Prequel to War
In the winter of 1967/1968 my one year tour of duty in Alaska was winding down to the last few months. At the same time the war in Vietnam was intensifying. Up above the Arctic circle, our radar kept an eye on the USSR, and the winter dropped to 95 below zero. Because of the remote duty, we were allowed to request where we'd like to next be assigned.
Three years into my four year enlistment, I was disappointed that I'd not been sent to Vietnam. Like most airmen, I was very patriotic and we were proud to help any small country fighting to be free. It seemed like a great cause, and I didn't want to miss out on the war.
When it was time to process out, in the orderly room I filled out my choice of my next assignment. On that form, I wrote in, Vietnam as my first choice.
It didn't take long for my orders to arrive. The reassignment orders read, Detachment 1, 619th Tactical Control Squadron, Unknown existence, APO 96236, Republic of South Vietnam.
After a thirty day leave at home with my mom, the Air Force sent me to weapons training at Hamilton AFB, Washington. There was only a handful of other airmen enrolled and I wondered what this was all about. Everyone knows the Air Force isn't involved in combat, except for air crew. But I had fun throwing hand grenades, and firing an M16. My favorite weapon was the M79 which was strapped underneath the regular M16. The M79 was like a shoulder fired mortar. That was a lot of destructive power for a twenty-one year old.
From there, I flew out of Travis AFB, California on a Pan American 707 jet across the blue Pacific. Nobody said much, we were all nervous I think. We landed in Hawaii, Guam, and Clark Air Base in the Philippine islands.
After a short flight I caught my first sight on Vietnam. Looking out from my window seat, I noticed the blood red sandy beach, with lush green jungle right up to the shore. The foreboding red coastline appeared to me as blood stained. But my rational mind knew that wasn't possible.
When it was time to process out, in the orderly room I filled out my choice of my next assignment. On that form, I wrote in, Vietnam as my first choice.
It didn't take long for my orders to arrive. The reassignment orders read, Detachment 1, 619th Tactical Control Squadron, Unknown existence, APO 96236, Republic of South Vietnam.
After a thirty day leave at home with my mom, the Air Force sent me to weapons training at Hamilton AFB, Washington. There was only a handful of other airmen enrolled and I wondered what this was all about. Everyone knows the Air Force isn't involved in combat, except for air crew. But I had fun throwing hand grenades, and firing an M16. My favorite weapon was the M79 which was strapped underneath the regular M16. The M79 was like a shoulder fired mortar. That was a lot of destructive power for a twenty-one year old.
From there, I flew out of Travis AFB, California on a Pan American 707 jet across the blue Pacific. Nobody said much, we were all nervous I think. We landed in Hawaii, Guam, and Clark Air Base in the Philippine islands.
After a short flight I caught my first sight on Vietnam. Looking out from my window seat, I noticed the blood red sandy beach, with lush green jungle right up to the shore. The foreboding red coastline appeared to me as blood stained. But my rational mind knew that wasn't possible.
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