07-22-2004, 09:58
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
Posts: 2,018
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"Don't Take Your Guns To Town, Son!"
The meaning of those words hit me in Vietnam. Two incidents occured which made me swear off the combination of booze and guns.
There was a little bar just outside of the FOB compound. CRS the whole name but it was " The***** Door". On the same evening that Martin, my 1-0, was killed I was at this bar winding down with other Recon Team personnel. I had had a rough day to say the least. The mission we had was for the 4th ID. The CG requested us since his LRRPs weren't ready (capable). A few B-24 people visited the bar but for the most part it was exclusively SOG recon personnel.
We were having a raucous good time when of all things, in walks four 4ID LRRPS. They were sure purty in their fresh jungle fatigues, shined boots and those pretty Aussi hats with the brim pinned up on one side and a blue band with "LRRP" written in white letters.
Of all dumb things to do, especially in a bar occupied mostly with SOG personnel, one of them started bad-mouthing SF and saying how they were much superior. I was in no mood for such shit and pulled out my .45, jacked a round in the chamber and told the asshole to disappear.. Apparently everyone in the bar knew I was dead serious and hustled that fool out pronto. Actually some of the recon people were fighting over who was going to shoot the sucker.
The second time was just plain stupid. I was in downtown Kontum one night and I saw an MP jeep going down the road.. Just for fun, and with no evil intentions, I fired a round into the air their direction. I immediately new I had upgefucht. I immediately ducked into the bar and handed the gun to the first person I saw, a black recon man named Bragg. He asked what that was for and I said don't ask questions, just split.
The MPs came in and for some reason came right to me. They asked to see my pistol and I explained that we weren't allowed to carry weapons downtown while off duty. They thought they had me when they saw my empty holster.I explained that I always wore my web-gear and it was too much trouble to take the empty holster off. I don't think they bought it but they left.
I saw Bragg back at the FOB and when he returned the .45 he asked: "Why me?"
After that I never carried a weapon if drinking. My indig followed me everywhere and were my personal bodyguards. As obnoxious as I could get they never let anyone screw with me.
Disclaimer: Don't attempt these stunts in civilized surroundings.
Last edited by QRQ 30; 07-22-2004 at 11:17.
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QRQ 30 is offline
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07-22-2004, 10:21
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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Terry, some of the text got left out about halfway through, please recheck your story.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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07-22-2004, 11:01
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
Posts: 2,018
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Quote:
Originally posted by The Reaper
Terry, some of the text got left out about halfway through, please recheck your story.
TR
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TNX, it should be complete now. 
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QRQ 30 is offline
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07-22-2004, 11:05
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
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I couldn't agree more QRQ. Booze and bullets don't mix.
__________________
Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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07-22-2004, 11:31
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#5
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Gun Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Iowa and New Mexico
Posts: 2,143
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Terry:
Good story.
I was forced to fly a helicopter drunk one time, it wasn't pretty, and it scared the hell out of me.
Terry
__________________
E7-CW3-direct commission VN
B model gunship pilot 65-66 Soc Trang, Cobra Pilot 68-69-70 Can Tho Life member 101st Airborne Association
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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07-24-2004, 17:13
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: near Richmond, VA
Posts: 219
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Drunk, flying an Apache. Man, this has to be a great story.
Mark A.
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SP5IC is offline
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07-24-2004, 18:53
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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Quote:
Originally posted by oldSF
Drunk, flying an Apache. Man, this has to be a great story.
Mark A.
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I doubt that they had Apache helicopters back in Terry's day.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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07-24-2004, 19:30
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
Posts: 2,018
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Maybe he was flying a drunk Apache! 
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QRQ 30 is offline
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07-24-2004, 22:36
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#9
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Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oregon, Land of the Silver Grey Sunsets
Posts: 3,886
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CRQ 30, Thanks for your story, You sound civilized to me. (Edited to add this comment), "both then and now."
Last edited by Bill Harsey; 08-05-2004 at 11:24.
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Bill Harsey is offline
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