RED SKIES
Several months ago the Miss World 2008 Contest was held in Nha Trang, Vietnam. We used to run convoy between Cam Ranh Bay AB Air Base and Nha Trang. I taped the Miss World contest to see what area of Vietnam looked like 41 years later (I had to tape it because it was on after my bedtime of 9pm). I offered to be a Judge but nobody called me or offered me a free trip. The hour-TV show showed the sights and sounds of Vietnam in 2008. It helped also that the girls were not hard to look at on TV. I think Uncle Ho is turning in his grave--tourists with money in communist country. This is a nice little story to connect the other parts of this story.
A few days ago I received e-mail about two F-4Cs crashing over South China Sea in Sept 1966. I was then assigned to the 12th Air Police Squad in April 1966, and to a tent with eight skycops of USAF. I was always looking for my former tent mates and found one about 15 years ago. Then two of them joined VSPA recently and I have been in contact with both men. It has brought back many memories of duty as Cops in 12th Air Police Security Squadron, or Sandtown, South Vietnam.
Over the years, I have told my wife about two F4Cs crashing, and I got me to thinking about the specific details of that night. We were all working Mids 10PM to 6AM. I was working guard duty in the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) Bomb dump. My post was overlooking the South China Sea. About 3AM, the sky turned bright red and loud sounds and big bang noise which lit up the night sky. Just as fast as it happened it turned dark again. We called Central Security Control (radio room for base). Our shift was over at 6am and USAF gods asked for volunteers to search for any signs of life in the bomb dump area. I think I volunteered to get a free boat ride and something to do.
I am not sure of what was found and filed the incident away as just another in a crazy war year. I know I attended the funeral service for five USAF men killed in action. The F-4Cs hold two men, pilot and Radar operator. My father had me make a scrap book about my USAF life. In Sept of 1966, we were lean mean fighting machines; in 2008 our muscles moved down in our bodies and we became nice and retired napping machines.
I had forgotten about his little part of Vietnam War, which my wife reminded me, is not just a little part of our war years. She is right. A few days ago at work I had a major PTSD attack. It bites me in the rear end and sends me back to Vietnam for about 20 minutes in my mind. I redirected myself outside and calmed myself down. Truth is I didn’t see this attack coming. I tried to call a fellow Vet after work on Monday and got the silent treatment. This was my second time to call for help and there was no answer. It sort of left me with a sickening feeling. My wife later emailed him that my hubby needed help, but there was no real answer. “So when hubby gets his head out of his rear end give us a call,” and hubby was not there for Frank, and I had to call a fellow VSPA member in PA, but he was out for the night. I called another VSPA friend and explained what had happen. He asked my wife, hubby ok, Joan said yes.
A good night sleep, work, the school year starting, all this can help me with my little problem. Yesterday my wife had a bad day at work. Joan came in and sat down on the steps, then began talking about her fun day. It seems that I forgot to set the table and my wife made me go out for dinner. Joan talked about her fun day with “normal” people. A good cup of coffee and an understanding spouse (Saint Frank per me) can help you in 2008.
In 1966 Cam Rahn Bay was a place of sand, sun and war. In 2008, time has changed it to place of peace, sand, beach and water.
That 1966 night, so long ago, with a sudden sky of red, reminds me of the old saying: "Red sky at night... sailor’s delight" and since then, the "Red sky in morning ... sailor’s warning" has also proven true in life.
