Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Urgent Urology Chopper Call

One night a call came in as all the others did:

"Queen Tonic this is Wide Minnow" After our acknowledgement we got the description the the wounded. All that was said as far a I can remember is that it was called in as an urgent urology case. The chopper landed a short time later and we got the wounded soldier off the chopper and into the ER. I remember him having this very pale/ashen look to his face and his groin area covered in bandages. From what I remember he was either a door gunner or crew chief on a chopper and was shot in the penis and testicles. He was in surgery within a short period of time. After surgery we got word (as we did most of the time regarding surgeries and patient status) that he had lost a testicle and the bullet sliced his penis. The doc said that they believed he would come out ok and be able to have kids. Everone was so glad to hear that.

I have always been so amazed and in awe of the wonderful and dedicated doctors, nurses, corpmen, medical staff, etc. at the 24th. They truly worked miracles and saved so many lives. And once all was said and done and things calmed down you could see the emotional toll each sitauation took on us and how much we all cared.

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Escape

It was about 0600 and I had about an hour of duty left and things had quieted down. Suddenly I heard a horn honking and honking outside the ER/A&D Entrance. I finally went out and as I walked around the bunker at the entrance and I saw someone in one of our Ambulances accross the road where the Ambulances were parked. I walked accross the road and came up to the driver's door. Inside was a young man who began to yell orders to me, I'm General so and so and where is my driver at. He was going on and on. I then noticed he had on hospital pajamas and I saw he had a wristband on. I started to play the game calling him General and telling him we needed to go in and find the driver. Luckily he agreed.

Just as he got out of the Ambulance a chopper could be heard right overhead and it was coming in to land on the helipad with causalties not very far from where we were. He yelled my helicopter, my helicopter and began to run to the helipad. I took off after him. My immediate thought was that he was going to get killed by the chopper or it's blades. I knew and saw the damage a chopper's blades can do and I also knew the chopper pilot would not know what was going on - on the ground and might think we were just running out to get the wounded off.  Luckily I did catch him and was able to keep him away from the chopper. I somehow convinced him to come into the A&D/ER. Once inside I matched up his wristband with a number in the log book. I called the psych ward. I said "This is Mahoney in A&D, did you lose someone?" A relieved voice said yes, where is he and in a flash they were there to pick him up. After this was all over it really hit me as to what had happened and just what a terrible outcome this could have been.

After all these years I can still remember seeing this very young man sitting in the Ambulance honking that horn. I often wonder how he is doing and how his life turned out and pray for him as I do the others. I suppose my feelings and worrying about these young men and women may seem strange to most, but they have left an permanent image in my mind and impact in my being and I will never forget them.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

A Combat Soldier

A number of weeks ago I did a post regarding the Westboro Chruch that protests military funerals and prays for the death of our soldiers and so much more. There were also protesters protesting them. And then along came a 62 year old Vietnam veteran who tried to mace the Westboro Church members but instead got about 18 of their protesters. Later it came out that not only was he a Vietnam Veteran who was a Marine but that he also received the Purple Heart. I believe there were 18 of those who were maced and it is pretty evenly split among those saying he either should not be charged or charged.

Around two weeks ago I jumped a little bit into a converation regarding this incident. The the main thought was that this church is just looking for publicity and the veteteran should not have done what he had done. I tried to state during this ongoing conversation that many factors come into play and that I felt at this point in the veterans life he must have felt overwhelmed with soldier deaths and the ongoing protests and lack of respect coming from this church and their members.

I didn't get too far with this as a person stated that the Patriot Guard was there and that they have Combat Vietnan Veterans and don't do this. First I was hurt as I am not a Combat Vietnam Veteran and took this as a negative comment and and secondly, angry at what I thought was the dismissal of my thoughts or at least this was my perception. At that time I excused myself and left.

Before saying anything else, I cannot state how wonderful the Patriot Guard and the services they provide at these funerals and to the families. And I imagine these families are overjoyed at what the Patriot Guard does. I am so thankful for what they do.

Being a Vietnam Veteran and knowing other Vietnam Veterans I can say that there are many, many Vietnam Veterans suffer quietly on a daily basis. Many of us have held everything in. We really didn't have or know of any resources that were available to us on return. And, honestly, there were few. I suspect if I ever spoke to a Vietnam Veteran Patriot Guard Rider we would both be in agreement on this. Also, to this day I hold everthing in except for these posts. I'm not sure why I started this but I guess I need to talk.

Vietnam was an unpopular war and as Vietnam Veterans I believe we got the brunt of that in many ways. And even though their is so much support for Iraq and Afganistan Soldiers and those returning, they will need a continuing "great" deal of support and understanding. The impact of war is not just limited to those in a Combat situation but to those in support organizations as well and I think that is really important for people to understand. I hope to address this in my next post.

And for the general population it is very important to never forget that the freedoms you have are because of the Armed Forces and those brave men and women who serve for your freedom, both in peacetime and a time of war. Please remember that and keep them in your thoughts and pray for them and their safety.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Gas Chamber in Basic Training

"Knocked Up" has been on TV a number of times recently. Isn't that why we have and pay for cable? To see the same shows over and over again? Anyway, in this show the lead character is shown smoking dope using a gas mask. It brought back memories of the Gas Chamber in Basic Training. For some idiotic reason I couldn't wait to do that. The more they talked about it the more excited I got. Stupid huh? Anyway, that day came. We had a great meal brought out to the field that day and right after eating that meal we were lining up to go in.

