No Country for Old Hippies (Dan Carlin)

[Smitty-48]

Just for those following along at home; there were four Corps in Vietnam.

I Corps on the DMZ

II Corps Central Highlands.

III Corps Saigon and the Iron Triangle.

IV Corps Mekong Delta.

He was 3/5 (Dark Horse) which I think is 1st. Corps, though I’m not sure. Marine division naming always messes me up.

1st Marine Division. 3rd of the 5th Marines fought in Hue during Tet, maybe that was it.

[Smitty-48]

They also fought in the Que Son Valley, that was a big campaign they fought in as well.

Quang Nam province, in and around Da Nang.

[DBTrek]

Ah ... might explain why he came out more of the stereotypical PTSD-shell shocked vet than my dad. M-60 gunner in those circumstances or SF? Give me SF all day long!

[Smitty-48]

Ah ... might explain why he came out more of the stereotypical PTSD-shell shocked vet than my dad. M-60 gunner in those circumstances or SF? Give me SF all day long!

That was II Corps, but the southern part around Cam Rahn Bay north of Saigon.

Up in the northern part of the Corps the Army was fighting in the Central Highlands.

Down in the southern part the Marines were guarding the approaches to the naval bases and Saigon.

[DBTrek]

Well ... he came out a hardcore, substance abusing, nightmare having, lifelong radical Democrat, whatever he went through.
/shrug
... I should ask if he’s done any PBS interviews, lulz

[Smitty-48]

Well ... he came out a hardcore, substance abusing, nightmare having, lifelong radical Democrat, whatever he went through.
/shrug
... I should ask if he’s done any PBS interviews, lulz

See I mostly know Canadians who volunteered to serve.

They were so gung-ho that they couldn't sit at home in Canada and miss the war.

They weren't conscripts, they were professional soldiers in mindset.

So they don't seem to have the same bitterness about it.

They knew what they were signing up for.

They were mercenaries in effect. Canadian Foreign Legion.

[Smitty-48]

My uncle just wanted to be a helicopter pilot.

There were too few slots open in the tiny Canadian air force.

The US Army was the way to go to be a helicopter pilot right away.

Then we he got there they indoctrinated him into the Air Cav mindset.

[DBTrek]

My uncle just wanted to be a helicopter pilot.

There were too few slots open in the tiny Canadian air force.

The US Army was the way to go to be a helicopter pilot right away.

Then we he got there they indoctrinated him into the Air Cav mindset.

[Smitty-48]

My uncle just wanted to be a helicopter pilot.

There were too few slots open in the tiny Canadian air force.

The US Army was the way to go to be a helicopter pilot right away.

Then we he got there they indoctrinated him into the Air Cav mindset.

Like I say, he's says that's actually toned down a bit. Doesn't even scratch the surface.

Like they used to fly right into North Vietnam and steal bicycles with the skids on the helicopters, just for fun and to spook the NVA.

[Smitty-48]

Like they were stuck in the huge base at An Khe.

It was boring most of the time.

So they started doing crazy shit in the helicopters just to entertain themselves.