From: Dick Manderfeld dmanderfeld@gw.hamline.edu
Date: 12 Mar 2000
Time: 00:40:43
Remote Name: 129.37.191.229
Hey Joe...
The site...is a living/working interactive history lesson...for all of us who shared..those many years of the long hard road...from the early 60's through mid-75...
I shared the site with my brother...an Air Force Veteran...58-62'...and to my surprise... we had never talked about his role...during his final year of service.. Tommy was a Fireman...at least that is what I called it as a kid... stationed.. in "Greenland"....and later Spokane...During the Spokane...period..in 61-62'...there were months when we didnt hear from Tommy....and I think I found out why... Tommy use to talk about training missions...that lasted 4-6 weeks..when he wouldnt be available...for us to call... Being that he was in his last year of service .. we never questioned much.. especially my parents.. cause' they were both active during WWII...I was 14 at the time.. and though I missed him.. I remember long periods..when we werent in contact.. I showed him the sight...looked up our relatives.. on the wall (we have two fallen soldiers..in our family)..and I noticed that he didnt want to go any further with our journey.."home"... It was then that Tommy told me what those "last year" missions in the servie use to consist of.. As he recalled...we werent...in an "official" conflict at that time.. Basically we were in an advisory position to the South Vietnamese military.. Advisors...from the Army and AirForce.. and now I've learned... the Marines..were somewhat involved as well... but I am not sure in what capacity??... As advisors... personnel would be sent on "tranining" missions.. which I have since learned...included "spotting" future locations for flite bases...for more than army helicopters.. and observer planes.. Some of those early "crude" airsites... were later the location of military..."air" stations.. that needed to be staffed...because of the ever present reality.. of crash and burn...on take off and landing.. I asked Tommy point blank...about ... the loss of life...at that time..on the American side.. and he said..."Training...mission...casualties.. the same as we had stateside..."... in take off.. and landing.. maneuvers... The conversation.. was cut off...after that... and so I am left wondering.. exactly...what was the Air Force... role.. in the early....60's training...period..in South Vietnam..
Any help..would be greatly appreciated...??
ps.. the Subject..of this post... is also the title..of a brand new song... written by another Air Force...veteran... Charlie Roth...of Madison, MN.. on his latest...CD.. Charlie.. is a regular volunteer at the St Cloud VA Hospital .. in St Cloud, MN.. the call is a painful...yet well done recall..of what the "FAllout still Means.." 25 years...after...our involvement...supposedly concluded...
Peace!
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