Quesadilla

Cousin Don and I met at Billy's Long Bar for dinner.  The next 2 weekends will be a zoo with the holidays.  Once again had a enjoyable conversation.

I had my normal pints of Kilt Lifter.  Wanted to try something different for food.  Settled on their beef quesadilla.  It was good, but like Billy's Enchilada Plate better.

Ruidoso Area Pages

My website pages for the tour in the Ruidoso, NM Area are posted.  The pages include photos of the Cloudcroft Trestle and vicinity, Lincoln, NM,  Fort Stanton, Smokey Bear Historic Park, White Oaks, NM and Valley of Fired Recreation Area.

This photo is of the Catholic Chapel at Fort Stanton.

Heading Home

Did not sleep well Monday night.  That's typical when I am driving.  Packed the room and had a bowl of cereal.  Checked out of the room and headed toward home.

First stop was to check out the "ghost" town of White Oaks.  The bar in town is only open Fridays through Sunday.  Took a couple photos of the old buildings.  Amazing there is a large, 2-story school house out here in nowhere.

From there,I checked out Valley of Fires Recreational Area.  Very different to the VOF near Las Vegas, this valley gets its name from the volcanic activity in the area.  My Seniors Pass was only good for half price entrance.  Bought a ghost towns book at the visitor's center and visited with the attendant.  There was not much to do see there than the lava field and many places to park RVs or have a picnic.

Was time to high-tail it home.  Took US 380 to I-25 on up to Rio Rancho.  Home a little after 1 pm.  Grabbed the mail and processed the day's photos.  Exhausted, so napped. Unpacking the car and starting laundry can wait until tomorro

Ruidoso Area

Had a quick breakfast of cereal and coffee, I was on the road to tour the area.  My goal was to check out the historic town of Lincoln, NM,  Fort Stanton Historic Site, and Smokey Bear State Park.

I did not spend much time in Lincoln.  It was a matter of shooting some photos of the old buildings.  The town of Lincoln plays major roll in the history of New Mexico. Notable names like Sheriff Pat Garrett and "Billy the Kid" were prominent players.

Most of the rest of the morning was spent at Fort Stanton.  The fort was built at a military fort.  It has also served at prison of war facility, military hospital, and tuberculous hospital.  It 2004 interesting parties started efforts to preserve the fort.  The state and federal government got involved in 2008.  Eventually, the fort became Fort Stanton History Site.

Fort Stanton is very much a work in progress.  When you enter the visitor's center, you are give some information of the fort history and information of what buildings are open.  The folks at Fort Stanton are working hard to open more buildings.

From Fort Stanton, it was on over to Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, NM.   This is a state facility, at the time, entrance fee is $2.00. There is a path showing the plants in the New Mexico climate zones.  Featured at a corner o =f the the park is Smokey Bear burial site.  The museum illustrated when happens to the land after a forest fire and the people that fight these fires.

Last night when heading out to dinner, I saw a interesting store - "Boots & Jeans" - my kind of store.  Ended up spending too much money - buying a pair of boots, jeans, a couple shirts, and a belt.

Dinner was at Rio Grande Grill & Tap Room.  Had a cheeseburger, fries, and a pint of Pecan Amber Ale.

Spent the rest of the evening packing back into the car and watching TV.

Cloudcroft

Sunday, it was time for me to get back on the road heading home.  I made plans to spend some time playing "Tourist" in Lincoln County on the way home.

Wanted to see the mountain railroad trestle near Cloudcroft.  The trestle is just West of the town. Cloudcroft was in interesting mountain town,  Looking forward to visiting the town again to spend some time.

After taking photos in town and of the trestle, I drove down the mountain almost into Alamogordo.  Back tracked back to Cloudcroft and North up to Ruidoso.  Checked into the Quality Inn, processed photos, and headed out to K-Bob's for dinner.  Opted for the Bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a pint of Bosque Scottish Ale.

Geronimo

 Yesterday, I left Roswell late - heading to Hobbs.  Visit with my hosts and a late Thanksgiving dinner..

Spent a relaxing day in Hobbs, NM.  Was thinking of playing, instead did a quick tourist trip to Monument, NM and looked at the Geronimo monument.  The local citizenry needs to spend to money to refurbish the monument.

