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[17 Oaks]

US Army retired in South Texas...a bad day on my John Deere is better than the best day in an office...

 

[Thomas]

:welcome: to TBN...enjoy.

 

[Spanner]

US Army retired in South Texas...a bad day on my John Deere is better than the best day in an office...

Welcome and thank you for your service.

Nothing runs like a Deere!

:wrench:

 

[mddorange]

:thumbsup:
Welcome to TBN. Glad that you joined with us here.

Thanks for your service. How long were you in and when did you retire?

How much land are you taking care of and what are you raising besides dust?

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:

 

[17 Oaks]

:thumbsup:
Welcome to TBN. Glad that you joined with us here.

Thanks for your service. How long were you in and when did you retire?

How much land are you taking care of and what are you raising besides dust?

Drafted in '67, ended up retiring in 94. Messed with some goats for a while, now doing honey bees, its an old cattle ranch that needed a LOT of work...

 

[mddorange]

Drafted in '67, ended up retiring in 94. Messed with some goats for a while, now doing honey bees, its an old cattle ranch that needed a LOT of work...

That is how I wound up in the Air Force was to beat the draft and stay out of Nam. I did wind up in Nam but flying around in a C130 was a lot better than "Running Through The Jungle."

 

[17 Oaks]

That is how I wound up in the Air Force was to beat the draft and stay out of Nam. I did wind up in Nam but flying around in a C130 was a lot better than "Running Through The Jungle."

If you believe that then ask me what its like to run around that jungle for 12+ mo.

HIGHLIGHT of the tour: Some reason had to go back to HQ, came off the DMZ and over to LZ English, caught a C 130 down to Phu Cat AFB and was thumbing a ride to the gate. ½ ton Chevy stops and tells me to get in. I do and feeling sorry for the guy cause I prob stunk to high heaven, I am filthy, no shirt just a flack jacket and we get to talking. He asks a lot of questions and I finally look over and its HOLY CHIT, I am in a truck with a 2 star...I tell him quicktime SIR I will ride in the back of the truck, so sorry. He tells me no sweat GI as I try to climb out window to get in the bed of the truck. Then he tells me he is the GEEIA CO and I reply, Ground Electronic Engineering Agency. He is dumbfouned and I tell him my dad was the CO way back when.

Well now I am his son. He asks how long am I down for and tell him few hours and back if I can get a ride. He takes care of that for me and tells me to report back to him. I do and he puts me up in Field Grade quarters, how private showers, flushing crappers and AC WOW! Tells me to clean up and tells a guy to take me over and pick me up at 1800. I am now showered but still look like crap with no shave and rags for fatigues. We go to the O club for Wed night, (I remember because Wed night is all the steak and booze you can drink). So I chow down and he and his staff think I am John Wayne, I am a for real combat soldier. They all wanted to hear war stories and to me it was just doing my job and normal.

Next day I am picked up and taken over to get fresh clothes, boots, socks everything and my driver takes me back to his office. We talk about my dad he didn't know him but knew of him. Then he asks: What do you guys out there want or need? Sir maybe if I could get over and buy a case or 2 of Budweiser and Coke Cola. He gets on the horn and next thing I know I am out on the airfield in my own C 130, a pallet of Bud and pallet of coke (160 cases). We land at LZ English and I call my buddy from Tx who is a Pathfinder and tell him I need a Chinook to come and get me and my beer and coke. The CO asks me how the **** did I pull this off and they guys thought I was a hero.

Stopped by later on and brought him some AK47's for him and his staff...

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Amen to your 'day on a tractor' statement.

Enjoy the site.

 

[mddorange]

Don,

HIGHLIGHT of my tour was our bird was selected to fly Bob Hope and his Christmas group around Nam. That group included Raquel Welch, The Gold Diggers, Miss America, Connie Francis, Les Brown and others. Hope was as friendly as could be and any time we were delayed, for maintenance, fuel, people, or anything, he would make jokes to keep everyone loose. All Connie Francis ever did was *****, *****, ***** about everything. She didn't want to talk to anyone who didn't wear an eagle or a star and treated everyone else like a dirt. Hope talked to every one and so did all the others in the group. The wing graphics guy designed a poster depicting our bird and caricatures of each star on it and had them autograph it and we all got a copy.

