I was with the 20th TASS, worked in the hanger on 02-As maintenance and part time for Flying Tiger Airlines doing maintenance on freedom birds DC-8s from Feb. 1970 to Feb. 1971. One thing that happened to me when I was working part time for Flying Tiger Airlines at Danang in November 1970. 
   I was pulling a walk around on the DC-8 when I heard a sound coming from one of the out going mail units, called in the MPs they found a army solider trying to go AWOL back to the states. Often wonder what ever happened to the guy? They were not very nice to the guy on the flight line that night. Felt bad after the fact but was part of my job with Flying Tiger to report any thing strange around the DC-8 while it was on the ground.
    Working for Flying Tiger was probably the most rewarding part of my tour. The good part was seeing the boys alive and going home to there families and getting the mail in to them and out to there families. The bad part was having to load the silver coffins to send back to the states, still brings tears to my eyes to this day when I think of the coffins and the smell of death from them.

My first day at DaNang:
    35 TFS had been at Ubon for 2 weeks when they told us to pack up. We were going to Udorn, because they could support our F4D models better.  Broke ground late at night in the ever popular C-130.  Caught some zzzz’s and woke up as we were landing.  Came to a stop and one of those side doors opened...a GI, with helmet and flack vest, sticks his head in the door, announces "Welcome to DaNang", and disappears. It’s 0130 hrs, which doesn’t mean a thing to us...yet, but everyone seems to be keeping a "low profile".  They get us a bus and haul us over to Gunfighter Village and put us in a barracks that had been used for storage..no bunks but plenty of mattresses.  Next morning they give us the "good news" we are to be divided up and detached to the DaNang squadrons...I get the 421st TFS and get told to report at Midnight to ? flight.  (John..what flight were we in?)  Find my way to the flightline and at 12:10 I am on my way to the trim pad down at the south end of the runways.  Engine shop and instruments guys are waiting...we run the engines, and are standing around waiting for our ride when.......the shit hits the fan. An AC-47, which is being fueled, on the Westside takes a hit...same time a flair storage area, straight west of us, gets hit.  We were now hauling ass to that sandbag bunker which is looking pretty damn good about now.  Two, maybe three waves of rockets later we
come out of the bunker.... 
 The AC-47 and fuel truck were burning very nicely... the flair storage area was still sparkling...and best of all a rocket had hit that fuel pipeline that ran along the drainage ditch just east of the flight shacks.  It was now full of burning fuel which made quiet an impressive display behind the revetments...looked like Atlanta burning in "Gone With the Wind". I looked at my watch....one something...my first day at DaNang was just about over.

Title: Friendly Bite///////
I guess during times like those in the Nam it wasn't all guts and glory.  Sometimes things just went bad no matter how hard you tried.  I've decided to confess to an accident that occurred in Da Nang years ago on the Northwest perimeter involving a Vietnamese bunker guard, my sentry dog, and I. Anyway here goes the story.
 It was a drizzly night of constant rain.  The cloud cover made it darker than usual with only the dim perimeter lighting in the distance to see by.  I had walked my post for sometime and decided it was time to go by and speak with one of the very few Veitnamese bunker guards that knew a little English. He and I enjoyed just talking about anything mixing our language
with both dialects not understanding each other much but laughing anyway.  On this night I approached the bunker tower and waved at my friend above who always came down cautiously waiting at the bottom of the steps.  It was common knowledge of those who worked with or around Sentry dogs that it was extremely dangerous to approach within 5 or 6 feet.  The dog was trained to attack movement and was always looking for someone to make that move.
 This night I leaned against the sandbags with my poncho blocking my view towards the bottom of the steps.  For reasons unknown my Vietnamese friend failed to stop as usual at the bottom and continued around the sandbags toward me.  In a frightening instant my arm shot out away from my side.  My friend screamed in terror as the dog caught him in the stomach with a full bite!  Caught off guard I leaned back and pulled back on the leash.  At that instant the dog released the mid section bite and closed down on the frantic man's hand with both canines deeply embedded.  I continued the backward pull with dog, hand, and arm stretching in between.  I screamed the "Out" release command to no avail. Then, suddenly I remembered my training and walked into the leash going for the choke on the dogs throat.  There was a sudden release and both parties fell away.  The dog wasn't satisfied and continued lunging but I held him fast.  My friend fled back up the steps into the safety of his bunker.  My mind raced in concern for the well being of the stricken man.  I knew also that this could mean trouble for me if word of this got out to the wrong people.  I tried to call up to the bunker and inquire of the well being of my friend.  There was no reply.  I walked back to my stash bag and removed a couple of C-ration boxes and quickly made my way back to the bunker.  My friend peered over the side as I offered the boxes with sympathic tone.  He accepted the gifts and I threw them up to him and another guard.  A couple of nights later I discovered this man was truely a friend after all as he explained that he didn't report the injury to the military doctor instead he went to a doctor in Da Nang.  I was relieved to know that he was going to be ok, even though the hand bite was a serious double puncture wound.  Needless to say I supplied him well with C-rats of his choice each time I was assigned that post.  He was delighted to see me but always keeping a healthy distance as we chatted about who knows what.    (Hey Don put this where ever you like man it was a real treat to write it!} Take care,