There was a work-ware store closing in Hobbs.  Stobbed by there and pick up another pair of boots

Found S95 Camera

Back the end of October, l lost my Canon S95 "point & shoot" camera.  Was sure I left it on the roof of the car after departing from breakfast.  With a pending trip to Las Vegas for the West Coast Pipe Snow, I bought a replacement camera.

Thanksgiving morning, reloading the car in Roswell, NM, I found the camera.  It had fallen between the driver's side seat and  car frame. 

Sure happy to find the camera.  While my replacement camera is nice (larger pixel count) I have been having problems with the touch screen. 

Thanksgiving Trip

For many years, I drove from SW Iowa to SE Wisconsin for Thanksgiving.  With my move to New Mexico, I have not been interested in paying the cost and dealing with the crowds to fly for the holiday, much less drive in questionable weather condition.
last year I was invited to celebrate with my cousin and his friends. This year for Thanksgiving, I am taking the opportunity to visit on-line friends and play tourist.

Packed up the car heading toward SE New Mexico.  First destination being Roswell, planning to visit the UFO museum.  On the way, I found another boring long stretch of highway - that being the 140 miles on US 285 between Clines Corner to Roswell, NM. 

Along the highway I drove through the almost ghost town of  Encino.  The only other was the railroad town of Vaugh.  About the only other "scenery" along the highway were two cowboys (one pictured here) guarding the highway.  Guess I really am in cowboy country.

I arrived Roswell 12:45 and packed at the UFO Museum lot.  Walking to the door, I learned the museum had closed at noon for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The last time I was in Roswell, I was too late in the day (after 5pm) tour.  So, being 0 for 2, I am thinking the museum must be not worth the effort.

Checked into my hotel (early).  Settled into the room and checked my e-mail a social media website.  Was thinking of showering and heading out for dinner, but was not hungry, so just chilled out in the room.  No big hurry to get on the road in the morning - it's only 2 hours to Hobbs and I am expected a little after noon.

Family Visitors

Spent most of the morning resting in the room.  Worked on some artistic photo taken at  Valley of Fire.  Spelled my cousin at his pipe show table.

Had made plans with relatives on my mom's family side.  Aunt Mart Jane and cousin Beth Johnson met me to a late lunch at the hotel's Grand Cafe.

I packed up most of my stuff from the room,  Cousin Don and fellow New Mexico pipe makers Victor and Nathan invited me to join them with pizza a brew after the show.  Since I had a big, late lunch I just had a couple pints of craft beer. 

The "after glow" was at PizzaRev a couple blocks from the hotel.  Interesting set-up at the place.  Pizzas where one person sized pizza.  Beer and wine are on a tap wall.  After ID check, we were given wrist bands which link with the tap wall.  The base amount was 32 oz, end we could choose that we want and how much of each, until the 32 oz was used up.

I opted for "Full Sail" amber ale from a brewery in Hood River, OR.

Called it an early evening as we were planning to be out of the hotel heading home about 6am.

West Coast Pipe Show

The trip to Las Vegas, NV was to share driving and expenses as my cousin was attending the pipe show.  I helped him set up his display and manned the table while he took a lunch break.

I took the opportunity to catch up on sleep and did some photo work.  Dinner was spaghetti with meat balls at the hotel's Grand Cafe.

Valley of Fire

Today was the day for playing "tourist".  After a hardy breakfast at the hotel buffet, we headed 50 miles NE of Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire State Park.  Weather was perfect for the trip with temps in the 60s, climbing to the 70s.

When we got off the interstate and headed to the park entrance, the sky way mostly cloudy.  We paid the $10 entrance fee and started our drive through the park.

Valley of Fire gets its name from the red rocks that abound in the park.  I took a lot of HDR photos.  Set up for 2 panoramic sets. (First pano set turned out well.  The second one was a mess - forgot to change camera setting from bracketed exposures to manual single-shot.)

Drove the North Shore road from Valley of Fire, through the Lake Mead Recreational Area.  Then into Las Vegas.  I was exhausted when we got back to the hotel.  The combination of he fresh air and walking around the park took its toll on me.  Crashed on the bed for a hour or so nap.

Eventually, I shower and we went down to the Grand Cafe for dinner.  After dinner, Don went off to visit with his pipe-making friends.  I was going to crash, but ended up processing my photos from the day.

