Redcatcher70
Beebe, AR
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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I was in line at Best Buy Saturday waiting to pick up my laptop after repairs. Two mid-twenty somethings were in line in front of me. I wear a ball cap with my Unit patch from my time in Vietnam. One of the young men asked if I was a Veteran and if I had served in Vietnam. I replied in the positive and he said his friend was currently in the Air Force NG. He then asked me a question I had never been asked, "what was it like over there?". The only answer I could think of to make any sense in the minute or two we would have together was, "it was hot!". How do you explain a life experience in a minute or two?
Dave & Pat
2008 Hi-Lo 19T
2004 F250, XLT Crew Cab, V10, finally, enough power!
"No kids, no pets, made it to retirement"
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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Joined: 10/07/2008
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I've been asked that question many times. My stock answer is, "Not someplace I'd recommend for your next vacation." Somewhat surprisingly, I've been asked that question a few times by some of the younger medical staff while at a VA hospital for treatment.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Though I was never in the military (Wanted to be but alas hypertensive)
I think Hawkeye (Alan Alda) gave the best answer when someone said to him "War is Hell"
He replied War is War and Hell is Hell and of the two War is worse. and then he explained why.. and he was right
Home is where I park it.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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thomasmnile
Lake Mary, FL
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Joined: 05/14/2009
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Think you did alright. My dad was a WW II vet. He seldom to never talked about it. After his death when cleaning out his home, I found a lot of momentos including his Purple Heart.
Beyond his telling me his deployments took him to the Aleutians, Okinawa, & China, he never talked about it. I understood why.....
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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Joined: 06/10/2019
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Some questions can't be answered. If a strangers asks, can play politician until the idea passes.
One that still bothers me, because might come up again;
5-6 years back my cousin and her pre-teen kid walked in as I was changing. She asked "Is that bullet scar?" Before I could say anything cousin made a point that I was in the Army. Cousin only 4 years younger than I, knows I did not earn a Purple Heart. Before Covid canceled reunions, it has been normal for the young adults to question elders about life.
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Joined: 10/05/2018
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IF they really seem serious, tell them to buy you a cup of coffee and you can tell them all about it - if it makes you comfortable. Knowledge shared about the real facts of war could help prevent them in the future.
2020 F350 STX 6.7L Turbo Diesel
2020 FR Cedar Creek Silverback 29rw
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jamesu
Camano Island, WA
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Joined: 03/20/2004
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Luzon, 1970-72, US Navy. “I was not on vacation over there. Readjusting to home was a lot tougher than adjusting to that place.”
2011 Chevy 2500 Duramax diesel
2019 Timber Ridge 24RLS (Outdoors RV)
Go Cougs!
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garmp
St Louis, MO
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Joined: 02/16/2008
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It was a lot easier to be over there with your peers, enduring what you had to, than to come hoime to those you loved to be spit upon.
Some scars still hurt.
Our 2351D Phoenix Cruiser, Jack, has turned us from campers into RVers and loving it!
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mike brez
Unknown
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Joined: 09/27/2002
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Thank you to all of you for your service.
1998 36 foot Country Coach Magna #5499 Single slide
Gillig chassis with a series 40
02 Ford F250 7.3 with a few mods
2015 Wrangler JKU
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PawPaw_n_Gram
On the Road Somewhere
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Joined: 02/06/2012
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I seem to remember it was awful wet also.
I've answered that is was 'Different than anything you every experienced, or want to see with your own eyes.'
My son has a similar view of Iraq in 2003.
Full-Time 2014 - ????
“Not all who wander are lost.”
"You were supposed to turn back at the last street."
2012 Ram 2500 Mega Cab
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS TT
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