General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI flew in the US Air Force for eight years during the Vietnam era...
We flew huge C-141 Starlifter cargo jets between the US and southeast Asia.
We carried supplies and munitions eastbound, but not westbound.
There is a huge US hospital/mortuary in Yokota Japan where the injured and dead service people were flown from Vietnam to the Yokota facility.
The dead were processed there and placed in hermetical sealed aluminum coffins (called human remains transfer cases). The C-141 carried ten cargo pallets, each pallet was loaded with eight HRTCs, so each westbound flight carried 80 bodies.
During the long overwater flights I would I step down into the cargo bay and read
you see each case was equipped with container holding the paperwork accompanying the remains. The paperwork indicated the name, age, hometown, next of kin, cause of death, and whether the remains were viewable or not. The average age of the deceased was 19 years old.
Those who were from the western states were unloaded at the Travis AFB California mortuary, and those from the eastern states were unloaded at Dover AFB Delaware.
I flew two or three SEA runs every month, with many more aircraft making these same depressing SEA runs
no flags draped over the cases, no honor guards meeting the planes, the pallets were simply rolled onto flatbed K-loaders and driven away.
On other occasions the aircraft was reconfigured into a flying fully staffed med-evac hospital.
These flights were loaded with litters, two high down the cargo bay accompanied by two doctors, three nurses and an array of medical machines. Some injuries were moderate while others were horribly wounded, paralyzed, burned, amputees etc.
Now am proud of my service, but ashamed of the waste, and the futility of that war (as is true of most wars).
The point of this story is the red hot rage and loathing I harbor toward the bloated stinking piece of shit who calls these people, my people, and the others who have served our country over the years SUCKERS and LOSERS!
I will not rest until this putrid orange monster lies rotting in the ground, food for worms and maggots! That will be one hell of a happy day.
and so it goes.
pdxflyboy
(672 posts)I feel the same way.
JohnnyLib2
(11,206 posts)Thank you for saying it clearly and loudly.
iluvtennis
(19,756 posts)AZ8theist
(5,335 posts)crickets
(25,896 posts)Karadeniz
(22,267 posts)Criminal, law bending type. To be disparaged by Trump is a compliment because that person, having ethics and decency, can't be bought off and manipulated by him. But I, too, share your wish for his disintegration!
Stinky The Clown
(67,669 posts)FakeNoose
(32,328 posts)It would be worth a visit...he and Darth cheney are on my list.
Illumination
(2,458 posts)iluvtennis
(19,756 posts)colorado_ufo
(5,715 posts)okaawhatever
(9,453 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,354 posts)Or an opinion piece to your local newspaper.
Dem2theMax
(9,594 posts)I'd like to see it in a national newspaper.
leighbythesea2
(1,200 posts)Two paragraphs in! So well said.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)They take letters from the nation. I think they might actually be interested in the perspective.
Jack-o-Lantern
(965 posts)MaryMagdaline
(6,849 posts)democrank
(11,052 posts)~Peace~
Hekate
(90,188 posts)Illumination
(2,458 posts)honorable for America! But remember that the Tramp in the W.H. actually belongs in the Big House! He's beneath our standards. He does not possess class, dignity, ethics, morals, knowledge, creditability, self control, legitimacy, compassion, honor, kindness & love. This is someone who is a rude embarrassing punk thug failure to America! No one wants to listen to him anymore because it's all lies & nonsense! His world is beginning to crack all around him & it will be just a matter of time that it all comes tumbling down on him!...
PoliWrangler
(139 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)It gives your loathing for trump real gravitas. Thanks for posting--a great post.
speaknow
(321 posts)honest. We were the Guys and Girls that went
off to war and when we returned we we spit on
and cursed at, We stood tall and took it all.
As I tell all that served. We did the right thing!
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Good post Jack-o-Lantern.
Sid
Aussie105
(5,211 posts)But try to ignore Trump.
He is desperate, facing election defeat and trying to see some way out of a situation he cannot control.
In his present state of senile dementia his only coping mechanism is to lash out at everyone.
That gravestone picture. There will be a long line of Americans willing to personally 'water' the headstone and the ground.
colorado_ufo
(5,715 posts)I think I will go with spit instead; rumor has it he really gets off being urinated on.
oldsoftie
(12,409 posts)TallMike
(161 posts)Im afraid I stole this epic. Then I posted it on the dread FB. Then I attributed it to some guy named John.
