...little bit further and I'd have a Sharps.

Nice Stetson, Dan! No wonder wimmen like a CAV Trooper.

Dan,
So is this you in about the '60's? I also carried a Thompson for awhile back then- does awesome damage at close range of 10-15 yds. I got some flak about carring it though & then carried an AK on a couple of missions- that didn't fly either & was told that I could only carry it if I carried my M-16 too. With an 80 lb. Ruck it wasn't really an option! The slickest individual weapon (other than an M-14) was an RPD!
So, with the Steson, were you in a Cav. unit? If I knew how to post a photo on this site, I would post a similar vintage, and attire, one of me blazing away with my M-16 ...Dennis

Dennis; [<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> is here!] This is abiut the best instructions I have seen for learning to post pix's. It really is a 'piece of cake', you can learn it quickly...
instructions to post pictures on a forum
...then go to the bottom (Tutorials); click it then click (Placing Photos in Your Posts)

Idahjo has the picture posting thing covered.

B/2/17th Cav May '69-'70, then again in May '71. The RPD was not my favorite machine...too many screamin' yellow zonkers using them on me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Flew Scouts mostly...

OK Dennis, now that you know how; I�ll show you mine and you show me yours! (heh-heh!)
When the �$hitt hit the fan� in Viet Nam; I had already put in five years in the military, been discharged and had three kids� so I cannot claim to be among the great guys who fought and bled for the rest of this quivering Country.
That said, [my] �THANKS� to all who served in that stink-hole and had the unfortunate experience to have the anti-war activists mock and spit upon them when they returned.

Here is a photo at the 1979 State Prison riots at Walla Walla, WA in 1979. �Seems we are �dating� ourselves�

Joe, that looks suspiciously like a Model 94 in your hands there...Ain't we a couple of antiques?! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

120mm, yep, they just fall over themselves for a Cav man. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Joe,
Thanks for the link- let's see if I can make it happen.....Dennis

Yep, it WORKS!
How many cases can you count in the air- full auto. Taken a couple of weeks before we went into the Ia Drang Valley- I look 10 years older in photos taken just a few months later! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ....Dennis

By the way Dan, about the girls falling over Cav men- This is what I experienced at the Oakland Air Terminal about Sept '66, (Returned from VN the previous afternoon. Had on a fresh set of Class A's - new 1st Cav patch on the right arm, trying to get a hop home). I was approached by a bunch of college kids (mostly good looking girls) that backed me up to a wall and drenched me in spit! Took a long time to get over that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ....Dennis

DD; Good eye! It was a #94... sergeants were issued Winchesters and troops mod#12's or #840's. On the wall some of us grunts had their sergeant's Winchesters.

Dennis; "Good show", now you got it..."rock and roll" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
(the Ia Drang was legendary even to us non-atteendees... heard/read a lot about it... at least you got a chance to 'grow old' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />)

Dennis,

I got lucky, when we flew home we went into Travas Air base.

Nice pictures guys. I've met Dennis, he has the same build, just older:>

Kelley O.

First wife got all the sixtie's vintage Mil. spec pics.......nothin' very triggery about being a Mechanic / welder , anyway....I think there's one around of Pvt. Oops, on a front end loader.

another form of combat .......circa 1970's. Predator / stock killer.........the "Chilcotin" district, British Columbia, North of the Gang Ranch..................



Anybody got any baby pictures?

Nice thread, DD.

GTC

Kelley,
The flattery is nice, but I was wearing 30" trousers then- the 34"s are getting a too tight these days! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Yeah, we were damn lucky.... we need to enjoy the rest of our life the most we can! I use that philosophy a lot when it comes to figuring out the summers match schedule. It's easy to say "X" is too far, too expensive, timing is tough, some vauge problem with the match etc.. But, when it gets right down to it, I know that my eyes or health may be the big stopper (probably sooner than I think) and I better do them while I can. As far as $ go, I don't want to end up in a nursing home someday (with a bunch of extra cash in the bank- till the Dr's take it all) and be saying, "Gee, I wish I had done this or that when I could have!"
I have met a lot of guys in the last three years that I would rate in the top 1% that I would want to be shoulder to shoulder with in a firefight. Wild extremes in personalities yes, but you see I like diverse individuals (more memorable)- not groups where every one is the same!
OK I'll get off my philosophical soap box now.....Dennis

Nice little pet 'ya got there, Greg! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I have to say that this BPCR section has some of the GREATEST guys that I have ever had occasion to converse with. Hopefully, we will all cross paths someday... here's to you!

