small world today at the Vet Center

[MORTARDUDE]

I have had a bad past several weeks. went into bunker mode but have made some decisions and feel better. went to the Vet Center for my 10:00 am group session and it turned into over and hour and half instead of an hour..lots of hurting vietnam combat vets out there...anyway, i went to see my new counselor afterwards to sign up for the 7 week in-patient treatment program in Little Rock, and i noticed a plaque from the Jonesboro, Arkansas group ( they go to 10 diff. towns around memphis each week ) who made him an "honorary Vietnam Vet" ( he was in the Army in Alaska ) and one of the names on it was a friend from my platoon. In talking to the counselor, my friend is a regular and he mentioned 2 other members from my platoon there also. he invited me to go over with him tomorrow. i am making a copy of the 8 min video, which they are on, and am taking "into Cambodia" and some other stuff I saved...I look forward to this. I haven't met anyone from my platoon, face-to-face, since Nov. 1970....

larry

[1CAVCCO15MED]

You are lucky, to my knowlege nobody from my company has ever had treatment for PTSD from any source. The several I have talked to have obviously needed to but none have. I tried to help them but any mention of bad things got a big loud silence. One of the more amazing things I found out is that the very worst day of my life which I shared with Tom "Packo" is not remembered by anybody but me. I went through a period of thinking I was somehow mistaken about it but I found evidence of it in the 1st Cav history. We even got a Valorous Unit Award which I am sure is rare in a rear unit but nobody remembers why but me.

[DMZ-LT]

Tiny was in 3rd platoon and I was in 2nd platoon , but we fought next to each other often. His memory of the same day , from 3 feet away , is way different than mine sometimes. Frank used to call it the movie in our heads that we made. We don't talk about the wounded NVA that ended up dead.

[Packo]

Larry,

I used to know, many many moons whitecloud, a great guy at the Memphis Vet Center. He wanted me to transfer there to work for him. He was a Chaplain, Catholic Priest, with the 101st. Left the priesthood and ended up working at the Memphis Vet Center. Doubt he's still there and can't think of his name, but check and see if anyone there remembers him. He's probably gone because eventually that program eats its own. I'm proof.

Doc, I remember your story and have always been proud you shared it with me. My company, Charlie, and E Co both recieved the Valorus Unit Medal also for 6 May 69.....a night you also well remember.

Larry, keep at it buddy.

Packo

[MORTARDUDE]

Packo :

The gentlemen you referred to is Ed Wallin. He still works for the VA, doing PCT / PTSD interviews along with the psychiatrist. I believe he was in charge of the Memphis Vet Center when it first opened downtown 20 years ago...Half of our initial group went with him. I haven't had the pleasure to meet him, but when I do I will relay your thoughts.

My visit to Jonesboro was wonderful. Buck and I talked for most of 5 hours. He is in touch with several other platoon-mates, so we know where about 10 are. Buck lost all his pictures and memorabilia in a fire, so he was happy to get the video, and I gave him a copy of "Into Cambodia"....his APC hit a mine and he was wounded and it is mentioned in there....I took some pictures and will post soon. Buck and his friend from Arkansas, Reese, were quite a pair......
only 2 tracks down....and I didnt't know half of what was going on... I guess I led a sheltered life while over there...LOL

There were 10 other vets in the group over there. we had an hour meeting then went to a local home-cooking restaurant like the one u took me to in Ellijay...whew !!!

more later,

larry

[Packo]

Larry,

Yep, Ed Wallin. Had they had a University in Memphis that would have offered me the right masters degree....I would have gone. Tell him I said "hey" when you meet him. Hard to believe he's still working this stuff but damn glad because he is one dedicated sumbitch! Real cool you meeting up with some of your own buds from the platoon.

Packo

Mortardude, I knew to this site, know all about Vet groups been going to them since 1987 when I got sober. The group offer so much support for each other. Hope you have a better time, and good luck in you inpatient treatment. 4th ID Vet

[MORTARDUDE]

Have located 8 others from my platoon ( 4th platoon ( 81mm mortars ) Co. B 2/22(M), 25th Infantry Division )...and have talked to 4 of them. Two are very reluctant to discuss our experiences. All of the ones I have talked to received the Purple Heart. Two of them were wounded by the same mine on Dec 30, 1969...my first day in combat with 2/22(M), and the day I inherited one of their radios as the FNG....

Have you located any of your platoon-mates from your 3 tours ??

Thank you for your service and Welcome Home !!

Larry

Mortardude - I have found one of the guys I served with, he lives in Poulsbo Washington, He helped me find my son. My ex wife told him I was killed in Vietnam. However my buddy ED knew different. Ed married a friend of my ex wife and mine. My son was 19 before he found out I wasn't dead, all the time I thought my son had been adpopted by my ex wifes husband. Don't want to bore you anyone else on this bb with my little soap opera.