Monday afternoon
10 Nov. 1969
I’m on the hot pad again, this time from 1200-1800! We flew last night and it really turned into a nightmare. We took off at 2140 for B-52 escort. We got back to Chu Lai about 2330, but the weather was bad, we were low on fuel, and the runway was closed because some guy had blown a tire on the runway. So we diverted to Danang and spent the night. Got to bed at 0200 and up at 0600! When we have the hot pad, it’s plenty hard to get enough sleep.
Today is the Marine Corps’ birthday. We’re having a ball tonight but I won’t get to stay for all of it because I have a 2000 brief for a TPQ! I said I wanted to fly when I came here, but I didn’t have in mind such inconvenient times.
Saw Don Mikulka in Danang. He is in the squadron up there that they tried to talk me into getting in! He’s been here nearly 2 weeks and hasn’t flown yet. I understand that John Allen went to Japan. He wanted to come to Vietnam real bad. But I imagine he’ll manage to have a good time up there!
I’ve lost count of how many points I have toward my air medal, but I think I have nineteen points. So I only need one more point to get my fourth ribbon. I’ve already earned combat action ribbon, Vietnam campaign ribbon, and of course, the national defense ribbon. And if I’m here six months I’ll earn another campaign ribbon for five ribbons. That’ll look a lot better than one ribbon!
Some consolation for having to be over here in this miserable place fighting this miserable war, thousands of miles from my loved ones!
Where I flew last night is classified “top secret”, the highest there is.
Photo - officer's club, Chu Lai
Are you on an individual ego? Who gives a rat ass on how many air medals you got. Folks flew and they died and on the ground they supported and some died. Don't give a pigs ass on how high your secret clearance goes.
ReplyDeleteSo stuff your ego many before you made the ultimate and did not Brag about it. Your Top Clearance means NOTHING!
ReplyDeleteMy name is TJ Ripper.. Plane Captain and Jet Mechanic for the F4 who knew many pilots and rios and served 1967 to 1969. Guess what I also had a top secret clearance so go go stuff your ego and self into a combat bag. U R disgusting.
ReplyDeleteTJ Ripper AKA:Unknown ....
DeleteWhy did you only serve two years?
Are you the same "Unknown" who posted the previous two comments?
Which branch of the service were you in and was any of your service done "in country"?
I served four years a part of which was in country with a Marine Corps F4j fighter squadron as a Comm/Nav/ECM/Crypto technician and knew Pilots & Rios just like you did, and I would say that although aircrew men might have had an immense ego, in response to your comments I would also say that you are the one with the ego problem not the original poster, Marinemajor.