PS: (I don't think they make 'em like they used to) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> (no, seriously, there are warriors over in the 'sand pit' that still have brass-balls... my hat is off to them!)

Ditto's Joe........................+1

God bless them one and all.

GTC

Who's baby are you speaking of, and how old? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ya know, it went somewheres I wasn't expectin' and you are right. Great shot of ya and the paraphenalia, rugs, all that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I assume that was before you invented black powder? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Any of youz guys could watch my six all day long...

Dennis,

There was a little something on the History channel, Mail Call, about the La Drang Valley battle today. I missed the first part and got about a 4 minute segment at it's end. That part covered after you were relieved and when on to say that almost all who relieved you were wipped out, something like over two hundred killed plus the wounded. A little over three hunfred Air Cav. against over 2 thousand.

Just so you guys know, I was Navy. First tour on ship. Two tours Riverine force.

Kelley O.

Dennis, the Ia Drang thing...My deepest respect for surviving that one. My valley was the A Shau, later on of course, and in a different way. Others as well but none with quite as much "Charm".

Spent some time with the Horseblanket on my shoulder too, most of '72, with the residue of 1/9th and the 229th AHB...scouts and nighthawk. Hope to buy you a beer one of these days. Mostly related to the seige at An Loc and later on at Quang Tri. Finished up with the Rollin' Doughnut up near Pleiku working around Kontum and Dak To. Gee, it was such fun...<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Kelly, trusting you didn't have a chance to boot Kerry off the transom or we woulda heard about it from the Swiftboat Vets... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Semper somethin'. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I thought they were the "psychedelic cookie" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Outside of a whorehouse in Bong San, I don't recall being in any nice neighborhoods. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

DD said: "Kelly, trusting you didn't have a chance to boot Kerry off the transom ........................., etc. "

Dan, I think you might have started something, here.

How's this sound.........................Kelley Roos for Pres. ?

Never too late to boot some SOBs off the transom, is it?

While I've never met the man, I've kinda' takin' a shine to 'im.

Wonderful methodoligy, dealing with the curent Congress..............clean, simple, and straightfoward.....with timing that only he could muster............" Kiss my AZZ. "

We're right around the corner , from the next election.......

we beter get with it.....Kelley O for Pres......

Campaign slogans now under solicitation............best Roos for pres slogan gets 32 Bertram .43 Spanish cases, and some Elephant BP.

Jeez I'd like to see Kelley in debate with some of these AZZholes........................( he's so diplomatic)

Hope he doesn't get pizzed off, ...............but, it was a bit drunk out, at the time of this writing.

GTC

[color:"red"] Kerry in Viet Nam on a Swiftboat... there is something surreal about that! [/color] <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


Kelly, hows'about a brown-water Navy photo?

"Kelly O. For PREZ! Crankier than Nixon. More honest than Abe. A lot less deviation than Bill! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Yes!

Kelley's track record for low standard deviations is uninpeachable. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

GTC <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Kelley,
Yeah, the worst for us was a couple of days after LZ X-Ray a few miles away at LZ Albany where we had "T-boned" into a full NVA Batallion right at dusk. Encircled & cut into many small groups, it was a bad night- I didn't get in until the next morning- the VC did some grusome stuff during the night.
A couple of months later we found an estimated 2500 VC bodies a couple miles across the border- even though we got them nearly 10 to 1- it wasn't enough..
Dan, I was a Pathfinder for the 227th- Have a good friend that was in 2nd of the 8th in the A-Shau. Once I got shot down in a UH1B at the end of the first Bong Son (Col. Moore was in that one too)& crashed into the river just off the bank- we all got out before it sank. had 2 M-16s with 3 mags each & one M-60 w/ one belt + the pilot's .38s- looked for awhile like it was going to be "Custer's Last Stand" again!
Dan, you need to get hold of one of these Sharps rifles & do some target shooting with us. AND, the targets are not shooting back at you!! You could work up a load by the "Quigley" (June 17-18)- why not? life's too short! ...Dennis

