Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire A roll of the dice

Thanks for the explanation, if my inquiries get bothersome - just say so - 'cause you sparked a lot of 'em.



>laughin'<

Including new "in country" pilots, flyin' with tree-huggin' LTs.

Pretty bad when the guy who'll be doin' the flyin' is tossin' apple sauce.

True on all counts.

I don't post a lot (been here since the old Shooters fourm) - I just read a lot and this is one of the best reads ever on the Campfire. Write a book DD.

From a fellow Banshee Trooper (although a few generations removed) please do write a book. You have some awesome stories in these pages and a very unique way of telling them. I am going to bring all my Cav buddies in here to read it, I know I spend a whole night glued to my computer screen dreading getting to page 7. If you have some time I encourage you to visit www.kiowapilots.net and post this there as well. It's a pretty much an online scout pilot's hooch and the input and experience from your era would be invaluable there. I know I can relate to 80% of the tactics you describe here. We forgot a lot of them and had to relearn quickly once the current conflicts evolved into full blown counterinsurgency warfare. Take care and I hope I get to meet you in person one day.

Nah, this place came about in 2000, you are from 2010, your still a newby and wet behind the ears.

Wow...didn't see this one coming! Give my best to the scouts and thanks for your service! Appreciate the link. Was up at Ft. Campbell last May for what I recall as the ceremony for the return of colors to the Fort by 2/17 ACS. Told the squadron CO he looked too young to be in charge of that many pirates.

Dan, I like what I see so far.

My older Brother was at Guam in the 70's. He was a Navy Lt then, his job was head of security at Navel Air Station Agana. He too waited for the new crop of gals, and wound up marrying a Coast Guard Warrant's daughter.

LOL, we've probably met face to face then, I just have terrible memory with names and tend to forget an EP or limit when trying to commit one to memory . Apologies for not recalling yours. Small world indeed, honored to have meet you and hopefully you'll add more chapters to this thread in the future.

This is too precious, and too important to not be bumped again.

So, BUMP.

Cavman, I signed up at Kiowa Pilots and await confirmation. Thanks for the link.

Dan

Nice to see that your terminal is still dry.

How goes the deluge ?

GTC

Rain has abated, tide stage high. We're at low tide now and it looks like a spring season high. Looks like we'll do ok, wait'n see for now.

Digital Dan:

I just discovered this thread because I don't often visit the Hunters' Campfire Forum. But I'm wildly joyful that I did today: your multi-chapter narrative is outstanding!

I especially enjoyed Chapter 16, Sport in the Rolling Hills, in part because I so enjoyed "Off topic, but still a small game" a few years ago.

I have no idea what it cost you to write this material, but I am profoundly grateful to you for writing this narrative. It's one of the best narratives of personal military experience that I've ever read. Well Done!

22, thank you for that sir!

The personal cost was small. Had to rinse my shorts out a few times back then, and sit in front of the computer for several hours/days/maybe a week when I put it to paper. It came out in a torrent for reasons I've not contemplated much.

The other costs were severe. To the U.S. and our allies in dollars and lives. The other side spent few dollars but paid far more dearly than our side in terms of human life. It is a lesson that gives pause to older generations and is largely ignored by the younger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_casualties

Just re-read this, and it's just too good not to bump. I've never made an administrative type suggestion here before, but I for one wouldn't mind seeing a 'hall o' fame' post type forum. I'm on a saltwater fishing forum, and they have one. It's kind of neat to be able to go back and re-digest some amazing posts. No comments allowed, but they remain as an enjoyment/testament to the members who've shared some things that other members felt were deserving of recognition. There's a handful that stick out to me. This is one.

Anyway, you were very close, BTW, Daniel-san. It's Nuoc Mam.



Thank you for both your service, and your sharing of yourself. This is personal history stuff that needs to be preserved, IMO.

Oh, and not for nothing, but you've got some nerve calling others crazy...

Generous accolades there, thank you.

Nuoc mam, the sauce that keeps 'Nam rollin' along. The common folk over there put it on everything. Their lunch box is a wad of rice with sauce, rolled into a banana leaf. Simple, sound and expedient. Banana leafs are abundant.

I don't know this to be true, but my understanding is the sauce is made by layering small sea fish in salt and spices in an earthen crock and letting it age for quite a long time. It has that appearance anyway, and the odor and sharp bite of peppers.

It is quite pungent. Early morning, dawn just breaking. Mountains draped with thin misty veils sliding up the ridges and over the top, only to disappear on the back side as the moisture moved back to warmer temperatures on a soft mountain breeze. NVA cook fires hastily extinguished because of the approaching slap of rotor blades, but the thermal lift had already pushed the scent of Nuoc Mam into the tree tops and it didn't take a bird dog to follow that scent upwind until it vanished. The smell clashed profoundly with the moist jungle scent of wet green and rushing streams.

Like the pointer close to the covey, nervous flitting about the tree tops almost always led to the camp. Usually it had been quickly abandoned, but sometimes not. Sometimes fireworks followed.

To truly recognize "crazy" and appreciate the spectrum of nuance on that canvas, it helps if you have lived in that house awhile.

Hall of Fame Post--- Great post DigitalDan-- You are right about the home made aging fish in the crock. I love the smell of Nuoc mam in the morning.--- thanks Web

Write the book...it is that important!


Bump for a must read from DD

Agree. I've read it a dozen times so far. Hoping hard DD follows it up with more. These personal histories are so important, IMO.

Bookmarked. Truly excellent, Dan. Stunning.