* * MECHANICS ALSO HELPED IN THE WAR * *
In 1967 I, as a Cpl., I was sitting in the USO at Chu Lai air base waiting for a
stage show to start. I had been a little down-in-the-dumps because I felt I was
not adding much to the war effort. After all, I was sitting there, relatively safe as
an aircraft mechanic. Just before the show started a tired looking, mud covered
Marine asked to share the table. He set down his weapon, pack and flack gear
while asking me what I did there. I felt embarrassed as I told this obvious
"grunt" that I worked on the airplanes there at Chu Lai. Imagine my surprise as
the battle hardened Marine damn near kissed me. Then he related how his patrol
was just gotten out of an ambush by the close air support of a couple of small
Marine Corps jets. I was further taken back when he described the planes and
said he would never forget the green horse head on the side of the plane. What
he was describing was the flight of two A-4 Skyhawks that I had helped get
launched (made some quick repairs to one) that morning before getting off to go
to the USO show. THAT is when I realized that we "air wingers" were helping
with that war also.
By the way, the reason he was there at the air base was because three members
of the patrol were wounded and had been medevaced to the hospital there. The
rest of the patrol was dropped off there to rest and await the outcome. Later the
hospital called for blood donors and I went to give a pint and ended up giving
two. .........
All three Marines survived! So, there were no U.S. KIAs from that ambush!
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