You know, growing up I had heard and saw on TV of how one takes many breaths filling up their lungs with oxygen and that allows one to hold their breath for a long time. Well as a kid I tried it and it worked. I was always the winner at the pool for those contests when you see who can stay underwater the longest. So, my plan was to do this at the Gas Chamber.  I didn't know what to expect and just thought I'd be choking from the gas or whatever. As I walked in I realized my mask wasn't sealed, no problem, I was trained to get that sealed and got that done. Soon we had to take off our masks and this damn gas burned my eyes and they were tearing up and it penetrated the skin on my face from the morning shave. This was not expected, but I held my breath. I was watching as everyone else was choking and gaging. We had to walk around the room and then head for the door. I was almost there, shit this is going to work. Then I hear "Drill Sergeant, Mahoney isn't breathing." from a guy in my platoon. That's all it took - as the Drill Sergeants made the target and made sure I had plenty of time in there and really got some good lung fulls of the tear gas or whatever that was. Once that was done I exited gagging, trying to catch my breath and soon throwing up. I looked down at that puke and thought, shit - that was a good lunch too. (I think it was good on purpose just with them knowing it would be thrown up.)

We had one more training session that day while under barbed wire with smoke pouring over us so you would not know when they popped open the gas and we had our masks off. When you started to experience the effects of the gas, you could then put your mask on.

Well, at the end of the day the guy who yelled out I wasn't breathing got some grief/ribbing from others in my platoon. But mostly it was just a group of young men laughing at what had happened that day and what we had experienced. But, beyond the laughing there was also the quiet conversations that was serious on whether or not we will experience a gas attack while on duty and just how serious an attack could be. It really made us think.

And shit, that was a good lunch too.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

A Silent Visitor

I was searching last night for a soldier from Omaha who died in Vietnam about 5 months before I went into the service. He had been on my mind for the last few weeks. I could not remember his name although I worked with his mother at a restaurant. Since my brother worked at the same place and still sees some of those we worked with, I asked him. He was able to give me enough of the name so that I could find him on the Virtual Wall. I was able to read a little about him and his death. I'm not sure why I keep thinking of him recently. I guess it must be that Vietnam is always in my thoughts. In this case I wanted to know more about this young man, when he died and was buried. It may sound strange but I do not want those who died in Vietnam forgotten.

Anyway, during this time I felt that someone was in the den with me. I turned and thought I saw the door closing and it was not fully open as it had been. I called for my wife and asked if she was going to bed thinking she was outside the door in the hall. No response. So I walked out into the hall and she was not even upstairs. I called down to her and she said she had not been up there but heard me ask about going to bed and was a little confused on what I was asking/doing.

I decided it was time to hit the sack and as I do every night I lay in bed and pray and this night said some special prayers for this fallen brother. And I know it may sound very strange to most people but I wonder if it was him (his spirit) in the room with me knowing he had been in my mind and thoughts. This weekend I hope to go to the cemetery to see him, say some prayers and thank him for his service and giving his life for us and to tell him he is not forgotten.

Goodnight my brothers - I will always remember you.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

An Act of Kindness

I often read or hear of "Acts of Kindness" towards our servicemen and their families. There have been a number of times when someone sends an E-mail regarding those "Acts of Kindness" when I'm at work in my cubicle. They bring quick tears to my eyes and I have to do all I can to actually try not to cry as I try to read the article and hope no one comes into my cube. It brings such overwhelming feelings and warmth to my heart to hear these wonderful things. I hope they continue and our citizens keep realizing the sacrifices our service men and women give to our country so we may have our freedoms.

In hearing of these stories, etc. I also think back regarding "Acts of Kindness" that me and my fellow Vietnam Veterans may have received. I would love to be able to say we too were met with those "Acts of Kindness" but know that is not the case. In thinking back, I can only remember one.

I arrived back in the states on Thanksgiving night and finally ended up at San Francisco International Airport around 11:00 p.m. My flight was scheduled to leave for Omaha at around 9:00 a.m. the following morning. I spent the entire time walking the terminal - back and forth. I would see other service men who just returned doing the same. Little conversation took place, just an acknowledging look as we passed. Only once did I speak with a returning GI when he asked if I was old enough to rent a car so we could leave the airport. I do not ever remember speaking with a civilian. And I was scared and lonely for those I left behind. My thoughts were more of them than seeing my family the next day.

The next morning I boarded the plane and as I was walking down the aisle of the plane I saw an older lady who I would be sitting next to. "Shit" I said to myself, she is going to bitch at me as I smoke on this flight I thought as I got closer to my seat. When I got there I sat down and soon the plane took off. I don't' think the wheels were off the ground when she lit up. Relief. I lit up and took that long needed drag of my cigarette. After we reached our flying altitude the "Stewardess" started to serve lunch and we just had ours served. The older lady next to me spoke for the first time and asked me where I was going and I told her home. She asked where I had been and I said Vietnam. She said something to the effect of "Welcome Home" and then cut her meal in half and put it in my plate on the tray. She said that I really needed this meal more than she did.

You know, I don't' think she said much of anything else nor did I. But I will never forget that "Act of Kindness". To most this may seem a small and somewhat insignificant. I thought of it as nice and was actually embarrassed by it at the time. But as time went by I came to realize to me this is a major "Act of Kindness" from a complete stranger and probably the only one I ever received on returning to the World. I will always remember her and that day.