Vietnam War….April 30 , 1975 ….its a wrap !

Sandhog308 · 2025-04-30T08:24:01-0400

How fast time flies !

Doesn’t seem possible that 50 yrs ago today the Vietnam War was finally over. There are a few of us on this forum that were old enough to have been directly or indirectly involved. I’m thankful that my time over there was relatively safe compared to the forces on the ground 24/7.
I had an aircraft carrier to protect me , no bugs , no leeches , no VC shooting at me.
I lost a few friends over there , some friends that are still there mentally. I made some life long friends I still see and keep up with today.
For all of you who were there , glad you made it home too.

Redlion · 2025-04-30T08:44:57-0400

My father was amongst the first to go to Viet Nam with The Big Red One in 1965. He was seldom willing to talk about his service. I can't and never blamed him. He passed away in 1997.

lonegunman762x51 · 2025-04-30T09:35:54-0400

Smedley Butler was right. War is a Racket. DC political players and corrupt generals made billions in skim, kickbacks, bribes and graft off the war. Meanwhile millions of young men and women stepped up and served for basically nothing.

When I joined in the early 1980s most sncos and officers had served in Vietnam and were glad to have done it. Most democrats were draft dodging communist kiss asses back then.

greg1147 · 2025-04-30T09:37:10-0400

The years 1969-1974 are almost another life, USN, AB A school, not knowing anything just another sailor. Missing the friends
that are not here today.

Terry Cross · 2025-04-30T09:39:13-0400

My BIL was a crew chief and door gunner in a UH-1. Ironically, his name was Huey but he went by Doc for some reason.
He saw a lot of action while inserting and extracting teams but none of that bothers him to this day.

He found a small sick monkey his first week in country. He nursed it back to health and raised it as his pet. Since there were no dogs in the camp, the monkey was is 24/7 buddy. Only time it wasn't with him was when he was in the air.

One night when some guys in the camp were bored and acting an ass, they grabbed his little monkey and killed it by throwing it in the fire of a 55gal burn barrel. They thought it was funny and a cheap thrill. Doc only weighed about 145 lbs but it was a big ass fight. THAT mentally fucked him up more than hosing bad guys with the door gun.

Doc has a big ass scar between his shoulder blades from a piece of hot shrapnel that almost brought their bird down but you don't see that scar. However, you do see scars on his face and hands to this day from that fight though.

greg1147 · 2025-04-30T09:45:22-0400

Terry Cross said:
My BIL was a crew chief and door gunner in a UH-1. Ironically, his name was Huey but he went by Doc for some reason.
He saw a lot of action while inserting and extracting teams but none of that bothers him to this day.

He found a small sick monkey his first week in country. He nursed it back to health and raised it as his pet. Since there were no dogs in the camp, the monkey was is 24/7 buddy. Only time it wasn't with him was when he was in the air.

One night when some guys in the camp were bored and acting an ass, they grabbed his little monkey and killed it by throwing it in the fire of a 55gal burn barrel. They thought it was funny and a cheap thrill. Doc only weighed about 145 lbs but it was a big ass fight. THAT mentally fucked him up more than hosing bad guys with the door gun.

Doc has a big ass scar between his shoulder blades from a piece of hot shrapnel that almost brought their bird down but you don't see that scar. However, you do see scars on his face and hands to this day from that fight though.

That's some fucked up shit the value of life in Vietnam was about zero.

BobinNC · 2025-04-30T11:00:16-0400

I was there. In 1970-71 as a QM3 my ship was conducting Operation Market-Time patrols as a member of USCG Squadron 3, aboard the USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722), which oddly enough was then sold in May 2017 to Vietnam.

Huskydriver · 2025-04-30T19:56:29-0400

Gwot salute of respect here for those of you who answered the call.

Ronws · 2025-04-30T20:11:14-0400

My friend, Lee, graduated bud/S in 1964 and served 3 active combat tours as a SEAL team member. Technically stationed at Da Nang, he spent 3 Christmas seasons on the laotian-cambodian border with his specialty of blowing shit up. Specifically, enemy encampments and tunnels.

He was a second class petty officer and collected a surgical pin in each ankle and one in his right hip and a stainless steel kneecap on his left knee. He exited the Navy in Port of Los Angeles and walked off the gangway as a seaman. He could not put up with shitty XO that no one, not even the Captain, liked. But, striking a superior officer got him the remaining 3 days aboard ship in the brig, a demotion, and discharge under general circumstances. Upgraded to honorable after 6 months of clean and righteous living, as far as the Navy knew.

SanPatHogger · 2025-04-30T22:13:47-0400

My wifes dad was in Vietnam in the Seabees. I've got a buddy who was in Vietnam that I eat breakfast with almost every Sunday. Couple other guys there that wear their Vietnam veterans hats too.

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Vietnam War….April 30 , 1975 ….its a wrap !

Sandhog308

Petty Officer of the Hide

Redlion

Major Hide Member

lonegunman762x51

MSgt USAF ret.

greg1147

Gunny Sergeant

Terry Cross

Dingleberry

greg1147

Gunny Sergeant

BobinNC

Petty Officer

Huskydriver

Not here for a long time but here for a good time

Ronws

first class brisket smoker

SanPatHogger

Major Hide Member

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