Pretty cool picture of them on top of Heubach Mountain in southern Germany. They were into free climbing, spelunking, shit like that. Mom could outhike and outclimb Pops all fucking day long.
Pops did 3 years in Germany between his 1st and 2nd tour in Vietnam. He went back shortly after this picture was taken. They're doing real well now, Brock. Retired and loving life. Thanks.
Please tell your Dad, thanks and God bless him. And tell your Mom thanks for standing by him through those years of hell. He is a blessed man. And you are blessed to have them both. Take a tip from another old timer - Take whatever time you can, to spend with them just listening and talking, and learning from what life was like in their childhood, and in their early years. If they like to write, ask them to write about anything and everything; or get them a recorder to just talk into whenever they feel like it.
To this day I regret not having more time to spend with my great-uncle, my Grandma's older brother, who would enthrall me with his stories of WWI. And they would tell me about taking trips to Atlanta, having to change and repair flat tires three or four times on the unpaved roads, and about using old shirt-cardboards for head gaskets. Building small oil-lamp fires under the oils pan in winter so they could turn the crank and start the car. Hard times, but made them so damn strong!! So many treasures in the minds and memories of our older family. And they are gone from us all too soon.
Brock - he did a couple of tours with an extension on both. The first time was in 65 with the 7th Cav around Pleiku, then his second was in 69 as a maintenance Warrant with the 25th Inf Div in Cu Chi. Name is Kirk Lane.
I was there from '67 to '75 except for '71 and '72 and went to Cu Chi a few times, but the name doesn't ring a bell. You never know though,as I may have passed him and remembered his face. It's strange how you can remember what later seems the minutest detail while forgetting others. You might enjoy the below.:)
Binh Duong http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=252&highlight=binh+duong I was moving from Tu Duc to Binh Duong which was fairly close to the Cambodian border. I had started late, and as I turned on the road that went there pass our 25th Infantry Division, I thought of turning back, but didn't.
Night fell quickly, and I was about half way there when the headlights on my '52 Citroen began shutting off and on. I was the only one on the road, and became quite nervous as there was absolutely no moon. I decided that if the lights went out completely, then my best bet would be to ditch the car and get a good ways from it and hide in the foliage until dawn.
Fortunately, I made it to the first VNCH outpost, and though the soldier was very curious as to what a crazy American was doing driving at this hour in the country, he waved me through.
Probably one of those "Hey, I beat his ass in a bar one night" moments, Brock. Great story, thanks. Lucky you made it before you lost your lights completely and didn't get fired up.
A Small World http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=234&highlight=bien+hoa One of the first times I went to Bien Hoa, I was walking down a dirt street when the two swinging doors of a bar abruptly opened and a soldier came flying out backwards into the street, evidently as a result of a fight. When I looked down at him, he was a friend from college in Virginia!
Accent http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=233&highlight=accent Once I was near the Cambodian border talking to someone when an officer approached me, and stated that I was either from Fauquier or Loudon county (Northern Virginia) or from some area in Australia which I have since forgotten. I grew up in Fauquier County (Mosby Country) and was startled with his statement. It turned out that he was a student of accents.
When I first glanced at it, I thought the picture was in Vietnam. Good looking parents and hope they are well.
ReplyDeletePops did 3 years in Germany between his 1st and 2nd tour in Vietnam. He went back shortly after this picture was taken.
ReplyDeleteThey're doing real well now, Brock. Retired and loving life.
Thanks.
his 1st and 2nd tour in Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably nothing, but when I first saw your father's face, I thought I recognized him, but couldn't place where. Where was he in Vietnam?
That's pretty neat.
ReplyDeleteMy parents never did anything like that.
Wow, congrats.
ReplyDeletePlease tell your Dad, thanks and God bless him. And tell your Mom thanks for standing by him through those years of hell. He is a blessed man. And you are blessed to have them both. Take a tip from another old timer - Take whatever time you can, to spend with them just listening and talking, and learning from what life was like in their childhood, and in their early years. If they like to write, ask them to write about anything and everything; or get them a recorder to just talk into whenever they feel like it.
ReplyDeleteTo this day I regret not having more time to spend with my great-uncle, my Grandma's older brother, who would enthrall me with his stories of WWI.
And they would tell me about taking trips to Atlanta, having to change and repair flat tires three or four times on the unpaved roads, and about using old shirt-cardboards for head gaskets. Building small oil-lamp fires under the oils pan in winter so they could turn the crank and start the car. Hard times, but made them so damn strong!!
So many treasures in the minds and memories of our older family.
And they are gone from us all too soon.
You can see genuine happiness on their faces. Great photo! You must have been adopted.
ReplyDeleteBrock - he did a couple of tours with an extension on both. The first time was in 65 with the 7th Cav around Pleiku, then his second was in 69 as a maintenance Warrant with the 25th Inf Div in Cu Chi. Name is Kirk Lane.
ReplyDeleteI was there from '67 to '75 except for '71 and '72 and went to Cu Chi a few times, but the name doesn't ring a bell. You never know though,as I may have passed him and remembered his face. It's strange how you can remember what later seems the minutest detail while forgetting others. You might enjoy the below.:)
ReplyDeleteBinh Duong
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=252&highlight=binh+duong
I was moving from Tu Duc to Binh Duong which was fairly close to the Cambodian border. I had started late, and as I turned on the road that went there pass our 25th Infantry Division, I thought of turning back, but didn't.
Night fell quickly, and I was about half way there when the headlights on my '52 Citroen began shutting off and on. I was the only one on the road, and became quite nervous as there was absolutely no moon. I decided that if the lights went out completely, then my best bet would be to ditch the car and get a good ways from it and hide in the foliage until dawn.
Fortunately, I made it to the first VNCH outpost, and though the soldier was very curious as to what a crazy American was doing driving at this hour in the country, he waved me through.
Probably one of those "Hey, I beat his ass in a bar one night" moments, Brock.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, thanks. Lucky you made it before you lost your lights completely and didn't get fired up.
:) Here's another goodie.
ReplyDeleteA Small World
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=234&highlight=bien+hoa
One of the first times I went to Bien Hoa, I was walking down a dirt street when the two swinging doors of a bar abruptly opened and a soldier came flying out backwards into the street, evidently as a result of a fight. When I looked down at him, he was a friend from college in Virginia!
That's a great picture!
ReplyDeleteHeubach? Kiss my ass! I was stationed at Schwaebisch Gmund and climbed that mountain many, many times! Small world.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture.
Small world.
ReplyDeleteWow, such a small world. Here's another.
Accent
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=233&highlight=accent
Once I was near the Cambodian border talking to someone when an officer approached me, and stated that I was either from Fauquier or Loudon county (Northern Virginia) or from some area in Australia which I have since forgotten. I grew up in Fauquier County (Mosby Country) and was startled with his statement. It turned out that he was a student of accents.
It is a small world.
ReplyDeleteI loved growing up there.