If anyone is willing to share any wartime or combat experience, it would be very interesting for all of us.
Do you have any wartime or combat experience you would like to share?
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This is a great question. My service time was all during peacetime. I would say that one of my great regrets in life is that I never had the opportunity to be part of something as historic as a war, where my actions really may have meant something. I've had friends involved in everything from Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, The Gulf War, and now Iraq and Afghanistan. I may be lucky in the eyes of some folks, but as for me? I wish I had participated for my country and the honor of my family. Oh well, life goes on.
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I'm sure you could join the French Foreign League.
94120 Fontenay-sous-Bois
Fort de Nogent
FRANCE
Telephone 1-48-49-68
94120 Fontenay-sous-Bois
Fort de Nogent
FRANCE
Telephone 1-48-49-68
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Well, what do you have in mind? What about the USCG? I think they're short of people.
Thanks, but my whole point was that during my service time, I regretted not being involved in a conflict of importance. I've got a child and a wife to care for at the present time...plus I'm in my forties. Not the most desirable age for a tired old Infantry soldier to be of any use....I checked right after 9/11.
Thank you though, for the heartfelt concern.
Thank you though, for the heartfelt concern.
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Oh, I was only afraid I noticed some Lt. Dan syndrome. Remember Forrest Gump? How everyone in Lt. Dan's family had died in combat and Dan was angry when Forrest saved him and left him a cripple for life?
Isn't it just a little bit twisted to be disappointed by the fact that there was no war going on when you were in the military? Shouldn't you be grateful that you didn't have to risk your life or take the lives of 'enemies'?
You don't have to be in battle to serve your country, you do it every day if you want to, in dozens of ways.
You don't have to be in battle to serve your country, you do it every day if you want to, in dozens of ways.
MarkC,
Why did anything I said in my post call for you to insult me? I said nothing to make anybody upset, I merely expressed my opinion. Can't I have an opinion designed as a reply to drive it forever's original question? And why the parenthesis around the word enemies? Do you not believe that the United States has ever had enemies?
You know, sometimes it really gets old getting attacked so frequently for having an opinion on a board meant for opinions....or is it really?
Remember this, an opinion differing than the status quo is the one that stimulates thought and discourse....not the repetition of the herd.
Try and give it more thought next time, for civility sake.
Moderator, please allow thread to continue.
Why did anything I said in my post call for you to insult me? I said nothing to make anybody upset, I merely expressed my opinion. Can't I have an opinion designed as a reply to drive it forever's original question? And why the parenthesis around the word enemies? Do you not believe that the United States has ever had enemies?
You know, sometimes it really gets old getting attacked so frequently for having an opinion on a board meant for opinions....or is it really?
Remember this, an opinion differing than the status quo is the one that stimulates thought and discourse....not the repetition of the herd.
Try and give it more thought next time, for civility sake.
Moderator, please allow thread to continue.
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I thought this thread was supposed to be about sharing "any wartime or combat experience" and not the lack thereof. I think we got a bit off track here.
I have known people who have won the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. Whenever I would ask them about what happened and what they did to earn that honor, they never wanted to talk about it.
My dad and uncle served in WW2. He never talked about his experiences in the war, only that he was in China/Burma in army air corps. My uncle was in Europe as a corpsman got shot in the back. I only learned that he was a corpsman recently. Apparently, many of that generation didn't see it as an opportunity. I almost had my opportunity to serve in Vietnam, came real close to be drafted in the 70's. They weren't giving out student deferments then.
I didn't mean my comments as an attack, andrews, just to state my opinion, which should be as valued as your own, okay?
And they aren't parentheses around the word enemies, they're quotation marks of a kind. And no, I'm not saying we never had enemies, just that often the ones killed are not them.
Again, I apologize if I offended you, I was just wondering why not be grateful you didn't have to go to war.
And they aren't parentheses around the word enemies, they're quotation marks of a kind. And no, I'm not saying we never had enemies, just that often the ones killed are not them.
Again, I apologize if I offended you, I was just wondering why not be grateful you didn't have to go to war.
Uncle Jim enlisted in the Marine Corps a year before Pearl Harbor. He unit went into Guadalcanal a month or so after the first landing. He has shared many tales, some I have never read in the history books. Brutal, dirty, kill to survive fighting. Wounded on Guam he spent a year in a hospital.