I fucking love you Jack O.
Did I mention EPIC?
...and so it goes.
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)While there I served as best I could. Not for God or country or cause. For those serving with me.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)You speak for many.
Jamesm9164
(541 posts)I have watched and enjoyed DU for many years and have hesitated to join the conversation. Mostly because of shit-stirrers.
This post stirred my soul.
I also flew the C-141 for 22-years - 1970 - 1992.
Think about the history, folks.
The present President of the United States is a disgrace.
Larissa
(786 posts)Thank you for your deeply moving message. When you wrote that the average age of the deceased was 19-years-old, I could not help but remember the famous Life Magazine article on the war dead of Vietnam which included black and white pictures of the fallen. Many Americans were heartbroken at the youthful faces in those pictures. I think that many were confronted for the first time with the unforgiving reality of war and the incredible sacrifices those young men -- all of them -- made.
Please know that I am truly proud of your service.
BadGimp
(4,009 posts)burrowowl
(17,605 posts)Lock him up.
(6,873 posts)Withywindle
(9,988 posts)I really do pray Vietnam will be the last US draft ever. Teenagers forced into carnage they didn't understand.
Thank you for your painful service, and your eloquent post about it.
MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)I have a lot of mixed feelings about my military service, but the waste of human life and resources appalled me. I feel a lot of guilt for the loss of life on both sides of the fight. Had the tables been turned, Im sure I would have been fighting on the other side. I believe the majority of the insurgents I fought against truly believed they were fighting to defend their families and communities - I can certainly identify with that.
Victor
Army, 1997-2007
Freedomofspeech
(4,218 posts)Only thing is...now I know how my brothers body got to Dover.😥
Grins
(7,128 posts)...stand in the long line to piss on his grave. Grass will never grow over that spot.
sarchasm
(1,009 posts)Thanks for your service and sharing. A huge responsibility to bear, to reunite them with their loved ones.
PatrickforO
(14,514 posts)Except the white supremacists. They will still be under their rocks, with their cammies and guns, waiting.
Blue Owl
(49,902 posts)Texin
(2,585 posts)Dukkha
(7,341 posts)There has been no human in my time who is so devoid of humanity and not an ounce of altruism in his stinking grotesque body. He deserves no honor in his passing which can't come soon enough.
peacebuzzard
(5,123 posts)Tragedy and loss that very few understood.
I had friends who served along with you, and friends who left for other countries rather than be drafted.
some are still around, although I have lost contact with most.
As a young female during that time, I lived safely on military bases both here, in Europe and South America.
Tension was everywhere. It still haunts me.
Thank you for sharing, .
ProfessorGAC
(64,413 posts)Great post, Jack.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)He is one of those who goes to the house to inform the family and stays near to make sure they are taken care of in many ways. It is also a tough job, but he has done it for many years and feels a great sense of accomplishment.
You have earned the rage. You aren't alone.
Paper Roses
(7,468 posts)That inexcusable war cost so much to so many.
By the grace of circumstance, my family came home physically safe. Not sure about mental status after that horrible experience.
Those who did the awful job of bringing back casualties should be thanked for the service rendered.
One of my family members flew medivac helicopters. He never talked about this horrible experience.
I'm sure his dreams bring flashbacks.
As we watch current events and the stupid moves by this administration, I worry about another useless, inexcusable war. One of my family came home with a Silver Star plus other medals. A sad but honorable tribute.
Thank you for your very poignant post. Those of us who remember Vietnam are doubly concerned at this point. Nothing tRump does will surprise me. He is a desperate despot!
This idiot in the White House will do anything. I can't get it out of my mind.
KT2000
(20,544 posts)I wish it could get into broader circulation. Currently the awful one is using threats against countries that would require the work of those he calls losers and suckers. Our streets are in the infant stages of being turned into a civil war - with warrior wannabes who have no idea of the experiences you and so many others have had.
Your essay is a reminder I hope many will read.
Thank you for posting it.
Jamesm9164
(541 posts)Pats on the head are nice. Thank you's are nice. But, what are you doing. I am more than willing to let folks know who I am and where I live. The handle should be sufficient.