After breakfast and perusing SF, I went down to my office. Just as I got downstairs, the doorbell rang. I wasn’t going to answer it because I thought my wife probably ordered something from some company for her hobby. But, I capitulated and climbed back up the steps to answer the door and when I opened it, at first I didn’t recognize who it was. Then, he said, “Hey there xgmirsgmy.” I am not going to print what they called me when we were over there. I was shocked. I hadn’t seen him in about 30 years and was even told he had died. Never believe a rumor.
We were supposedly the first Marine Company to get the M60 automatic rifle. It was a very good rifle, except for the weight of around 30 pounds to lug around. Plus, we had to carry extra 100 linked rounds of ammo. I never liked riding in a helicopter, but it was better than lugging that rifle for God knows how long on foot. He was here for about 2 hours and we got caught up and then did only a little reminiscing. He’s a little whacked from the war.
He told me he was sitting in his office and another associate grabbed him on his shoulders from behind and his natural reaction was turning around and decking the guy. After he explained his PTSD, his company cut him a break and put a door on his office, so it couldn’t happen again.
It was great catching up and I was really glad he didn’t die. He was on his way to Philly to see his 98 y/o mother. I started out at Parris Island,then went to Quantico and from there, we went to Pendleton to join up with another outfit. I think only about 15 of us where sent for AWT in Pendleton. I met him on the plane out to California. He was our (what we called) Trapper. That’s his nickname today. He was the lucky one to lead the patrol while checking for booby traps, mines and other explosives. The rest of us tried to keep an eye on the trees for snipers.
It was a really pleasant 2 hours. Sometimes, I think talking about your experiences over there really helps when dealing with any PTSD, which I (for the most part) got rid of mine. He sure hasn’t changed. He was a real character. Made my day.
We were supposedly the first Marine Company to get the M60 automatic rifle. It was a very good rifle, except for the weight of around 30 pounds to lug around. Plus, we had to carry extra 100 linked rounds of ammo. I never liked riding in a helicopter, but it was better than lugging that rifle for God knows how long on foot. He was here for about 2 hours and we got caught up and then did only a little reminiscing. He’s a little whacked from the war.
He told me he was sitting in his office and another associate grabbed him on his shoulders from behind and his natural reaction was turning around and decking the guy. After he explained his PTSD, his company cut him a break and put a door on his office, so it couldn’t happen again.
It was great catching up and I was really glad he didn’t die. He was on his way to Philly to see his 98 y/o mother. I started out at Parris Island,then went to Quantico and from there, we went to Pendleton to join up with another outfit. I think only about 15 of us where sent for AWT in Pendleton. I met him on the plane out to California. He was our (what we called) Trapper. That’s his nickname today. He was the lucky one to lead the patrol while checking for booby traps, mines and other explosives. The rest of us tried to keep an eye on the trees for snipers.
It was a really pleasant 2 hours. Sometimes, I think talking about your experiences over there really helps when dealing with any PTSD, which I (for the most part) got rid of mine. He sure hasn’t changed. He was a real character. Made my day.
