December 1967

[39mto39g]

Speeking of Dinasors
Do I look the the one in the middle in the previous picture. I wish.

[39mto39g]

Hear we are walking in the park and we are to be southwest of a Marine unit. Hello marine unit, Hello Marine unit, Nothing. Hello, Hello, Hello, Nothin. As we walk we spot some movement about a mile away. Hello marine unit, Nothin. Dose the LT call in arty, No, we move further southwest, Sure hope they weren't NVA that we just let slip by.
I could get the RVAN to talk to me on the radio, But the Marines, No way. Must have been my attitude. Its pretty shitty ya Know.

Ron

[39mto39g]

Phu Bai
Just what is that, some kind a disease. I hear we are headed there with the 101st. I didn't know the 101st was that far north.
Ron

[urbsdad6]

Ron,

Phu Bai was alright by the time I got there in 71 after Lom Son 719. At least that was what was painted on one of the hooch rooftops over by Bravo Med and the 1/502. Don't know how long the 101st had been there by then, but it was pretty civilized and it was home for our stand down from 719.

Doc Urb

[urbsdad6]

LT,

I remember "pucker factor". Got introduced to it in jump school. First jump "pf" was 10 until I felt a gentle tug on my groin and looked up to see a beautiful round white canopy and looking over my shoulder an incredibly beautiful sky full of canopies and my "pf" was 0. Then I remembered something about them telling us we had to land and the "pf" went up to 10 immediately. Executed a perfect PLF except for the perfect part (I forgot to tuck my chin) as a result my head snapped back and buried itself into the Ft Benning rock/sun parched dirt (disguised as grass/weeds)/crust/etc. I do remember getting up with a distinct ringing and aching in my head thinking "Again, again, again!" My "pf"was -2 I think or somewhere in the LZ. Of coarse I was to find out later that pucker factors are capable of reaching extremely high values much greater than 10 and they are directly proportional to how close to your pucker that the factors reach! Any high numbered pucker factor you can remember means you were still around to share the experience. Luck is good!

Doc Urb

[MARINEVET]

...thanks for the memories.

Dec67 found me leaving RVN at end of second trip to that scenic wonderland. Was a Sgt in CoE, 2nd Bn, 4th MarRegt operating in Northern I Corps...walked some of the same ground, I bet!

Yeah Ron...Jarheads are fulluv themselves..."Don't Mean Nuthin"...just a thing....

Left RVN shortly before CHRISTmas 1967 and would find myself back again, for a third trip, and yet another CHRISTmas, in 1969, as a 2ndLt in the 3d Force Recon Co.

As posted in another Forum site, 37 years would pass, and I just spent another CHRISTmas in a combat zone, here in The 'Stan...slow learner I am, I am...!!!!

Semper Fi my Warrior Brothers, from the Cold, Windy and Freezing Mud of Kandahar...

[39mto39g]

Christmas 1967 on LZ Baldy
Seems two companies moved to south of the Phu Bai, are to assist some cav unit in saving the world or something. LZ Baldy for Christmas was special (not) stole more beer from the Marines,
Someone from BN came and told me not to fire the M-79 any more tonight, Damm only 3000 more rounds until I get the 10,000 round patch. If it wasn't an officer I would have fired one off in front of him, I guess they got there reasons. Now how will VC know where my position is? Maybe a flashlight or a radio, yea thats it, music. Lu-eye Lu-eye , oh no, we got ta go.

Ron

[39mto39g]

One patrol before new year. One more walk in that park down there. Go out a mile , turn right for a mile and turn right for a mile again. Beer, guard. Shower, cot.
Oh yea I forgot, Hello Marines? no answer.
Tomorrow I'm going to there CP and key the mike just outside for a few min. , Wait, it might not be good to get a Marine Col mad at ya.

Ron