first off: I wasn't there...my hat is off to all of the helo drivers and crew (including medics) in DustOff; I'm certain it's one thing to be there when the shit hits the fan and a whole 'nother thing to fly in while/after the fecal dispersal (I'll never know if I woulda made the grade)...i was in the last class of combat medics to send any grads to VNam; five of our class volunteered (3 came back)... ended up at FtGordon and as a 91F (yeah, I know the MOS structure went through some changes a while back)...did my hitch then went Navy HM (planning to go to Nursing School)...nursing program cancelled after I went back so ended up 8485 and eventually 8404 after shore time at Bethesda...curiously, was in a hard landing in a Huey at CampPen in '79 training for 8404 (back still hurts)...while Vet's day (Armistice Day) means something I'm sure, Memorial Day is more important to me...wouldn't be posting tonight except after seeing this particular OP...ok, 'nuff said...now trying to recover from the week's events. OSD

Our rifle platoon Docs/medics were aces thankfully my time was all peaceful.
Shooting the breeze conversation drinking beer with former Huey pilot years ago down at Bragg.
One day on his tour he was shot down they got picked up and they went back climbed into another bird.

I was told by him they inserted our people and it ended up bad L.Z. NVA 12.7 dropped his bird as they were flying gun runs.
His fellow pilot refused to be treated for light wound and flew again on that day second bird why dedication our people were in trouble on the ground.

And I had a senior NCO First Sgt who was a gunner on little bird survived a tour flying on loaches once over alcohol and BBQ chicken First Sgt great top loved to cookout and BBQ for his troops.

This was on if I remember certain iron we called it certain rust FTX West Germany maybe Winter 86 up near Czech border close to the city Mark Treadawitz. I caught PCS broke ankle down Bragg ended up in mech rifle company West Germany . Anyhow we’re supposed covering the T.O.E. Platoon watching a valley for the OP4.

It was snowing and dark and top pulls up in his deuce and a half with his driver and chicken they grilled and two beers each per man.
Anyhow drinking licher beer and eating hot chicken standing next to our 113 two little birds come buzzing up the valley snowy night we were on over watch and that’s how I learned top was loach gunner on tour Vietnam.

Studs everyone of those men you know today when i see an old dude wearing Vietnam vet hat i don’t think elderly gentleman.
I think dude survived what a bad ass.