Grand Canyon Railway

Don and I are on the road again, heading to Las Vegas and the West Coast Pipe Show,  Stopped in Williams, AZ for breakfast.

A block from the restaurant is the depot of the Grand Canyon Railway.  Took time to look at 2 if their locomotives and talked with workers decorating the locomotives for the holidays.

The railway's operational locomotive has been converted to run on used vegetable oil.  I would nick-name it the "French Fry Express".

Event-less drive on into Las Vegas.  Checked into our room. Had a beer and a burger  in the hotel for dinner.

Trip Planning

Cousin Don and I met at Billy's Long Bar to finish plans for the Las Vegas trip.  Don is traveling to exhibit hes pipe at the West Coast Pipe Show.  I am to help the driving and gives me a chance to get out of town for a long weekend.

Plans are best made over a couple pints of craft beer.

70th Birthday

My 70th birthday celebration was just what I would hope it would be.  I picked op the cake in the morning - I had drive about 15 miles or more into central Albuquerque to find a bakery to bake a spice cake.

Relaxed the rest of the day until getting dressed for the celebration.  Plans were for food, drinks, and conversation at Billy's Long Bar in Albuquerque.

Cousin Don arrived early about the same time I did.  At 5:30 the guests started filtering in.  All totaled, 13 of my ham radio club friends and spouses settled into the Dart Room.  My friend and real estate agent Leland, also made the function. 

The food and service was great - thanks for the folks at Billy's.  The room was just the right size for our group of 16 people.  Thanks to my Albuquerque "family" for making my 70th birthday celebration a success.

Getting Photos right

Today was my last shift at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  Weather was a lot warmer this monring, still chilly in the tent.  There were originally 3 of us on the work schedule - ended up with 5.  Being a Saturday, we were pretty busy talking with folks about ham radio.

I seemed to finally got the right camera settings for shooting the Dawn Patrol.  To get enough light, I set the ISO all the way up to 6400.  Manual focus because there was not enough light for the automatic settings.  Had to run -3 stops compensation with the bright balloons and the black sky.  I could (or should) have set the compensation at -4 or -5,  Processing the image from RAW, I was able to get the light correct.

Very light winds this morning.  Many of the balloons seemed to just stay on the same place.  The first ones launched drifted off to the SE.  No box wind running today. 

Wednesday Shift - Balloon Fiesta

It was a COLD morning at Balloon Fiesta Park. Thermometer was hovering just above 40 degrees.  Had a big crew, mostly because 2 nets were being controlled from the High Desert display at Balloon Fiesta.  I checked into the SCAT (Senior Citizen and Travelers) net.  Was busy talking with folks about Ham Radio during Rusty's Raider's net, so skipped checking into that net.

I did a little more photography.  Still working on setting the camera to shoot the Dawn Patrol.  The shots are tricky because of the low light and the bright glows when the balloon gas jets are firing.

Three days at the Balloon Fiesta, I wore my Georgia Boot Company work boots.  While they were heavy when I first got them on, they were very comfortable for walking at the fiesta grounds.

Body was tired by the time I headed to the car, only finding the gate I entered in was closed.  Had to walk down to the next gate and back to the car.  Crashed into bed when I got home

Frustrating Morning

Up almost all night, waiting to head to my shift at the Balloon Fiesta.  Left the house almost 30 minutes ealier so I was no rushed at breakfast.  Breakfast was again at IHOP on Unser in Rio Rancho.

It took forever waiting for my food to arrive.  To add insult to injury, it was cold.  My pancakes did not melt the butter! A couple in the booth next mine had the same complaint.  On top of that, the were some king of error in my bill - yesterday morning breakfast was supposed to be about 30 cents more than this morning, yet my tab came up to almost a dollar higher this morning!

Traffic this morning entering the park was a breeze - drove right in and parked next to the gate. Gates opened about 4:15 and went into our tent.  And there I waited.  There supposed to be 2 more people on the shift.  Eventually, they showed up about 6am, about the time we were supposed to open our exhibit.  Then, they spent over an hour getting the flex radio running.

I found at that the function chair told the 3 others to arrive at 6am - opening time, not leaving set-up to be done after we were already open!  I was so frustrated, I headed out to shoot photos of Dawn Patrol. (above)

The morning was awesome for photos.  The winds were bringing the balloons overhead, and many crossing in front of the just past full moon. (photo on the right)

Same is yesterday morning, once the balloons were in the air, the crowds started walking through our tent.  2-3 of us were kept fairly busy talking with folks. The other person was busy making contacts.  A friend of mine from the Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association stopped by to say "hi". 

By the time we were closing up for the morning, I was exhausted.  There were 2 of us (me and one other" from our club, the other two locals, but not members of HDARC.  I held in my comments until I had a chance to talk to the other member.Was still fuming when I got home.  Talked with the committee co-chair (a friend of mine) to vent.  Told him that I will wrote a note to the chairman later when I was rested and cooled off.

Made up a stiff drink, and fell asleep.  Next shift I will be working is Wednesday morning.

Balloon Fiesta - 2017 - Opening Day

Friday evening, I finished charging camera batteries and packing up mt camera bad in preparations for the first morning of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  Had breakfast at IHOP for fuel for the day.  (Service sucked - had to call into in the kitchen to get someone so I can pay my check).

I was at the entrance to Balloon Fiesta Park about 4am, - traffic was already backed up to get in and park.  But was able to get front row parking near the entrance.  Two other HDARC members arrived about the same time.  Two others of our crew for the day started our a little later and got stuck in heavy traffic.

We finished getting the special events station W5B set up.  Made a few digital contacts - including a couple with Japan ON 40 METERS!  Watch the Dawn Patrol lift off.

 Ed gave me a primer on current ham radio SSTV (slow-scan TV).  The two of us headed out to shoot photos of the balloons, sending them to the test via ham radio (ala "roving reporters").  I had lots of fun with this new version of SSTV - much more compact that the old days!

.After the mass accession of the balloons, we got busy in the Balloon Discovery Tent.  Folks where checking out what there was beyond the balloons.    Met a couple other haps attending the fiesta.  Lots of youngsters that were wondering what we were all about.

The crowns starter thinning out about 11am.  My speach is about to go out and getting a head ache.  As the morning sessions came to a close at 11am, I was tired and ready to head home.  It was all I could do to walk back to my car.

When I got home, I undressed and head into bed - was exhausted. 

Reflections on "The Wall"

I wrote the following after a visit to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in 1988.

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On December 13, 1969 a scared young man got off of a plane at Bien Hoa Air Force Base in Vietnam. Thirteen and a half months later on February 1, 1971, that same young man – older and wiser – returned home to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. In those months, a lot happened that took years to accept. The real acceptance of that experience started on July 28, 1988, over 17 years later. That’s when I visited the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial (“The Wall”) for the first time.

My experience in ‘Nam was different than most, I wasn’t out in the boonies carrying a rifle, nor was I totally a “REMF” at a rear base camp. I was a “71M20” Chaplain Assistant. That meant I was the Chaplain’s bodyguard, driver, secretary, chapel organist and chapel builder. In addition, I visited our wounded at the evacuation hospitals and assisted in memorial services.

That may not sound like much to you. I didn’t see actual combat – instead, I saw the aftermath. I haven’t talked much about it except to other Vietnam veterans – we’ve had a propensity to keep our feelings to ourselves. At the most, we’ll discuss it with other Vietnam veterans. Recently, with the building of “The Wall” and some of the programs on TV we’ve started to let our feelings come to the surface. They call itt “Delayed Stress Syndrome” or something like that.

In the meantime, we’ve kept to ourselves. I have a very close friend in Des Moines who saw a lot of combat. We’ve spent several nights just talking. Occasionally he will have a flashback. Our mutual friends know that’s the time to leave us alone. I know I’m one of the few men who understand what he’s going through.

When I visited “The Wall”, my first thoughts were that I wished he could have been there with me to share our feelings and, yes, cry on each other’s shoulders. The memorial invokes those feelings, It is truly a moving experience.

As you approach the memorial, it's almost like entering the sacred ground. Signs request “N Smoking”, “No Food”, “No Running”.

A brochure published by the Parks and History Association fittingly describes the memorial “Like a roll call of time, the memorial lists casualties by date of loss, starting at the vertex. The first name, Dale R. Buis is inscribed under the date 1959 on panel 1E. Names continue eastward to panel 70E, reaching May 1968 at the end of the east wing. The sequence continues at the walls opposite end on panel W70 as if the memorial has circled underground and surfaced again At the vertex, the toll ends with Richard Vande Geer at the bottom of panel W1 above the date 1975. End meets beginning; the circle is complete.”