I'm embarressed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />..Will admit, it would have been nice to have dropped Kerry into the deep blue, with his flack jacket on <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, except no could do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I was never on a Swift boat.

Kelley O.

Kelly, we'll just keep that to ourselves...the not being on SwiftBoats I mean. Hell, being on slow boats is a lot more heroic! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Dennis, I would truly like that...this June is booked...been puttin' together a road trip for out west next spring/summer...might be able to do something with that. Whaddya think?

D.D.,

Exactly how far west? I have a few rifles and a couple even shoot half ass well. So your welcome here and I'll furnish rifle and ammo <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Kelley O.

Dennis, my 'old' sergeant (younger than me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) was Hal Moore's door gunner, Dick Pierce. Did you know him?

Kelly, at this time we're looking at NM, AZ, NV, UT, WY, MT, and the Dakota badlands as we head back southeast. Sincerely appreciate the offer...I'm talking about 2007 BTW, probably May-mid July. May take a detour into Idaho if I'm not careful. We can maybe catch up somewhere at one of the matches?

Thanks!

Dan,
Ditto the offer that Kelley made- I'll get back from Cape Town the middle of April. There should be a Billy Dixon match in Vernal Ut. about the middle of May, or any time you might be in the area (I'm only a 1/2 mile off of I-70, then swing down & say hi to Crossfire & on to Kelley's place!) I can take you out on the BLM 6 miles away where you can shoot as far as a long range sight can be elevated (little over a mile). We've got some pretty country around here! On the way back you can swing thru Idaho, Montana, Wyoming etc. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Before you come though, you need to know what river dug out the Grand Canyon (not the Colorado!).
Idahjo, Moore & the other Battalion Commanders had their own Command ships & I didn't work with them much. I did have dinner & drinks with some of my old Cav buddies in November (including Moore & Galloway) - don't recollect Pierce- are you still in contact with him- is he still alive? ...Dennis

Dittos on the loaner hardware, and a place to Camp / Shoot.
as quickly as time passes, you'll be here before we know it.

DD, were you evere able to get in touch with Zeb ?.......that Palmetto and Pigs stunt is not without appeal.

GTC <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Concerning Joe Galloway, I understand that he is held in the HIGHEST esteem by the 1st Cav. Apparently during Desert Storm he was requested by the Cav and given his own chopper to the line. When he landed he was met by the BC of the artillery unit that fired in support of 1/7 at X-Ray. The artillery battalion presented itself for FULL inspection by a CIVILIAN JOURNALIST!!! That is a significant honor for anyone but this was off the scale! Soldiers do not forget those who stood with us in bad places. I never had the privilege of meeting Joe as I was a 101st trooper but he always has had my respect and admiration.

Dennis; (re:Hal Moore) Dick Pierce,as far as I know, makes all of the unit 'get-togethers'. He has always spoken of Col Moore very highly. If you were at the last one, there is a very good chance you had an eye-ball to eye-ball with him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Pathfinder: check your Personal Mail

Sincere thanks to all the offers of hospitality and hardware...unexpected and I'm kinda at a loss for words. I will indeed do my best to meet as many of you fellas as I can.

I can see it now..."Hey Honey, lookie there! It's (insert name) from the Campfire! Imagine runnin' into him all the way out here! What a coincidence!!! She will suspect collusion by the third repetition probably. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Well, she thought the Sharps factories in Big Timber were nifty, so it will no doubt work out.

Thanks again guys...I shall get in touch soonish to find out wheres youz beez, more or less.

Dan*

*Specializing in the capture of surfin' beaches in combat zones.