Rick Holden
366 SPS K-9
DaNang, Vietnam  1971-72
 

I've got one little story for you. It was one of those encounters that I wish I had a camera. When I was working in the jet shop, I had to take one of the big Hyster fork lifts to pick up a couple of crates to take back to the shop. Now this Hyster fork lift was one of the big ones. By itself must of weighed at least 5 tons. I picked up the two crates and on my way back to the shop, along came a snake from under one of the buildings heading for the brush. Now not being to familiar with the type of snake it was, this one stretched from one side of the street to the other. I'am saying no less than 15 to 18 feet long. And was bigger around than my thigh. An easy 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The snake slithered sideways as it was trying to get across the street and past me. I moved slowly, inching closer and closer. As the snake got right in my path I ran over it. I thought with all this weight that was sitting under me I was sure to squash the wholly shit out of this thing. But ! as I drove over the snake I got off the fork lift and walked around to see what was left. It was still moving off to the brush. It looked as if it hadn't been touched. Two sky cops were right behind me and saw that I drove over the snake. They pulled out there trusty 38's and took two shots each (they missed) at the slithering behemoth as it continued off into the bush.  I don't know if the two sky cops look into the 366th gunfighter website. But it would be interesting to see if they are still around and see what they remember.
   Well, that's my story. I don't know if that snake is still alive or not, but I do know one thing for sure, that snake will never have kids again. Because I squashed the hell out of its nuts. The only other thing I can remember, are the days we dressed up in marine uniforms and sneak own town DaNang to visit mamason. But thats another story.
Take care Don and thanks.

Mel Mullins
747/767 PAYLOADS
425 342-1753  07-25
MEL.MULLINS@BOEING.COM

I got to SEA in May'71 and flew 16 missions with the 34th TFS at Korat. When Danang lost some A/C and crews PACAF picked 4 of us new guys to go fill the shortages. I arrived at Danang in Jun'71 and flew 194 missions with the 4th TFS. Had 10 RP 6 missions. Did a lot of in country snake & nape in I corps, II corps and the DMZ.

   I deployed from Eglin AFB with the 4th TFS in April of 1969. I was one of the lucky ones that stopped over in Hawaii for a few days to service the Squadron Acft as they passed through on their way to Danang. Once we had all the planes airborne we climbed aboard our 141 for the  long , tiring final leg of our trip. As we were getting off the plane at Danang our new First Sergeant was standing at the door writing people up for hair cuts.I spent the first two weeks in country working 12 hours a day on the flight line and 4 hours a day pulling up grass at the orderly room. WELCOME TO VIETNAM.

 Rod,
  Thanks so very much for the photos.  '306 printed up very nicely.  I was so surprised to see her on the web site. I was shooting with a Kodak Signet 40 rangefinder in '72.  Not much money with a wife back home and lots of bills. I have some photos I should take to work and scan.  That's one toy I do not have here. I also have the front page of The Gunfighter Gazette showing the remaining 10 F-4E's flying overhead when the 421 TFS left Danang for Takli RTAFB Thailand.  You may remember that Tricky Dickie promised to get us out of Viet Nam, so in June '72 most of us moved to Takli.  Then in October the 366 TFW was disbanded, and reformed with F-111's at Mountain Home AFB.  We all were reassigned to Udorn.   I returned stateside Dec 13, '72, exactly one year from my port call.
  '306 took a small hit in the left engine about April '72 and went into Ubon RTAFB for repairs.  She came home about a month later.  Then just before we left Danang, she took a SAM in the tail over Hanoi.  She held together long enough for the crew to get out over the gulf, where they bailed.  They were back on base the next day.  Between Dec '71 and Jun '72 the 421 TFS lost 11 F-4E's.
  I served a total of 10 1/2 years before getting out in 1978.  I spent my last three years on the A-10 Test Team for TAC.   I have been here in Myrtle Beach SC ever since.  The base closed about five years ago, so we only see the occasional transport from Charleston AFB, or an A-10 from Sumter AFB.
  All of my service memories are good ones, and I have often regretted my case of terminal stupidity.  I should have done the full tour.   There is a traveling Veterans Memorial which has come to town twice now. It includes a scale model of the Wall with all the names on it.  I am not sure why after all these years I am so affected by it all.  So many many guys, for nothing.
  Sorry about your son's disappointment.  The guy next to me at work made it through Marine boot, only to be discharged after a run in with some ants! Go figure.
  My two grown sons did some missionary work in Papua New Guinea with their mother, but neither has any plans for the military.  They are settling down with good jobs.  I have a four year old (second family) and I hope he will never have to serve.   It was great fun, but...  Getting late.  Time to turn off the ham radio, the computer, and the lights.
  Tomorrow's another work day.
    God bless,
  Jim

