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Author
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Topic: Great Book
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booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
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posted October 13, 2015 11:01 AM
I teach Hunter Ed with a guy that is 67 years old...great guy, great teacher and very humble. We had a class Saturday, and got to talking at lunch about some of his service experience.
I knew he had been in Vietnam as a young, 19 year old RTO. What I did not know is that he was in during 1967 and 1968 and fought during some of the bloodiest battles of the war. He was in the 173rd Airborne and spent most of his 12 month tour in the Central Highlands near the confluence of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
He gave me the book, "Land with No Sun", written by his Command Sargent Major, Ted Arthurs, who is around 85 now. The author's inscription in the book to my friend is written in such a way that leads me to believe that he saw things no 19 year should have had to see or go through.
The book chronicles some of the major battles they fought as well as Dakto, and Cemetery Hill, during the Tet Offensive.
I was totally mesmerized as he and I talked Saturday during lunch...so much so, I actually spent a 15 minute period with my spoon halfway to my mouth, full of chili, listening to him speak. He laughed and said I had better eat before he stole my bowl!
He said the funny thing was that when he came back to Kansas as a 20 year old with a Bronze Star in 1968, he still couldn't buy a drink in a bar!
If you get a chance to read this, it is amazing! If you aren't familiar with the Central Highlands, imagine a 200 foot roof on your world that allowed in no sunlight, (triple canopy)...90 plus degree temps with 90 percent humidity, day after day, monsoon rains...all while getting the privilege of getting shot at...
[ October 14, 2015, 05:37 AM: Message edited by: booger ]
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If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
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CrossJ
SECOND PLACE: PAUL RYAN Look-a-like contest
Member # 884
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posted October 13, 2015 07:53 PM
Read it awhile back. I think it is still on my kindle....I may re-read it.
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A friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a body.
Posts: 1025 | From: on a water tower | Registered: Jul 2006
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted October 13, 2015 08:08 PM
Thanks for the tip on the book. When things slow down a bit, I'll have to look it up.
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted October 14, 2015 05:57 AM
My brother spent a year in Pla Kue, central highlands. (I'm not spelling it right) He said the VC were the worst shots in the world, twenty five feet away and not only you couldn't see them, but they hardly ever came close to hitting anybody while they, (troops) were clearing brush.
Good hunting. El Bee
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31474 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Z
Knows what it's all about
Member # 303
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posted October 14, 2015 08:07 AM
Thanks for the heads up. I have approximately 130 books on Vietnam, most all of them written by people who were there. I have read most of them 2 or 3 times. I will order this one on my kindle.
Posts: 51 | From: Bluffdale, UT | Registered: Feb 2004
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