May 10 is kind of a tough day for me, psychologically.

[Redstone]

It's the date in 1972 when I got hurt really bad in that little town called An Loc.

It's also my mother's birthday. I didn't get to call her that year and wish her a happy birthday, for obvious reasons.

She died in 1990 at the age of 58 from melanoma, and never knew that my injuries were not, in fact, from having been in a car accident in Santa Monica, California...which was the story that she and the rest of my family got, and still believe to this day.

Oh, the tangled web we weave... I had damn good reasons at the time, why I never told her where I really was. I did.

Thank you all for listening.

Redstone

[no name no slogan]

1. :hug:

We're thinking about you, man. Thanks for your service to your country.

:hug:

[TOhioLiberal]

2. Redstone:

:hug::patriot:

[SPKrazy]

3. Thanks to you

for your service and your courage in dealing with the things you struggle with!

[Left Is Write]

4. I have a history with May 10 too, but nothing like that.

:hug: for you.

[Flaxbee]

5. hi Redstone -- I'm just glad you made it out of there in

one piece. At least the day is almost over for another year. I'm sure you had excellent reasons for doing what you did -- no one can ever know what it's really like, all you can know is that you did your best. Hang in there; we've got your back.

By the way - anything ever come of the attemtps to catch Bucky?

[Redstone]

12. Turns out that the Buckster was not really a stray. We had the trap set up in the side yard, loaded

with food, then our Animal Control lady found out that he actually belonged to someone who lived on the next street over; someone who couldn't be bothered to keep him at home or even put a collar on him.

All that concern and caring and work, just because of an ignorant pet owner. The Animal Control Officer read the owner the Riot Act, and we haven't seen him since.

But we do have a permanent notice in, that if that ignorant owner ends up having the dog taken from him because he's not taking care of the dog, we have a place in our house and our heart for Bucky. He'll have a good life, either because his owner will see the light, or we'll take over the responsibility.

Bucky thanks you for caring and asking, I'm sure.

Redstone

[lost-in-nj]

6. You know

my ears are wide open, and my
mind and arms and heart are here for anyone
that needs them



:pals:


lost

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Jeez, your mother never knew that you were in Vietnam???

How did you keep that from her? Family relations must have been damned difficult.

[Redstone]

11. I worked for a company under contract to the Air Force, and they had PLENTY of cover

stories for us to use.

That's all I'm going to say, and probably should not have said that, but there it is.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

8. I'm so glad you made it out of there, Redstone.

Not telling your family is understandable. :hug:

[Redstone]

13. The Draft wouldn't have me because of my knees and other factors, but I thought I could find out

if the story about how my Big Brother died was true.

I didn't believe the official story. And I never found out during my own Quixotic quest if it was indeed true or not.

But in the year 2001, random lighting struck, and I learned the truth at last. Mike died exactly as they told us he had. I took a long walk on that cold day and was finally able to lay him to rest in my mind.

There's probably a lesson there somewhere, but I'm not going to look for it, because I'm about ready to let this night be done.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

21. I'm glad you were able to confirm things, Redstone.

It may or may not have been what you wanted, but I believe that in the end, the truth is the best.

[Redstone]

28. Actually, it did kind of end up being what I hoped it would be. He died quick and clean in combat,

like the Government said he did. I ended up finding that out from someone who was there at the time.

Still heartbreaking, but at least nothing sneaky from the Marines or the government.

Redstone

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

9. Hugs to you, Redstone

I'm sorry you have to bear this burden. :hug:

[Missy Vixen]

10. A gentle hug to you on what must be a sad anniversary

Thank you for your service to our country. :patriot:

I'm so glad you made it home.

Julie

[flvegan]

14. Big love, brother.

As I told my ex-fatherinlaw (infantry in 'Nam, two tours) I'm way too much of a wuss to ever jump from a chopper into fire. I've got mad respect for my military brothers and sisters, doing shit I know I couldn't do.

Big love, big respect. BIG respect.

