new find: Vietnam War gear

[Jim]

I had one experience with the "mob" at an airport. There wasn't one to start out but before I knew it I was at the center of one.
We were warned not to travel in uniform but on one occasion for some reason I no longer recall I had to. Passing through an airport I also forget the location of some name calling at me started. That drew others to see what the fuss was about. Before much longer I found my way blocked and I was getting surrounded. Then somebody spit on me.
About then a couple of cops showed up and I thought "Whew! Now I can get outa here!" Wrronnggg! I was told to move on which I had been trying to do, namely, go to my next flight. I tried to explain the problem and the next thing I knew I was being told I was going to jail (For "inciting a riot" can you believe it.) if I didn't leave! That actually emboldened the crowd when somebody tried to kick me. The cops did move to stop that and I was able to make my way to the rear, out of the airport. But, I missed my flight and wound up having to take a bus to my next destination... at which I was late for which I went through some headaches over too.

Not one of my more pleasant memories. No.

[Bill Hollinger]

Jim, that is horrible! I'm sorry you and so many others had to endure that behavior.

Camp Bob is actually Camp Roberts on highway 101 by King City, California. Parts of Camp San Louis Obispo "Camp SLO" have a lot of this look also. I guess they probably all did.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

JIM in Texas
I will resist my inclination point out a direct correlation between that "mob" and well another mob and just say Thanks for your service to our country.

[browningautorifle]

Camp Bob is actually Camp Roberts

What a desolate looking posting. You guys sure have some dandies...

[Bill Hollinger]

Jim, did you pull it up on google earth? It hasn't been in use for years. Great wild boar hunting all around there though . Camp SLO, Bob, Hunter Ligget and Ord are all collecting dust.

[browningautorifle]

I did. It looks like it may be a maintenance crew there, not much else happening. Some buildings are pretty bad, like the chapel. I remember being in North Ft Lewis years ago, just after RVN (1974) and the ghosts of a massive army was everywhere. Go back now and many of the North Ft is torn down. Lots of South Ft is changed to. I guess that's how it is with the size of your machine. Pendleton, MCRD, Ft Drum...on and on.

[oldpaul]

Some of these comments hit a little close to home. I was with 1/10th Cav in Vietnam from March 8th of 1968 to march 30th of 1969 as an Armor Crewman, MOS 11E20. I was then sent to Camp Kaiser in South Korea with 2/10th Cav (to me odd to go from 1/10th to 2/10th, just chance though)where I finished my tour in the Army. When I stepped off the plane at McChord Airbase ( now JBLM) I just had to sign some papers, turn in gear, listen to a lecture about not desecrating the uniform or the Army, and poof I was out. Still in uniform (having no civies) I went to the nearest cafe and then the nearest bar to await my sister coming to pick me up. No one and I mean no one, treated me with anything but respect while I was in uniform. A little over a year later I picked up my younger brother returning from his 'year in Vietnam' but he flew into Seatac on a civilian flight. The Hari Krishnas were there selling peace and books in their bright orange robes, but no one gave my uniformed brother a second look never mind spit on him or made rude comments. I think that it is telling that of the literally millions of hours of film done on and about the war in SEA there is no film evidence of soldiers being spit on (unless you count a stupid Sylvester Stallone movie) and that has also been my experience. With all the anecdotal evidence it must have happened, but it cannot be as common as most think. On the other hand, after I left the Army I went from warrior to hippie and there is beau coup evidence that peace lovers have been assaulted or worse; Kent State comes to mind. On another small observation, the entrenching tool I remember in Vietnam didn't have a wooden handle, it folded up. Regards. Tom

[burb1989]

Thanks for your service oldpaul. I thought it was odd too that my dad was issued WW2 era stuff during Vietnam but being a marine he wasn't given the most top of the line equipment. He had a WW2 era canteen, kabar, e-tool, and 1911 for starters (he might have had more). He told me that the army got the better equipment ("they even got the bigger backpacks" he said once when I asked him) while the marines had to make due with older equipment. I also have pictures of this e-tool on my dad's backpack during patrols and have pictures of many marines in my dad's unit who also had these older e-tools.

[Jim]

JIM in Texas
I will resist my inclination point out a direct correlation between that "mob" and well another mob and just say Thanks for your service to our country.

Hooked. I really don't know what you're referring to. Some how, I'm not really sure I want to. If it is bad, please don't bother.

My episode happened in the 70s. Things had deteriorated more by then I think. It was also the only such incident I had (Once was MORE than enough) in quite a bit of traveling while in service (7 years). So yeah, I guess it was rare but, oh yeah- it happened.

I have always heard about the Marines getting older equipment too. Consider their stuff is paid for by the department of the Navy which would rather spend their money on other things. Another thing IIRC, was a Marine's tour was 13 months to a GI's 12 mo.

[kosmolinekid]

I have a friend at work who still has some difficulties from his time in SE Asia . It reminded me of a book I read years ago and is still available on Amazon. It's by the author Bob Greene called the "Homecoming". It made my blood boil back then and I never served. It's just like today a lack of respect. Was it Mc Arthur who said nobody prays for peace more than a Warrior ? Warriors like Morticians have dirty jobs nobody wants to do it but somebody has to. I have spoken to a couple guys at work they are soft spoken nice guys. When they told me of when they came back I can see them looking back in time. The anger and the hurt in their eyes come back. I have given one of my friends the above book . He later told me he did exactly what one of the guys did when he came back home. He threw his Uniform in the trash can at the Airport. I like many other here thank all of you guys that served.