Called back for Korea he was at the Frozen Chosin, a gunny sargeant in charge of a machine-gun squad. He told of human wave attacks with thousands of dead Chi-coms left in front of their battallions position. He was wounded during the "advance in a different direction," what could be called a strategic withdrawal. Recuperated and sent to guard the embassy in Saigon where they taught their pet monkey to throw monkey turds at officers. THe monkey's name? Ho Chi.
Called back for Korea he was at the Frozen Chosin, a gunny sargeant in charge of a machine-gun squad. He told of human wave attacks with thousands of dead Chi-coms left in front of their battallions position. He was wounded during the "advance in a different direction," what could be called a strategic withdrawal. Recuperated and sent to guard the embassy in Saigon where they taught their pet monkey to throw monkey turds at officers. THe monkey's name? Ho Chi.
Here's an odd episode. During the Frozen Chosin his squad was overrun. It was night and very dark so they scrambled off to get back to safety. While creeping through the night they came upon a company of Chi-coms, coming up to take advantage of what was a temporary break in the Marine defensive line. A Chinese officer in front of the column shouted at them..... a mere few yards away.... remember, it was a very dark night. The squad had split up to ease evasion. Uncle Jim was with 2 lower-ranking Marines. They rose and raised their hands, expecting to be shot on the spot. The Chi-com officer motioned them closer while dozens of rifles were aimed at them. Drawing close, hands raised, the officer yelled at them in...... Chinese. After a torrent of words the officer pointed and yelled. Afraid to move, the Marines just stood there. The officer pointed and yelled again. THe Marines stood still. Again, the officer yelled but this time grabbed Uncle Jim and kicked him HARD in the butt. The Marines stood still. Another kick, HARD, followed by yelling and Uncle Jim said "Screw this" and told the other two Marines to run. Expecting a volley of shots to drop them.... they ran into the dark, where they eventually made their way back to American lines and safety.
Why did that Chi-com officer do what he did? Did an American Christian missionary prior to the Commies taking over Chins do a kind act that was reciprocated? Was that Chinese officer just a "decent Joe"??? We have talked about it but all is just guessing. A minute detail in a large affair that keeps the clan wondering to this day.
Why did that Chi-com officer do what he did? Did an American Christian missionary prior to the Commies taking over Chins do a kind act that was reciprocated? Was that Chinese officer just a "decent Joe"??? We have talked about it but all is just guessing. A minute detail in a large affair that keeps the clan wondering to this day.
Grandpa's brother landed on Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6, 1944. Severely wounded he died 6 days later. Buried in Normandy in a nearby cemetary. One of thousands. Dad was aboard a troopship meandering the Pacific Ocean. Okinawa, Leyte, other places. Job was to maintain order among the thousands of "dog faces" aka Army troops. Dump 'em off and pick 'em up. Protected by warships the Japanese never got close enough to attack.
You, sir, do not understand the mentality of a soldier, especially an infantryman.
Steaming up the Saigon River, April 1975. USS Schofield DEG-3, an itty bitty destroyer escort. 240 crew, most the dregs of American society. No children of the wealthy and/or elites among us.
Ordered to prepare to defend Saigon we readied the 5" "gun", and manned the rails with various armaments. I was up by the missile launcher, trusty M-60 machine-gun ready to rock & roll with 500 rounds and 2 loadrs with 5,000 linked rounds at the ready.
Hundreds of sampans and various little boats filled with those fleeing the advancing North Vietnamese Army (NVA) were shoved aside by our wake. Many wailing as they lifted their arms toward us, pleading to be taken aboard and taken away to safety.
An officer ran from person to person, telling of a radioed warning telling of VC sappers amongst the refugees, throwing satchel charges at US and S. Vietnamese forces. Our hands tightened on the grips and our eyes scanned the horde of boats, looking for the movement that would preceed a flung explosive.
The engines were throttled back as we proceeded at but a few knots, perhaps 5 mph. The captain was in no hurry to get to Saigon.
Several hours went by as the river banks drew closer together. In the distance we heard the booming of thunder. But, the clouds were few and were white. Was that artillery?