[rockymountaindem]

15. Not a great day for me either

It's my last night in college residence after four great years. I'm sad to be leaving all the great people I've met. So, I guess that makes two of us in a funk today, although your reasons are certainly much more serious than mine.

Here's to hoping for a great tomorrow :toast:

[havocmom]

16. Peace, my friend. Go outside and breath in some peace for a bit.

You have earned that much.

Don't let the goblins cloud your view of the sky.

Your bones remind you. Your heart is stronger.

Go outside and breath in some peace this night

:hug:

[reyd reid reed]

17. Just...

:hug:

No words...just...

:hug::hug:

[wildhorses]

18. 0_0

:hug:

[merh]

19. Wishing you sweet dreams

:hug:

[question everything]

20. Sorry about that. Your mom was way too young to die

and having lost one son in Vietnam must have been hard for her all those years.

You obviously gained some insight into going to war and living with this for the rest of your life. Hope that this is just one day that does not let you forget, but that there are other days with happier memories.

[Redstone]

29. I should have clarified: I capitalized "Big Brother" because he wasn't my actual brother; he was my

next-door neighbor who took my younger self under his wing. I meant "Big Brother" in the sense of older mentor and guide and friend.

Redstone

[u4ic]

22. .

:hug:

[BlueIris]

23. Oh, my poor Redstone.

Hugs.

[Swede]

24. Hang in there bro.

Here's a couple websites that detail the NVA's spring offensive of 1972,for anyone interested.

http://www.spectrumwd.com/c130/articles/anloc.htm
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/thiet/thie_intro.pdf

[ismnotwasm]

25. Big hug

:hug:

[bigwillq]

26. Have a hug my man.

:hug:

You deserve one. :hug: Ok, there's another but don't push it! :P :hi:


You don't have to answer if you choose not to but they never knew you were in Vietnam?

[Redstone]

31. Oh, no problem in answering. I was not in the military, only WORKING for them, so as far as my

family knew, I was in California.

Just working for a company under contract to the Air Force. You remember those pictures from Gulf War 1, of General Schwarzkopf walking around with civilians carrying rifles next to him, instead of the military-uniformed bodyguards you would have expected him to have? Kinda sort of like that, but not exactly.

Advisor, that's the word I'm looking for. Remember reading about the American "Advisors?"

Redstone

[bigwillq]

33. Yes I remember.

And thanks for answering. :hi:

[Redstone]

38. PS: The program I was working for wasn't a BIG SECRET or anything; just little-known and probably

historically irrelevant. I'm not even sure whatever ended up happening to its results.

Just clarifying, because I don't want to sound like I'm implying that I was some kind of spook or CIA operative or anything like that, because that wasn't the case. But I did sign some papers about not blabbing details (like you do when you work for any company under contract to the military), so that's why I don't provide them.

But damn, $1500 a month seemed like good money in 1972, for a 19-year-old kid...

Redstone

[bigwillq]

39. Yeah, that was good money.

And I understand that you can't blab. I was just curious as to why the family didn't know...I just thought you served in the military and just curious as to why you wouldn't tell your family that.

:)

[skygazer]

27. Sometimes people are better off not knowing some things

Wishing you well, my friend. :hug:

[texas1928]

30. Know how it is, May 15 is my day.

It can be a bad day if I really think about it, but the last few years I have not realized it was the 15th til someone mentions it. I used to have nightmares for about a month leading up to the 15th, but they have become fewer and farther in between. It depends on the year though.

[Redstone]

32. Thank you. some years, I do forget as well.

Redstone

[MichiganVote]

34. Well you know, I think you did the right thing by your Mom.

And she had another 18 years to love you dearly without the pain and fear of knowing how close she came to losing you. That is a hell of a Mother's Day present, if you ask me.

[Gormy Cuss]

35. Today's the 11th.

You made it through another year, friend. I hope that the world looked better this morning.

[KitchenWitch]

36. Awww, I am sorry

And I understand.

:hug:

[LaraMN]

37. Hugs, darlin'.

We all do the best we can without the benefit of hindsight. Thinking of you.
:hug: