Hello my riding friends,
After reading your replies to the misadventures of my times long past as well as those most recent. I can tell you that although I was right there from the start to total chaos I did duck out before the conclusion. What I did see still leaves me with the question as to who was more frighten and frustrated, the customers, the employees or those ducks that were by the time I left were flying in an almost hover about 3 to 4 feet off the floor. So, (smiling as I remember the sight) the ducks were flapping just about head height of the many unsuspecting folks Only trying to eat. Employees were running trying to catch the freaking out ducks that were doing their best to find the way out. Just about that time I drove out of the Micky D parking lot.
Another thing I read was a part of my earlier post was unintentionally less than clear. The point I made was about the ship WHEC 718 Chase that I called my address for a time, although it is finally list among many other recently listed ships that spent time in the waters of the Nam and handled Agent Orange and Agent Blue and who knows what else. What I wrote could be and and fact was easily understood one way but I did note and would not try to make a false claim. Here is the factual point that I want to make, Although the Chase was there, very lucky for me I was not. I was a part of the new crew deployed on the Chase after she came back to the States. My intended point was the connection of Agent Orange, the Chase and another newly added piece to the puzzle (Thymic Carcinoma Cancer). Only a level of clean can be reached on the cleanest of ships even one returning from Nam. While I was a sailor I did sea some rough and very rough seas. During that time the Chase would rock and roll and sometimes make the most ungodly sounds of banging, cracking and snapping. I'm sure those time would raise the dust that was in the cracks and crannies and other wise unseen. Bottom line I was Honorably Discharged 29 March 1972 as a Vietnam Era Veteran. The VA does not include my service to be one in any way connected to Agent Orange. That being said, I know that far to many Vets of the Chase have died or are living with the nasty cancers connected to Agent Orange including myself. Maybe in another 40 years the VA will change their rating system and include the service of the unnumbered Navy and Coast Guard ships that made up what's know as the Vietnam Blue Water Sailors and maybe those that served on those ships before they could or would be consider clean of those deadly chemicals.
Fortunately I am a 100% PTSC [(permanently & totally, service connected) a Veterans Administration term]. If this wasn't the case I like thousands of Veterans wouldn't be eligible for VA Medical Care. In my case I was never approved for any Medical Insurance at any of the jobs I held during my working career. What's really weird, because I would have been the primary in any medical coverage plan and I was rejected, well, so was my family. So, I find it very strange that the politicians just all of a sudden find a need to deal with and correct the wrongs for any and all the folks with what's known as preexisting (What Evers). Long boring story would otherwise follow... lol.
I have participated multiple times in the Ride To The Wall DC as well as many times to The Moving Wall. I also remember those that were sent home and those that came home from Nam with visible and invisible wounds that for every changed their lives. I also every now and then I remember the names and faces of the crew I sailed with and am every time amazed how many are living with or have died from a long list of cancers that not only affected their person but also the persons of their posterity. I am thankful to be alive, but I at times have a very hard time with how very easily my life and death could have been so different. Maybe that's why I except my Diabetes type II and Thymic Carcinoma Cancer the way I do. My brother Bob was a twin tour Brown Water River Rat bow gunner and also has diabetes. Like me he is a very odd fellow.. lol. But he did have Agent Orange dumped on how and Agent Blue dumped in the water he motored on bringing troops and supplies up and wounded down those Nam waters. In the same sense that we look a a picture and think, "yup, he's all in one piece", well, a picture is a thousand and more, but, NO!, my brother Bob is not all in one piece. Much of him remains in Nam and thou I have been to The Wall in DC more times than I can count, my brother Bob still has not been there and after talking to him on the topic many times, he still tells me, ("I just can't do it!)
God Bless Our Warriors And There Families.
To all the Veterans here, Thank You for your service!
Sam. Aka. Sam
Author
Topic: I might be down, but I'm not out! (Read 256806 times)