Runners kept us informed of events. The radio was full of reports. American units were situated all over S. Vietnam but we was the only unit on the Saigon River. No air support, no other ships..... just 240 average joes with a ship-wide average age of around 19 years. I was all of 18, just reaching the age of majority a couple months earlier. Yeah, I was one of those going in at 17.
Onward we steamed, slowly drawing closer to our fate. Well, what we thought would be our fate. We envisioned arriving at the Saigon port facilites where our 5" dealer of death would bark at the bad guys while we ran ashore to repel the Commie hordes. No one aboard the ship knew what awaited us. The officers made their plans and kept sending runners to keep us informed. Mostly, we were just confused. The tactical radio net was ablaze, dozens of voices chiming in with reports, orders, it was mayhem with no one apparently knowing what was supposed to be done. All we knew for sure was we were getting closer.... closer.....
Ordered to prepare to defend Saigon we readied the 5" "gun", and manned the rails with various armaments. I was up by the missile launcher, trusty M-60 machine-gun ready to rock & roll with 500 rounds and 2 loadrs with 5,000 linked rounds at the ready.
Hundreds of sampans and various little boats filled with those fleeing the advancing North Vietnamese Army (NVA) were shoved aside by our wake. Many wailing as they lifted their arms toward us, pleading to be taken aboard and taken away to safety.
An officer ran from person to person, telling of a radioed warning telling of VC sappers amongst the refugees, throwing satchel charges at US and S. Vietnamese forces. Our hands tightened on the grips and our eyes scanned the horde of boats, looking for the movement that would preceed a flung explosive.
The engines were throttled back as we proceeded at but a few knots, perhaps 5 mph. The captain was in no hurry to get to Saigon.
Several hours went by as the river banks drew closer together. In the distance we heard the booming of thunder. But, the clouds were few and were white. Was that artillery?
Runners kept us informed of events. The radio was full of reports. American units were situated all over S. Vietnam but we was the only unit on the Saigon River. No air support, no other ships..... just 240 average joes with a ship-wide average age of around 19 years. I was all of 18, just reaching the age of majority a couple months earlier. Yeah, I was one of those going in at 17.
Onward we steamed, slowly drawing closer to our fate. Well, what we thought would be our fate. We envisioned arriving at the Saigon port facilites where our 5" dealer of death would bark at the bad guys while we ran ashore to repel the Commie hordes. No one aboard the ship knew what awaited us. The officers made their plans and kept sending runners to keep us informed. Mostly, we were just confused. The tactical radio net was ablaze, dozens of voices chiming in with reports, orders, it was mayhem with no one apparently knowing what was supposed to be done. All we knew for sure was we were getting closer.... closer.....
Finally!!!!!! A definitive order!!!!! The runners lept as they spread the word...... Evacuate!!!!! Do not fight!!!!!
As the excited voices shouted out the words I could feel the vibrations as the ship's engines reacted to the steam entering the turbine. The roar of the superchargers and the exhaust of the stack combined with the propeller digging into the water. With a blast of the ear-piercing ship's steam whistle (to warn the multitude of little boats close aboard), the ship heeled about and headed downriver to the safety of the open ocean at nearly top speed. Wooooosh!!!!!!!!!!
As the excited voices shouted out the words I could feel the vibrations as the ship's engines reacted to the steam entering the turbine. The roar of the superchargers and the exhaust of the stack combined with the propeller digging into the water. With a blast of the ear-piercing ship's steam whistle (to warn the multitude of little boats close aboard), the ship heeled about and headed downriver to the safety of the open ocean at nearly top speed. Wooooosh!!!!!!!!!!
Looking back, remembering the bafflement of who among the "civilians" might be a threat, an enemy wanting to kill us, I can sympathize with those who felt that way for a year (13 months for Marines)..... those in-country humping the bush or at a firebase or a support base or even the Saigon Warriors who could be attacked by a VC any time they transited from housing to work or whatever. That must have been mentally exhausting. I know that I and others dropped to the deck with fatique after those hours of staring....staring....looking for that one precursoe to a thrown satchel charge or the flash of a weapon firing from the treeline along the riverbank that drew closer as we went upriver. Just one day of that. How did those guys do it for an entire year and return home "normal"???
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