chief Mate was a Liverpool Brit, I was the Navigator / 2nd Mate (Indian passport at the time). And the crew...lord help us! Friendly bunch...loved M-16s & to be impartial..AKs as well. Official story, till de-classified in 1979, was we were carrying grain or fertilizer. 4 trips, all on 'War Hazard Pay' which was 3 times regular salary. Signed-off in Singapore, reminded of our 'contract' & flown home. Mine was London at the time. The Brit company I was employed by, reminded me, that since I was on 'vacation' all that time, I wasn't entitled to additional time -off. In 1979-80 I got a brief Letter of Appreciation from the Secretary of the Navy for voluntary services rendered. Take care. Ghalib.

 

[Jerry Hobbit]

Greydog, I was In Country Sept 67 thru Sept 68, 44th Med. Spent some time in Cam Ranh & NaTrang, (8th Field Hospital). My son was 17 days old when I left for Nam. My wife sent me poloriad photos of my son every day. Of course the mail service back then was Slow.
Welcome Home Brother
Jerry Hobbit

 

[Nana]

That picture is priceless and precious, Greydog! Thank you for sharing it here.

May all of our veterans and all of our active military be safe and blessed this Christmas!!!! We love you all.

 

[skuuter]

GOOD STUFF Greydog.....THANKS...ThumbUp