Thanks Kansas and Karl,
Coincidentally, I'm currently re-reading Lynda Van Devanter's book** about the time we shared at the 71st Evac hospital in Pleiku, II Corps, central highlands, SVN.
Our tours overlapped for several weeks. I worked at the hospital in the ER and wards, and flew Dustoff* as an aircrew medic before replacing a field medic with an infantry unit.
Charlie Freehof,
great player of the Gibson Humming Bird guitar! - showed me how to petition the Mass. draft board to obtain a conscientious objector status - which forced the Army to let me be a medic.
"I'm 18, they'll be coming for me soon. I'd rather be a medic thank you.".
Personally, and professionally, - I've never done anything as important or more rewarding than I did in that year in Vietnam. I "peaked" there.
For the war - against the war- is totally irrelevant to the job in front of you when you're a medic. (FYI- never saw anyone use a
bright color to make the peace sign on their helmet cover
I've no words - so I'll present these famous photos in the order they were taken by Henri Huet of an afternoon with Medic James Callahan (Pittsfield, MA)
then dealing with a head wound....
**Lynda's book was source for TV series, "China Beach" - from her time when she transferred to a hosp. on the coast of SVN. And, between the two of us....not near as pretty as nurse McMurphy!
*"Dust Off" was the tactical call sign for medical evacuation missions first used in 1963 by Major Lloyd E. Spencer, Commander of the U.S. Army 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance). The name lasted the rest of the war.
Huet died later in the war when his Huey was shot down.
James Callahan died in the USA from a motorcycle accident.
Stig, now rides a scooter....but 'we were soldiers once, and young.'
a footnote here - never a bad idea to ask to see one's DD-214 before believing any thrilling remembrances from Vietnam veterans.
It's know as "Stolen Valor"....