Hang Ten!

DD; If'n you are up into the North Idaho panhandle you might give a whistle!

Well, dammit, where's all the other mossy old photos?...

You know, like from the glory days of our mis-spent youth............hot rods, airplanes, boats, ponies, ............expeditions, adventures....Wanted posters for which the statute of limitations has elapsed.......?

GOOD thread.............. GTC

Well, y'all put on your sunglasses tomorrow, I'll have something for ya then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Okay, a fuzzy picture of my misspent youth. An 80 MPH fishing boat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Twin "tweaked" 225 Johnson's, counter rotators w/ surface drive on Gil Brackets.

Military Pixs: (My old bird) Missile parts being unpackaged and put together on an assembly vehicle. What is not shown is a huge JATO (solid-fuel rocket) bottle dangling under it's tail end at launch.

This was the U.S.'s 'cutting edge' in surface-to-surface technology in 1957. The TM-61C 'Martin Matidor' was the forerunner of the modern cruise missiles. Common guidance technology was to retrack a filmstrip to it's target. Major problem was that a recon aircraft had to RETURN with the film first!

idahjo,

I was in the Air Force in the late '50s, and I know about reconnaissance aircraft. You're right, they didn't all come back. Google 60528, or read "The Price of Vigilance" by Larry Tart. 60528 was the C-130 shot down by the Soviets over Armenia on 2 September 1958. At the National Cryptologic Museum at NSA Headquarters there is a replica of the wall that is inside the secure area. There are the names of 62 sailors, 40 airmen, 37 soldiers, 11 marines, and 2 civilians on the wall. The crew of 60528 is there, and those who were killed in the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty in 1967. The large American flag flown by the Liberty is displayed there, and the Medal of Honor citation for the skipper. What is interesting is that, while the citation gives details of the attack and the captain's actions in saving his ship, no mention is made of the identity of the attackers. The rest of the exhibit does tell of the Israelis, however.

Paul

shootdown of tail number 60528

Thanks Paul, I had forgotten about that...

Post deleted by Paul39

When the Matidor, Mace and Snark were being developed there were a few problems along the way. Transitioning from Rocket Assisted Takeoff(RATO/Jato) to turbine power being less than reliable... A sign over the bunker of the Mace operations at Cape Canaveral said: "Beware of Snark Infested Waters" ...with good reason. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

What a nice look back to "Pre-OSHA" days...................no double fall protection harnesses, no hardhats........
Lotsa my Dad's old stevadoring pictures from those times reflect the same practical approach.......whaen you could actually move around a jobsite, and get something done. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Can't get this scanner to come up to speed.....I think half a pound of BP might cure it though.

Is that a "Real Mc Coy" warhead, or a practice set-up?

Later, GTC <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I deleted my last post because I am pizzed beyond belief that the whole photo file from our trip back east last year has disappeared from my computer. Why is it that when you lose something it's almost always something important, but never the trivial crap? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Paul

Good one DD! After the TM61-C was phased out I went into the TM76-B program. The improvement in guidance changed the pointy-nose to a 'l-o-n-g' probiscus with a rounded nose cone. I was an instructor statoned at Lowry AFB my full tour. My supervisor was a SMsgt who flew P-40's in WW-2 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
The J-33 powered 61-C (Matidor)/76-B (Mace) series had glued/laminated wings built around a honeycomb inner structure. Yaw was controlled by pop-up spoilers in the wings. Fail-safe for errant missiles was a primacord (detcord) laid in a channel under one wing, that would "cut" the underside skin at the wing root and collapse the wing... bringing the lumbering bird down. My boss told of a tour in Tripoli when they had a practice launch where control was lost of a Matidor that errantly circled round-and-round over Tripoli and out over the sea. The destruct would not activate, so they had fighters attempt a shoot-down. Just kept on making the huge-lazy circle. Bugger would not come down and it finally ran out of fuel. Luckily, it splashed-down at sea <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> ...So much for thechnology <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Paul; that's the way it is suppsoed to work... why should you be any different from the rest of us <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

That's a trick done more than once in the aviation world! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Just a note to let y'all know I'll be offline for a spell. Headin' up to Missouri for a few days, then tryin' to get lost on the way back. Somewhere between Tulsa and Knoxville. See ya on the rebound. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

yup , those 'er genuwine snotcicles..........................truck batteries , dead, .....Alberta winter.............pack 'em(batteries) down to the Home ranch, charge, and pack 'em back up to the line camp.

