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Originally posted by Andy Some African scrawled on the wall of a pyramid, about 4,000 years ago, the words, ?To your own self be true?. Pretty interesting words. If you don?t mind the guy your looking at in the mirror when you shave, your doing ok.
However, it has seemed to me, for a few years now, the 101st had some pretty crappy staff officers in Vietnam. Can?t imagine what took up so much of their time that you and no doubt many others didn?t get what you deserved. A CIB took about 35 years to get because of a 101st ?oversight?? Have no idea why you didn?t get other decorations you no doubt Earned, it sucks.
About the only thing I can think of as obscene as you not getting your decorations is a couple of pilots who were forever putting each other in for Silver Stars when they didn?t do anything to deserve them.
Stay healthy,
Andy
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Andy:
"However, it has seemed to me, for a few years now, the 101st had some pretty crappy staff officers in Vietnam."
This thought also crossed my mind. Self and Tom (friscokid) haven't had a good ol fashion 101st grunt bitchfest in a while so I'll just jot down some salient details. like:
They gave us a clean change of clothes at least once a month whether we needed it or not.
They'd try to get us a hot meal about the same frequency--on at least one occasion it was sent back and we ate C's, it was that bad.
About every other week, theyd bring out a duffle bag with beer and soda--for a whole company--this would be warm. You'd get 2 beers and one soda
Much of the C rations had Korean War dates stamped on them.
Our mail was looted continuously, they had investigations about this. They wouldn't bring packages out to the field so they could sit there in that rear for up to 6 weeks. My mom numbered the letters, I received less than half of them and very few of the many packages she sent. She subscribed to Playboy and the SF Chronicle for me--I never got one.
All the personal items we put into company storage when we went into the field were looted and robbed- When I got to the rear (Phan Rang) they told me that everybodys stuff was looted and stolen--they didn't even ask my name.I walked out of the 101st with nothing but the clothes on my back (and a .45 in my pocket) Thats why they called the 101st: Pissed Off Homeless People With Guns!
In the 6 months I was there I had 6 different platoon leaders in the same platoon. 3 of these were NCOs. I had 2 different company COs during this time. This was insane!! How did they expect any continuity of command at all?? No wonder nobody got any medals and its a wonder we got anything done at all with this kind of revolving door command.
The bravest thing I ever saw in my life was a guy--John Imrie-- who ran out to save a comrade and was killed doing so. This was talked about in that platoon for a long time so I can assume the brass knew about it. Us grunts didn't know anything about putting people in for medals, they never taught us about that. They not only didn't give him a medal at all, other than a PH, THEY DIDN"T GIVE HIM A CIB!! Or ANY OTHER MEDAL!! No Bronze Star meritorious, no nothing!! He came home in a box with a Purple Heart, that was it. I got this from his sisterinlaw, who contacted me when I posted info on his death on The Virtual Wall. I felt SOMEBODY had to acknowledge this heroism and it was a real shame on the Army that they didn't (Airborne, John!!)
If a real hero like that didn't get a CIB it made me feel better about their not giving me one. I never claim to be brave, I only claim to have been there.
Its not the medal, its what it stands for.
Stay good
James