Thread: Where were you 51 years ago today?

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We were on float, reinforced combat battalion, in March of 63 heading back to the Philippines from Taiwan when were were diverted to 'Nam to supposedly to help calm the populace for whomever was the dictator at the time. We got close enough to see land, but never landed. Went back to 'pines and then back to Okinawa with a stop at Honk Kong. In June we went back to the States and in May of 65 the battalion was reformed and headed back to Okinawa some 3 months early. I was due to get out in Sept. and didn't want to reenlist so I moved on getting out in Jan of 66 from being extended for 3 months. The outfit I left was, I believe, made the first combat landing since Korea. I lost a friend or two and had trouble dealing with those that returned feeling guilty that I hadn't been there with them. I too served honorably and today I don't have any regrets.
I feel honored to have been able to serve and would gladly do it again.

I was with my crew drilling rock for dynamite loads to blast out holes to set power poles in, Stovepipe Canyon/Pipes Canyon north of Yucca Valley, California. That was a long day; our job got put on hold and we sat out the rest of the day waiting for something to happen, and The Navy contacted me through my employer and put me on short notice standby for recall for a couple of days..

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