BRRrrrrrrrrrrr,

GTC

Pathfinder and DigitalDan,

I just stumbled across this thread and a lot of the names such as I Drang and A Shau are familiar to me because my Dad was there from '65 to '68 or thereabouts. I believe he was first there with the 1st Cav and later with the 82nd. Anyway, I am sure he was 1st platoon, alpha company, 2/8 Cav. He was wounded, shot twice through both upper thighs but was lucky he didn't lose anything or die. He can still out squat or deadlift me anyday. His name is Mike Friedrichs, and he was from Aurora, IL. I'm sure it's a longshot but seeing these familiar words I had to mention it.

Prewar70,
Sorry, I don't remember your dad, but that is not to say that I may not have shared a Huey or bumped into him momentarily at some time- worked with 2nd of the 8th several times. Glad he made it out OK. I have a set of Purple Heart plates for my car because the State of Colorado is kind enough to provide them at NO charge every year- has saved me a lot. I am always a lttle embarrassed at displaying them, as I had a bunch of buddys lose limbs or worse to get it + some that didn't get to see their 21st birthday!
I had the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Gen. Pace) shake my hand a couple of months ago though (really for all of us there in the Ia Drang) and it felt pretty good. Tell your Dad Hi & "Garry Owen" .....Dennis

Dennis; I always wanted to look 'Gary Owen' up, but never thought of it when on the computer. Now I know... "Garryowen" ...and 'click' the Garyowen tab in left column...

(Pierce ever call you?)

Pathfinder, I've been walkabout for a spell and just read your post...don't ever feel embarrassed for hangin' those plates on your car...EVER. I did the same in Georgia while living there. It's only a matter of circumstance causes some to bleed for their country. Serving is a choice, one that separates wheat from chaff...and nobody ever woke up one morning and said "I think I'll be a hero today".

Prewar, my time in the A Shau was after your dad's, sorry I never met him. I just returned from a journey around the southeastern quadrant of the US, and met a fellow by accident near Branson, Mo. that had spent some time there with 5th Group he said. Name was Tubbs...looks like St. Nick today and life is good for him from all appearances. We traded 10 digit coordinates of some of our more memorable moments. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

FWIW, I may have stepped into the wonderland of having a personal LONG range place to shoot. Will post some photos later, just got home and and am whipped. Snowed on 3 times and froze the rest of the time. Loved every minute of it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Crossfire, you get any of that rain out your way?

Any of yous guys still hangin' around out there? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I am still waiting on my Shiloh! I am hoping end of this month!

D.D.,

So many other chat rooms to play in, this here one has turned into a ghost town.

Kelley O.

It would appear so. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Well, had fun while it lasted. Still workin' on an itenerary for the spring trip next year, will give a yodel along the way.

Pacecars, let us know when it shows up!

[for what it's worth...] I'm still alive and taking nourishment.

During the winter, I decided to pursue a long-time overdue project and build a 'period' longrifle. About finished with a 42" flintlock in the Vogler/North Carolina style (school). Major 'woodworking' and metal fabrication project!
But a 'kick in the pants' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

About to receive a similar boot, a .32 Rock Lock from Tracks...some assembly required, batteries and directions conspicuously absent. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Building a big bloody gate in front of my new place.....

Still stick my nose in.........this was a good rendezvous point, while Rick A Shay's site was down.....No?

Best regards, GTC <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I dabble and lurk here and there. Surprising the difference in personnas at different sites...feel like a round peg here, Charlie Manson there...I have not sniffed enough BP fumes to be one with some sites...yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Sometimes diversity is good, sometimes it is a target. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />