Bad scab picked tonight: Viet Nam and the Jolly Greens/Sandys

[DemoTex]

On the Military Channel (Direct TV). It was a documentary way to good for words. It hit to the core of the true heroism of the Jolly Greens and Sandies. I worked with both, vis-a-vis my capability to DF NVA transmitter sites and/or downed US airmen's transmitters. The Jolly Greens and Sandies are true heros.

[Redstone]

1. Yes.

Redstone

[Monkeyman]

5. Dam right they were

[Redstone]

6. Brave sonsabitches.

Redstone

[Schema Thing]

2. what is "df"?

[DemoTex]

3. Direction Finding

Pinpointing the transmitter site.

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. Did this have to do with the (forgive me if I have this wrong...

hunter/killer pairs?

[DemoTex]

7. Nope. Purely SAR

Search and Rescue

[Gold Metal Flake]

27. Got it. Thanks to all who replied.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. No, these were the guys who found

and tried to rescue downed pilots behind, sometimes waaaay behind (China... cough, cough) the lines.

[DemoTex]

10. Mu Gia Pass, too

I got my ass shot up there one night. I was lucky. I limped back in to Phu Bai.

[Monkeyman]

13. Being shot up hearing jolly coming what a sound

Been there done that don't want to do it again. Don't mean a Thing Brother

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. No, not anymore. I hardly flinch when I hear

one fly by anymore.

But there was a time...

[TomInTib]

17. Yeah, there was a time...

For years I used to become adrenalized I would puke.

[Monkeyman]

22. Sometimes there still that time flashbacks kick you ass

And you never know its coming hell that sucks

[DemoTex]

18. It ain't nothing but a thing.

It is just a thing, brother.

[madokie]

32. Yes it ain't nothing but a 'thing'

Man oh man what is happening to our brothers today, poor kids


Added:

[SpiralHawk]

37. China !! Holy shit

Did they run into Neil Silverado Bush or Marvelous Marvin Bush?

I understand they have some fabulous business deals going down with the godless red commie Chinese...maybe they were prospecting for advantage back in those days.

Certainly they could not have encountered Commander AWOL, since we all know he was busy sniffing cocaine and skipping out on his National Guard unit.

[Redstone]

9. No. Has to do with cover to keep the bad guys away from US pilots who punched out

until the Jolly Greens could pick them up.

Redstone

[DemoTex]

11. Sandys: Stay All Day.

F-4s: One Pass Haul Ass

Guess who we would rather work with.

[Redstone]

12. Fast Movers move in fast, and out the same.

Not their fault, but still..."Who ya gonna call?"

Redstone

[TomInTib]

15. "Who ya gonna call?"

I know a few guys.

[Redstone]

21. I have no doubt that you do. How's all with you these days?

I got Mr Pain driving that ice pick into my shoulder and the opposit hip tonight; think it's time for another V & V, liver be damned.

Redstone

[TomInTib]

25. Pretty fine, thank you.

No need for heroics, buddy.

Hit the V&V.

Tell your liver that you have my permission.

My theory is that that they will have liver transplants down pat by the time I need one.

[Redstone]

30. Yeah, they'll be able to do it with lasers or something. So I'll back off the heroics,

and roll on to the V & V.

It was a good day until about 2 hours ago. You've had those days, I'm sure. When you do, it's best to hang on to the good part, isn't it?

Fortunately, I have the Power of Ambien to just make the day shut off. As I'll do now.

Good night, Compadre.

Redstone

[madokie]

34. yea and one time my liver was good, not so sure anymore

[DemoTex]

16. I'm gonna call a Sandy

Flight of four. Just ahead of the twin Jollies. I'm gonna put them on the two F-4 crew members I just watched go down just south of Tchepone, Laos. I'm gonna call the 57mm to the incomming SARs. That is my job at 9000 feet, in SAM range from the trail.

[Redstone]

19. You're in a Bird Dog at those 9K feet?

Redstone

[DemoTex]

23. Nope! I'm in an SP-2E at 9000 ft.

[Redstone]

24. Great airplane, that was.

Redstone

[Billy Ruffian]

20. SAR folks are incredible

Sandy, Douglas A-1 Skyraider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-1_Skyraider

They'd fly cover over downed pilots, pinned down troops, grunts in trouble, whatever.

Jolly Green Giant- HH-3 Sikorsky Helicopter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-3_Sea_King and later the HH-53 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-53_Sea_Stallion

These guys would fly in, and recover the downed pilots. Frequently, an PJ (para-rescue jumper) would leave the helo to recover the pilot.

No PJ or SAR crewman ever has to pay for his drinks when in the company of those of us that know what they do.

This is not to detract from the Coast Guard SAR folks. The Coast Guard official motto is Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready". Unoffically, it's "You have to go out. You don't have to come back"

Think about it a bit.


They'll go out in all sorts of conditions to help distressed mariners ... even if conditions put them in extreme danger.

[DemoTex]

26. Bingo

Billy Ruffian hits the nail on the head!

[Toots]

35. Hunter killer or Big and Little Brother as some were called were different

Little Brother was a Loch (a small low observation helicopter) which would fly around with sophisticated electronics able to pick up human activity. They would usually fly along a river or old trail and try and sniff out the enemy. Meanwhile about a mile behind them would be a gunship duo just waiting for the enemy to be located. If the enemy was discovered, usually because some idiot would shoot at the loch then the guns would roll in hot. It was a very scary mission for both ships but especially the Loch. They would fly low and slow just begging to be shot at and they usually were..For the gun shps it was a sin to come back with any ammo left...

[symbolman]

28. My hat's off to you all

Joseph Campbell said that Proof to him that there is a God is that a man will overcome his own survival instincts to go to the aid of another man.

Symbolman salutes you..
SGT USAF '71-74

[htuttle]

29. I met a former Jolly Green pilot back in the late '80's

We were standing in line for dinner at a mission in Spokane, WI. He went by the name 'Fatman' (looked a bit like Charlie Daniels) and knew the rails, so I traveled around with him for awhile. In Missoula, we met up with several friends of his from his Vietnam days -- one, a former Airborne soldier (or 'Puking Buzzard' as Fatman called him) named 'Little Ron', or something like that, and another vet who's name escapes me at the moment (it was a long time ago).

In any case, it turns out that Fatman had rescued both of them back in Vietnam, or picked them up, anyway. Somehow, out on the road, they'd managed to bump into each other again, more than once. Their general migratory pattern was to live up in the mountains of the Rockies most of the time, only returning to the city to pick up their respective disability checks, and supplies, etc... And to have a good time for awhile before they went back up 'in country'. These guys never learn to live with their experiences in Vietnam, and found living in the wild the best way to deal with it.

Just wanted to pass on that 'status update' and story about a Jolly Green pilot I met once, since I kind of doubt that he is still around to tell it. He lived pretty hard...

[Blue_Tires]

31. back ttt

i'm not military, but i have truly enjoyed the firsthand remembrances and accounts in this thread

[Howardx]

33. i agree

i would like to read more if the vets were willing

[blm]

36. I'm seeing more serious documentaries on Military Channel and BET than I see

on regular broadcast channels.

Thanks for the heads up on this - I will look for it.