High School Social Studies Class - Back Again

I was asked back again to the High School Social Studies Class who started studying Vietnam. I was asked to speak to three classes, each one hour and forty-five minutes. The teacher and I spoke and decided I'd follow the same format that we did late last year. I would speak of things in my life prior to being drafted and the being drafted, my time in the service - especially Vietnam and finish off with what happened to me after the service. I gave them some books, my helmet, dog tags, web belt, etc. along with some letters that I wrote home. They would have these for a week or two to look over before I came to school. My rules were that I do not consider myself a Mr. and to call me Mic and that any question is good. Based on the question I may answer it, not answer it or answer it privately. It's odd just how much I had to say and talk about and that each class was so different. I didn't have to really write anything down as it is always in my thoughts. Luckily, the teacher was there and would jump in with a question on something I had talked about in a different class she thought was important or just switch it up. The classes were very respectful and, except for one, the questions were few. One that I talked about that was of great interest was drugs in Vietnam, did I use drugs, etc. Those were not asked but some of my letters I gave to them addressed drug abuse since I worked at a hospital and we had that coming into the ER. The second was whether or not I used drugs which was a no. On that, I told them of growing up in a family with an alcoholic father and what I saw as far a GI's on drugs and the impacts to them and that because of that I had no desire to use drugs. However I did tell them that there were several times I did drink and it somewhat disatrous. My biggest concern was that I was telling them stories of my time in Vietnam is that I would not do it honorably. I tried to cover all the bases, the strange, the funny, the painful, death and the terrible sadness. A week or two after the classes I again received a large envelope with notes from some of the students. I was so touched by them and answered a number of them who had questions or said something that touched me and I want to respond to them. What I'm thinking is that over the next week or so I'm going to put the words of a few of them on this blog. I was touched and pleased with what they had to say and want to share them should anyone read this blog.

Memorial Day - 2016

Today is Memorial Day and we went to the different cemeteries to put flowers on parents, grandsons, sister, and loved ones graves. I also stopped at the gravesite of a young man, whose mother I worked with when I was 14. He was a year older than I and went to Vietnam a year or so before I did. He was killed in Vietnam in a helicopter crash after serving approximately 43 days. As usual I looked for graves of Veterans with military headstones especially those from Vietnam, and paid my respects. I have to go to another cemetery tomorrow to pay my respects to a guy I knew when I was 14. He was also a Vietnam Veteran. His family is gone and there is really no one left. I don't want him to be forgotten. It is hard to explain this but I find myself so saddened seeing graves of Vietnam Veterans. More so than my families. I try to figure this out and come up with some reason for this and try not to feel so uncaring for my own family and ashamed my feelings aren't as strong. I guess that I feel a closer connection to those who served. They were a real family to me. We knew no one, were young, and put in the same situation. Friendships seemed to grow fast and we laughed, borrowed and lent money, got drunk together, shared our lives and were showed our many emotions. I have always felt a loss especially for those I was with prior to, or at the time of, their death while at the 24th. I'm just feel so confused right not at this time. I also feel a loss for my friend Norm who I was stationed with at Ft. Carson after Vietnam. I found out he had died at 29 and never got the chance to meet up with him after I left Ft. Carson. He helped me a great deal after my return to the states. I'm rambling so much in this so I have just sign off. To all who served, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Vietnam Veterans Day - March 29.2016

Well, tomorrow is Vietnam Veterans day - 50 years or so. For me it's 46 years since I was there and assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. To some it may seem like a long time ago but to me it is like yesterday. It is something I have never forgotten from getting my orders for Vietnam, the flight there (R2B3), the smells, sounds, people, etc. I remember those I served with and their dedication and skill that saved so many lives. I especially remember the radio crackling to life with the call coming in "Queen Tonic", this is "Wide Minnow". The call would then go into the casualties on board be it urgent urology, frag wounds, traumatic amputations to limbs, head wounds, a "Stewardess" injured in turbulence on an incoming flight or DOA's. Regardless of the call one could not be sure of what was truly on that chopper, the condition of GI's or just how many may be on board. No matter what, the 24th and their staff were there waiting to treat those incoming causalities. I have kept so much inside for all these years and have always carried such guilt tor not being wounded or killed. I guess I am in some ways coming to terms with that and that I did my very best and hopefully saved lives because of my actions. It may sound odd but I have felt such loss since being in the service, especially from my time in Vietnam. I miss those I served with, my friends and those incoming GI's whose path crossed with mine. I so want to know how their life ended up and for those who died how their families are and to let them know I always have them in my heart and prayers. So, on the 50th year I just want to say I was honored to have served, to have met and served with some of the best people one could want to serve with and to just say I remember and will never forget.

At times he is coherent.

