The targets of this epistle are my kids and grandkids, who may or may not be aware of my Air Force doings from 1963 to 1973 (51-61) years ago) Holy s—t I’m old.
The Vietnam war/conflict/debacle was the primary focus for me during those years.
My first venture into Vietnam was a special airlift mission in 1963, when we delivered some high priority cargo into a strange place called Danang. Not a big presence there yet. We were met by a Green Beret officer after landing on a PSP ( temporary metal) runway. ( a far cry, Mary Louise, from the Danang I flew into a few years later and visited with Jerry at the DOOM ( Danang Officers’ Open Mess), while he was stationed there).
From 1964-late 1967, I was a small part of a large, continuous flow of C-130 and later, C-141 aircraft, flying from Charleston to Anchorage, Alaska to Japan to Vietnam or Thailand and back. High priority cargo inbound and many times, aeromedical evacuation folks on return to the States. The Air Evac system we were part of saved countless GI lives by getting them from the Hellhole jungle to the best medical care in the US in a few days. Unfortunately, we brought back many coffins too. Our country lost 58000+ of its very best in that tragic conflict over a more than 10 year period.
After a short ( year and a half) period earning an MBA at Air Force expense, I was assigned to Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN ( Republic of Vietnam) Aug 69 to Aug 70. I flew on 143 combat recon missions in low, slow reliable old C-47 aircraft (1933 vintage). The oldest aircraft in AF inventory.
Thank the Lord, I returned home to Marjorie, Christine and Jim in summer 1970. Christine, who was all of 4 years old, welcomed me with, “ You got a big nose. “ LOL. Poor lady. She’ll never live that wonderfully cute, honest and loving welcome down. I, for one, find it hilarious. Jeff, you were born in July, 1971. Hmmmm.
My next 4 years 70-74 were at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center in Denver, where I managed over 300 POW/MIA pay accounts and worked with over 300 Air Force wives and families of our missing and captured heroes. Probably the most rewarding, but entangling job in my Air Force 30 year career.
So that’s what Daddy/Granddaddy did in the war. Just in case I never told you and maybe a reminder if I did. Hope I didn’t bore you too much.
