I just heard from my...........

[homebudz]

doorgunner from my first tour in Vietnam.What a rush.I havn't seen or heard from him in 34 years!He is now a Captain in the merchant marines.This is a great way to start the day.Peace.

[~Sam~]

Really Cool, Homebudz! The Merchant Marines, you say? What a way to see the world... and taste it too. Nice to run into old friends you haven't seen in years, isn't it?

I went to school (when I was 47) with a door gunner... name was Lynn. We were having a beer one day at lunch and we were talking about M-16's and Mini 14's... told him that when I discharged mine more than 8 or 9 times that the barrel would glow cherry red. Said that he had to unlock his barrel and knock it to the floor of the Huey and put a new one on when that happened.

He was also telling me a story about when he got home and folks would ask him how he could kill women and children..."Simple he said...'I just slow down my lead.'"

You have a Good One, Budz... ERE... I just packed in fresh.

[teepi]

Budz,

Thats so wonderful for you.

I don't have any gunner stories..lol

But I too have been in touch with about 10 people from about the same time frame in the last few years...people from EPP, and the feelings have been amazing, I put a few posts out there this last year and have had a few of those contacts come from that.

And of course I found Larry again after all those years....

Shows what a small whorld it is we have here.

I love to hear stories of reconnecting, thanks.

teepi

[luvndrumn]

budz, did you pilot the OH-6A or did you spot? How in de heck did a guy fit in the door of that ship with a gun?

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/oh6-001.gif

This was you chariot, right?

[homebudz]

Hi LV,thats the one.Well actually the pic you posted is of a newer one.That is what I flew on my second tour.My first was in a slick(UH-!D & H models)Maxwell was my doorgunner on my first tour in slicks.I am a crewchief(senior actually).Yes I did have to be able to fly it,quite often too.I was the only CE in our outfit that could hover/taxi/backup etc.At that time I could do it all and did on a daily basis.I also taught E&E(escape and evasion tatics)and taught all new pilots enemy weapons identification and rates of fire etc.It was on my second tour that I realized how wrong and fucked up the war was.My attitude changed and I said fuck the army and the dumbass politicians that brought us that war.That did not endear me to my superiors.


TEEPI,It is great to hear from people from our past.I really enjoy those surprises.

SAM,I always carried a spare barrel with me,as well as other parts for my pig.A spare bolt was helpfull as well.Plus I had all my survival gear too.I am sooo glad that shit is over.War sux bigtime!!!