When the 24hr Report was added to my duties at the 24th I was required to gather a sheet from all the wards that listed discharges, deaths, patient moves, reason for admission, type of injury, type of amputation, DOA, etc. Once I gathered that information I had to compile it into a report and call it in right around midnight. That in itself was a huge challenge as I barely made it through high school and my math skills were non-existent. I struggled trying to put that report together and during the first few weeks held up the personal putting together the report for all hospitals. I felt so stupid and dumb. Luckily I was finally able to master this report. Some time ago I was attending at church and was hit with the vivid memory of the worst wound I remember from Ward 5. It was the last ward to gather this information was Ward 5 for GI's with Head and Maxofacial injuries. It was when I first started gathering the reports. As I picked up the report and walked through that Ward I saw and stopped by a young GI's bed. He had bandages wrapped around his upper head. At the area of where his forehead was, or would appear to be, were two metal posts coming out of that area. Attached to them were wires that then went down to where his cheeks would have been and attached to that area. He had no face and just slits as to where his eyes and nose would have been and I believe one for his mouth area as well. Above him was a sign which said "Do not say anything about how he looks. At times he is coherent". From what I remember, this young GI was hit in the face with a rocket propelled grenade. Years later in the 90's People magazine ran an issue regarding the war, Vietnam and people who served. My mom sent me this issue as I lived in Denver and has not seen it. In this issue was pictures and a story of a young GI at the 24th who had been hit in the face with a Rocket Propelled grenade and had his story as well as one of the nurses who took care of him. I have wondered if this was the young man I saw or it was different GI. I think of that young man I saw and wonder what happened to him. Sometimes I want to know so much about those that crossed my path but know I never will. Perhaps it is better that way, I don't know but I do remember them and my thoughts have always been with them.

Promises for Veterans by Presidential Candidates

Well, it is getting close to the time that we will be choosing a new President. I believe all of them who have thrown their hat into the ring is bringing up their support for Veterans. I find that rather odd as many of them who are currently in office or have been office have not been supportive of veterans. One only needs to take a look at their voting record. Have they voted for or against bills favoring veterans? Have their actions in office actually hurt veterans, veteran care, veteran families, etc. I find it a shame that one expects, or tries, to get their support by their promises to veterans yet they have proven failure in supporting veterans. I guess this issues is like other issues / promises they will be making. Regardless, they will be the Head of this Country when elected and hopefully they will truly support current service men, veterans and their families. Without them we would not be the free and great Country we are.

R & R in Hong Kong

Tom (my best friend in Nam and Hootch mate) decided to go on R&R together. After some discussion we chose Hong Kong. He told me he heard that hotels picks were given by highest rank first. He got me the name of a hotel and asked me to write to them and get reservations. Really sounds strange doing that now but I did and got reservations. The night before we left Nam we traveled by bus from Long Binh to Ton Son Nhut airbase where we spend the night. The following day we flew from Vietnam to Hong Kong on Pan Am. Once we were at cruising altitude the Captain made an announcement stating the cockpit door would be open and for us to come and say hi to them. They also served a really nice meal. I also remember gum hanging in the lavatory which looked much like individual Chiclet gum. There was lots of looking out the windows as we flew over Vietnam and was just a relaxed and enjoyable flight. Why not? Once we landed and went through customs we had to get in line to get a hotel. Since we could show we had reserved rooms we were released and on our way to the hotel. I was literally shocked when we arrived. it was simply beautiful and right on the Harbor. I walked in and told Tom I can't stay here. I think he had stayed at places like this but I was from a very poor family and basically just in shock. Before checking in he suggested that we change our rooms and share on as we could get a nicer Harbor view and after all, we shared a Hootch. So we changed our rooms. And yes, we were just a few floors from the top and had this wonderful view of the Harbor, the Star Ferry going back and forth and in the distance you could see the Queen Elizabeth anchored. This hotel had a beautiful dining room with a huge dance floor and orchestra, or at least what I thought was an Orchestra. They cooked flaming meals at your table and was just so unbelievable to me. At the bar the in the hotel I seem to remember they served hamburgers on freshly made buns and home made chips. We had a waitress named Lily at the bar and she was great and funny. We kept buying drinks for the English piano player and he'd keep raising his glass to us with each new drink. We thought it would be funny to try to get him drunk. Even though they had a push button elevator, they had a man dressed in black pants and white jacket who would push the button for you. It was almost immediate that they knew us and called us Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Hamilton. Well, it's late and I'll get some Zzzzz's and then enter more over the next few days on Hong Kong, the people and my wonderful stay.

Chicken Unlimited and Fortune Cookies

I was eating a Fortune Cookie after some Chinese tonight and it brought back a very nice memory I had from Ft. Carson. There was a young GI stationed with me. He was from Hong Kong and Chinese. I believe most of his family was here in the States. He would fly down the hall of the barracks like Bruce Lee. He was such a funny guy. He went to Chicago to see his brother a couple times and always returned with some coupons for Chicken Unlimited and a huge bag of Fortune Cookies. We'd have a nice chicken dinner off base thanks to him. And of course we chowed down on those damn Chinese Cookies. It was so strange. It's not something one would think of eating except for having one after your Chinese meal. But there we were almost getting sick on these Cookies and reading all those fortunes. He made a couple trips while I was stationed there and it was always the same. He was one funny guy.