 

[17 Oaks]

Don,

HIGHLIGHT of my tour was our bird was selected to fly Bob Hope and his Christmas group around Nam. That group included Raquel Welch, The Gold Diggers, Miss America, Connie Francis, Les Brown and others. Hope was as friendly as could be and any time we were delayed, for maintenance, fuel, people, or anything, he would make jokes to keep everyone loose. All Connie Francis ever did was *****, *****, ***** about everything. She didn't want to talk to anyone who didn't wear an eagle or a star and treated everyone else like a dirt. Hope talked to every one and so did all the others in the group. The wing graphics guy designed a poster depicting our bird and caricatures of each star on it and had them autograph it and we all got a copy.

Mike, WOW, how cool, Bob Hope, a true American Hero and patriot, something you don't find to much of today.


Thanks to all for the welcome, much appreciated...

 

[Spanner]

Hi Don,
Your intro will deviate away from tractors due to your service history, but I'm sure any Q's you have re: four wheels will be answered just as enthusiastically.

For my part, I was too young for VN but at the Transport museum where I volunteer in the Military Vehicle section, I count as a friend an ex. Battery Sergeant Major of #161 Battery, Royal NZ Artillery. This group were principals in the Battle of Long Tan.

We have an M113 and a VN-era Royal NZ Army Land Rover amongst our collection, which I am charged with the care of.



:wrench:

 

[mddorange]

Mike, WOW, how cool, Bob Hope, a true American Hero and patriot, something you don't find to much of today.


Thanks to all for the welcome, much appreciated...

That he was. When we were notified of the honor, our loader asked me what would happen if we were shot down and I told him that they would probably nuke them until they glowed and pave the whole country over.

 

[17 Oaks]

Hi Don,
Your intro will deviate away from tractors due to your service history, but I'm sure any Q's you have re: four wheels will be answered just as enthusiastically.

For my part, I was too young for VN but at the Transport museum where I volunteer in the Military Vehicle section, I count as a friend an ex. Battery Sergeant Major of #161 Battery, Royal NZ Artillery. This group were principals in the Battle of Long Tan.

We have an M113 and a VN-era Royal NZ Army Land Rover amongst our collection, which I am charged with the care of.

View attachment 515324

:wrench:

NOW that is COOL! Really cool stuff. Got you guys on my list for travel, my dad spent time down under about 3 years or so and he really liked it. Hope I can make it someday for sure!

 

[Spanner]

You will be made very welcome sir, as I hope your father was.

:drink:

:wrench:

 

[mddorange]

Hi Don,
Your intro will deviate away from tractors due to your service history, but I'm sure any Q's you have re: four wheels will be answered just as enthusiastically.

For my part, I was too young for VN but at the Transport museum where I volunteer in the Military Vehicle section, I count as a friend an ex. Battery Sergeant Major of #161 Battery, Royal NZ Artillery. This group were principals in the Battle of Long Tan.

We have an M113 and a VN-era Royal NZ Army Land Rover amongst our collection, which I am charged with the care of.

View attachment 515324

:wrench:

Hey Spanner, all the Aussies I met in Nam were the craziest and meanest SOB's there. Everyone feared them, especially the VC. We made the trip down there every 3 months to take payroll and pouches. I even had me a gal there for awhile that I would stay with each time, but a call from the states cost $22 a minute so that didn't last long.

 

[Spanner]

Yes Mike. Aussies - We keep clear of them too! :wink:
:wrench:

 

[TBN Support]

:welcome:

Welcome to the forum.

I may have to borrow that quote. :thumbsup:

 

[Spanner]

Lol.
It was really a bit of a teaser for Wagtail. :wink:
:wrench:

 

[mddorange]

Yes Mike. Aussies - We keep clear of them too! :wink:
:wrench:

Sorry Spanner! I miss read your post and for some reason I thought your were from Down Under and not NZ. I guess I should have taken a nap first.