The gunner on that Shadow was our own FlyBoyFlem. Today these arrived. I can't express how having these cases in my hand makes me feel. Thanks for saving our asses that night Woody!!!
Band of brothers my friend.
If something on the internet makes you angry the odds are you're being manipulated
I am glad you made it. I was a door gunner on the first mini gun Huey the 4th Div got. I can still hear the roar. No sound like except for maybe a chain gun on a Warthog. When I can find some Beie 33 I will raise a glass. I have fired a 45/70 Gatling, big fun. D1 1/10 4th Inf 66-67
Great thread.....ET, just imagine if they made those Gatling guns in .45-110
Steve
45-70 is nice, but on the Gunships and other fighters we have Gatlings that spew 20 and 30 MM at 4>6K per minute and have High Explosive Incendiary and Armor piercing Heads. There is nothing prettier than watching a 20mm Vulcan do it's thing.
Lots of NVA truck drivers retired on account of them.
Thanks to all of you guys. The repayment however has been made (for me anyways) in the gracious manner that our little Brothers now get when they come home from War. Figuring out what the connect with Woody was came as a result of him mentioning Phu Cat AB and his assignment and time. He said (as have a few other plane and chopper boys) that a really harsh ground battle viewed from the air is like looking into Hell through the front gate. Pretty accurate description but the missing pieces were the sound and the stench. Those just defy description. You have to understand just how close we actually worked Woody's gunship in ONCE WE HAD RADIO CONTACT. Luke da Gook was really really close. He did that so we couldn't use artillery or rockets on him. We lived in the world of "DANGER CLOSE". Guys like Woody had big balls because the gooks had some impressive superheavy AA machineguns and would pop RPG's at a ship. Cobras had the same risks as they came in even closer on demand. The door to history got opened today by those cases and letting you guys know what an Infantrymans world was like seemed timely Thanks again all yo (now) drunks!!!!
Be afraid,be VERY VERY afraid ad triarios redisse My Buddy eh76 speaks authentic Frontier Gibberish!
Great post and story. Hats off to you guys. My father who was in the Air Force and loaded bombs on planes always had great respect for those who actually fought. If he was still with us and it was back in his drinking days he would raise a toast to you all. Thanks for giving me a good story on one of the crappier nights ive had in a while.
I've always been different with one foot over the line.....
My tanks also, oops that's thanks Haven't indulged this muuch for somw time but well worth it.I KNOW there are many more of you out there who have been through it and I know who many of you are..my last one of the evening goes out to YOU guys and I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE !! Have a great evening,God Bless...Woody
You better be afraid of a ghost!!
"Woody you were baptized in prop wash"..crossfireoops
perimeter.Tommy"Sunshine" Scanlon yelled out we're [bleep]!!! I yelled at Sims to jump on the rock and shuck and jive. He said I wuz outta my friggin mind. I said Billy, the NVA ain't drafted or enlisted any [bleep] lately so jump up and dance,even a dumbass Zoomie would recognize you!!! Sims yelled back that I wuz right, jumped up and danced and the Pilot pulled off until we could get actaul radio contact with him. It would never make it into any tactical manual but we were who we were. We came through it all together and only lost one man. January 25 1970
First, incredible. Second, I'm very humbled. Third, classic 'you can't make this kind of shyt up' tale. Fourth, reminds me of a clearly bigoted, and in very poor taste, joke I heard as a kid: 'Do you know why more blacks were killed in Vietnam that Latinos, whites or other races? Because when a firefight kicked off, the leader of the unit would often scream, "GET DOWN!" While everyone else dove for cover, the brothers would jump up and start to boogie down and dance..."
Stream of consciousness. Apologies for sharing.
Agree with others that this thread is right up there with the very best. Thanks for sharing, Jim and FBF. All Americans stand a little taller simply by virtue of being able to call you, and all others that have served our nation, our countrymen.
[quote=EvilTwin] We came through it all together and only lost one man. January 25 1970
We've all hoisted a few in recognition tonite but......... EvilTwin, if i may.........
OSCAR CRUZ GONZALES � CPL - E4 - Army - Selective Service
101st Airborne Division
Length of service 0 years His tour began on Nov 11, 1969 Casualty was on Jan 25, 1970 In QUANG NGAI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered � Panel 14W - Line 65
Rest In Peace,our brother
"He which hath no stomach, to this fight, let him depart. But we in it, shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.� Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare)
ET,FBF I'll lift a glass to you and your comrades when I get home. Regards, RGRX
When people face the possibility of freezing or starving there is little chance they are going to listen to unfounded claims of climate doomsday from a bunch of ultra-rich yacht sailing private jet-setting carbon-spewing hypocrite elites
[quote=EvilTwin] We came through it all together and only lost one man. January 25 1970
We've all hoisted a few in recognition tonite but......... EvilTwin, if i may.........
OSCAR CRUZ GONZALES � CPL - E4 - Army - Selective Service
101st Airborne Division
Length of service 0 years His tour began on Nov 11, 1969 Casualty was on Jan 25, 1970 In QUANG NGAI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered � Panel 14W - Line 65
Rest In Peace,our brother
"He which hath no stomach, to this fight, let him depart. But we in it, shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.� Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare)
May God Bless you, for your Sacrifice.
NEVER would this be out of place!!!! Damn,if we were not in Binh Dinh Province, OUR "Speedy" Gonzales was KIA on 474 that same day in 1970. My Division too! Oscar Gonzales, you are in fine Company. Be at Peace Brother.
Be afraid,be VERY VERY afraid ad triarios redisse My Buddy eh76 speaks authentic Frontier Gibberish!
[quote=EvilTwin] We came through it all together and only lost one man. January 25 1970
We've all hoisted a few in recognition tonite but......... EvilTwin, if i may.........
OSCAR CRUZ GONZALES � CPL - E4 - Army - Selective Service
101st Airborne Division
Length of service 0 years His tour began on Nov 11, 1969 Casualty was on Jan 25, 1970 In QUANG NGAI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered � Panel 14W - Line 65
Rest In Peace,our brother
"He which hath no stomach, to this fight, let him depart. But we in it, shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.� Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare)
May God Bless you, for your Sacrifice.
NEVER would this be out of place!!!! Damn,if we were not in Binh Dinh Province, OUR "Speedy" Gonzales was KIA on 474 that same day in 1970. My Division too! Oscar Gonzales, you are in fine Company. Be at Peace Brother.
EvilTwin.....did i incorrectly post the wrong Gonzales?