     I WAS STATIONED IN PHANG RANG IN 1966, EARLY IN THE WAR, WITH THE 389TH TFS, 366 TFW.  THE REST OF THE WING WENT TO DANANG.  OUR PILOTS FLEW MOSTLY SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSIONS, SOMETIMES AGAINST NOTHING MORE THAN ELEPHANTS.  ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER WE WERE RELOCATED TO DANANG AND THE PILOTS WERE MIG HUNGRY.  THEY WON SOME, LOSSED SOME.  BUT I LOVED THOSE GUYS.  THE BRAVEST, CRAZIEST BREED ON EARTH.  MY FATHER HAD FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II, FRANCE, BELGIUM, GERMANY AND FROM HIS STORIES I HAD LEARNED MORE ABOUT SURVIVAL IN COMBAT THAN THE AIR FORCE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT TEACHING ME.  I LOADED BOMBS, 20MM, ROCKETS AND MISSLES BUT WHEN OFF DUTY LIKED TO HAVE A FEW BEERS AND MOST OF US DID.  ONE NIGHT, WITH ONLY ABOUT SIX WEEKS LEFT IN
MY TOUR, WE CAME UNDER OUR FIRST ROCKET ATTACK.  I WAS SLEEPING IN THE TOP BUNK, STILL HALF DRUNK, WHEN I HEARD THE FIRST WHISTLE AND BURST.  I REMEMBER THAT THOUGH I HAD NEVER HEARD SUCH A SOUND BEFORE I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.  I ROLLED OUT OF THE TOP BUNK SO FAST THE GUY ON THE BOTTOM LANDED ON TOP OF ME!  WE HIT THE BUNKER AND WAITED IT OUT WITH NO CASUALITIES.  BUT ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER WE WERE  IN THE BUNKER ONE GUY CAME STROLLING OUT AND WE ASKED WHAT THE HELL TOOK HIM SO LONG AND HE REPLIED, "I FORGOT MY CIGARETTES".   THAT'S AN ADDICT!!  IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO REACH A RONALD MILLIGAN FROM STRAWBERRY ARKANSAS I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING HOW TO REACH HIM..  BEST RED NECK I EVER MET.

  Several years ago I was asked to share some of my Vietnam experiences with my daughter’s history class.  I was somewhat shocked to see the class studying the Vietnam War in textbooks, much as I studied World War II when I was their age.  The realization that these children weren’t alive during the Vietnam Era and knew only of the war through history books and the like, was obvious but still hard to imagine since it seemed like yesterday and very real to me.  As I described my role in the war, the children seemed confused that I didn’t crawl through swamps, directly shoot and kill anyone or return to the U.S. as a “crazed” Vietnam Veteran.  How could this be as those were the common portrayals, misconceptions and expectations of anyone labeled a “Vietnam Veteran”?  Yet as I was describing my specific duties as a Jet Aircraft Mechanic, working on F-4 Phantoms built in St. Louis by McDonnell Aircraft Company, it seemed to stimulate a new perspective on what a Vietnam Veteran could be.  I went on to describe my daily activities on the flight line at DaNang South Vietnam, working for the most part 12 hours a day, 6 days a week toward keeping the F-4s ready to support our ground troops or fly other missions as required.  It would have been a routine job had it not been for the extreme weather conditions coupled with physical exhaustion; along with numerous rocket attacks, sniper fire, bomb dumps exploding, propaganda and other measures used by the enemy to disrupt our mission in any way they could. The base at DaNang was attacked many times and the reality of war was all around us. Still through it all we continued to perform our jobs everyday to the best of our abilities, as we knew our small part was contributing to the much larger goal of defending freedom.  To put it in perspective I told the class to imagine living with the prospect of being shot at or killed at anytime by a rocket or by other means while performing your normal duties or while asleep, then continue to do this for a year or longer.  They understood completely and thanked me with a much appreciated round of applause.  In no way did I want to downplay the importance of the courageous men and women who served in field combat roles and were in many instances true heroes.  But I wanted to help the class understand the broader definition of what a Veteran could be.  That they came in all shapes and sizes, colors and creeds, while having varied military backgrounds and responsibilities; with a willingness to put themselves in harm’s way (many at a very young age) to the point of sacrificing their own lives, so others could enjoy the true freedoms we have become accustomed to.  Returning to the U.S. to become Engineers, Lawyers, Doctors and even Presidents.  Webster defines a veteran as “a person of long experience in some service or position, especially in military service” or “a person who has served in the armed forces of a country, especially in time of war.”  While this is certainly true it is easy to see many qualities in a veteran that are not always displayed in others.  Patience and calmness in the face of adversity, maturity often beyond their years, wisdom in knowing right from wrong, steadfast perseverance toward a goal and patriotism for a truly blessed country.  A country blessed in part by the many veterans throughout history, who were ready and willing to make sacrifices so others could benefit from the opportunities that freedom presents.  Thanks to all Veterans!  Please remember them with gratitude and continue to pray for and support our active men and women of the armed services while they perform all of their important duties.  Most importantly this year, we must all demonstrate patience, perseverance and patriotism toward defeating terrorism both here and abroad.  The millions of veterans who have gone before us would want it that way.