11
11
0
Okay you Vietnam Veterans...any pictures or stories about "in country R&R". I never went to Vietnam. Today, up at the VA waiting for my prescription I got talking to a guy who worked at China Beach. He told me there was a Surf Club there...and all kinds of recreational stuff, but the Beach was the big spot.
He told me as a Moral Officer (even tho he was an E6) and having spent a few months in the bush, all of his staff tried to make it as "fun" as possible.
He related some stories...and both were funny. And as you can imagine, they involved girls, and beer. But he took his job seriously and made every attempt to have the guys unwind and relax ...and he thinks the Wet T shirt contest ...might have been a bad call.
He told me as a Moral Officer (even tho he was an E6) and having spent a few months in the bush, all of his staff tried to make it as "fun" as possible.
He related some stories...and both were funny. And as you can imagine, they involved girls, and beer. But he took his job seriously and made every attempt to have the guys unwind and relax ...and he thinks the Wet T shirt contest ...might have been a bad call.
Vietnam
Vietnam War
Beach
Surfing
Soldier
Posted 1 d ago
Responses: 5
9
9
0
SGT Kevin Hughes
I am sad to announce Kevin that there was no incountry R&R for this old boy,I did in fact get R&R Hong Kong style,five days and nights in one of the most interesting city of the world,I do know that suits were purchased,some jade for my sister,a trip on the Star Ferry, and then meeting up with some Australian service members,and from that day to this complete amnesia,well there are flashes of bars,B girls,loud music,hanging from a balcony? eating spaghetti from a wok? anyhow got new jungles and boots when my sorry ass got choppered back out to the boonies, Welcome Home Brothers.
I am sad to announce Kevin that there was no incountry R&R for this old boy,I did in fact get R&R Hong Kong style,five days and nights in one of the most interesting city of the world,I do know that suits were purchased,some jade for my sister,a trip on the Star Ferry, and then meeting up with some Australian service members,and from that day to this complete amnesia,well there are flashes of bars,B girls,loud music,hanging from a balcony? eating spaghetti from a wok? anyhow got new jungles and boots when my sorry ass got choppered back out to the boonies, Welcome Home Brothers.
(9)
(0)
SGT Kevin Hughes
SGT Philip Roncari - I didn't know you guys did that. But it must be a Universal trait of us single grunts. Because in Germany us Single guys were always taking Holiday Duty so the Married guys could have a Family life. And at Christmas time, we let the married folks take the two week (or more) chunks so they could be home for the holidays. Not quite the same as trading RR from Combat, but the thought was the same...helping out a young married couple. Good on you!
(3)
(0)
PO3 Edward Riddle
I had a R&R to Bangkok, where I celebrated my 20th Birthday and like Brother Phil, I don't remember very much of it at all. We drank a lot of rum and a lot of beer. I went with a guy I had trained for the River Boats with. Then after I got back, I don't remember what the circumstances were but somehow, I got to go on an in-country R&R to Vung Tau and once again I remember even less about that fun time. Welcome Home your own ornery self, Brother Phil
(3)
(0)
SGT Kevin Hughes
PO3 Edward Riddle - It sounds like what the Rock Stars say about Studio 21 in NYC in the Sixties...if you remember anything ...you weren't there. LOL Welcome home, thanks for sharing.
(2)
(0)
SGT Philip Roncari
PO3 Edward Riddle
Heard Bangkok was a blast,lot of guys in my company went there,stories about drinking snake blood and booze? As I mentioned didn’t get a In -County R&R since I got a 45 day drop on my tour,guess I traded that for beautiful Ft.Polk,not that I’m complaining I’ll take Louisiana any day over the Central Highlands,seems Kevin is comparing us to Rock Stars,Oh boy ,your stage was water and boocoo mud and mine was triple canopy jungle and those stinkin hills of the Central Highlands,Be Well Brother, Phil.
Heard Bangkok was a blast,lot of guys in my company went there,stories about drinking snake blood and booze? As I mentioned didn’t get a In -County R&R since I got a 45 day drop on my tour,guess I traded that for beautiful Ft.Polk,not that I’m complaining I’ll take Louisiana any day over the Central Highlands,seems Kevin is comparing us to Rock Stars,Oh boy ,your stage was water and boocoo mud and mine was triple canopy jungle and those stinkin hills of the Central Highlands,Be Well Brother, Phil.
(0)
(0)
8
8
0
@kevin Hughes I could never quite reconcile Vietnam R&R because after down time was over the boys were right back on the Frontline, facing death.
(8)
(0)
3
3
0
Me at China Beach where the 101st Airborne went. When I got transferred to the 1st Air Cavalry, our in country R & R was at Vung Tau. I also got sent to the beach on Vung Tau for a week with a mortar crew armed only with illumination rounds. They were expecting another Tet. The attack came a month later which was called the Easter Offensive. On a sad note a Chinook carrying members of the 8th Cav heading to Vung Tau for R & R went down. A rotor broke off and all 34 aboard were killed.
(3)
(0)
SGT Kevin Hughes
Oh my gosh, you brought back one of my saddest days in the Military. For a Chinook crashed in Training , April 18th, 1971 Pegnitz Germany. I had just trained with the guys on that chopper at Vilsek Germany on April 12th for the Mortar Gunnery Championships. All of them and the Crew died. We had several Memorials all over the Country and all of us thought ..."it could have been us." War is a tragedy with tragedies galore. You guys were Heroes then, and you are Heroes now.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google