On my visit to the memorial, I noted an envelope sitting against one of the panels. A soldier’s name had been copied from the memorial. Written on the envelope was “Dear Dad, I’m sorry I never got to know you. Love, …

It is a memorial not only to those who lost their lives but all who served. This is best described by the inscription at the base of the memorial’s flagpole “The flag affirms the principles of freedom for which they fought and their pride in having served under difficult circumstances…”

Anyone visiting Washington DC, whatever their political stance during the Vietnam war, should visit the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. Take in the wall with the veteran standing beside you, tears in his eyes and try to understand the necessary healing of the nation that is taking place. We the Vietnam Veterans, do not expect the general public will ever fully understand what we went through. We only ask that you accept that we served our country as have other veterans.

Jeep Driving in Vietnam

Taking a break from the serious section of the subject of Vietnam, here are some observations of jeep drivers in that country during the war.

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After an exhaustive survey of jeep drivers in Vietnam, we have compiled an amazing mountain of facts and myths about driving in Vietnam.

Here is but a sample of the nuggets of wisdom drawn from that vast legion of the most professional jeep drivers in the world.

1. If you forget to unlock the chain on the steering wheel, there is a good chance you won’t make the first turn.

2. If you are driving your First Sergeant around and you run out of gas, he is likely to get mad.

3. If you put it in reverse, floor it, and pop the clutch, you will lay a patch.

4. If Top sees you do this, you will likely be taking the ankle express from now on.

5. During the monsoons, it will rain when the canvas top is down.

6. During the monsoons, it will rain when the canvas top is up.

7. During the monsoons, you are going to get wet.

8. MPs can appear from nowhere.

9. MPs will not go away if you ignore them.

10.  You should always give tanks the right-of-way.  Courtesy pays.

11. If you are constantly driving on the left side of the road and you are not in Australia, you are going to be surprised one of these days.

12. If you signal for a left turn in Saigon, there is a good chance you will lose your wristwatch.

Chaplain Assistant – Religion

I need to take a break to talk about the job of

Chaplain Assistant. This chapter may help explain my attitude towards organized religion. It delves into life events that steered me to that Army MOS (Military Occupation Specialty).

My mom took my sister and me to Sunday School (and later Church) almost every Sunday. On the other side, dad belonged to the “C & E” club – Christmas and Easter. Both my sister and I were confirmed into the Lutheran Church.

As for what I remember, my dad was not confirmed into any church until he went to class at our Lutheran Church. At the end of the class, he was confirmed. My dad was never one to wear his religion on his sleeve. He lived by the “Golden Rule”. My dad was an honest, hard-working farmer and businessman. Watching the sunrise was his affirmation that there was a higher power.

My dad did support some church functions. For several years, mom, dad, sister, me, grandmother, and some of my grandmother's catering crew cooked breakfast after Easter Sunrise Service. Still, the land was my dad's church”.

When it came to time to settle into college life, I started attending the campus Lutheran “congregation”. There was a young, opinionated pastor. This was in the late 60s and the height of Viet Nam. The pastor was preaching against the war. I had not formed a solid opinion about the war – but felt that such sermons did not belong. I stopped attending campus church.

This takes me to the week before my military induction. In one week, I had been drafted. Resigned my job. Moved from Cincinnati back to Wisconsin. My maternal grandfather had died and I attended his funeral. The next morning, boarded a bus to the induction center.

To say that I was a lost/confused 21 year-old as far as my religion was an understatement. I was not keen on killing people. Nor was I a conscience objector. When the Chaplain made is talk recruiting chaplain assistants – I was all ears. This seemed to be nearly the perfect job for me. I could serve my country and my fellow soldiers. The job would be to help the guys and not shoot the “enemy”.

The Army Chaplain Assistant is a “jack-of-all-trades”. Whatever it took – we did it for the Chaplain. Chaplains could carry a weapon if he wished, but not required – I was his body guard. It was up to me to maintain the Chaplain's jeep and drive him wherever he went. We were his clerk and typist, filed daily reports, typed and duplicated chapel bulletins.

We typed a “next-of-kin” letter for fallen soldiers. Served as acolytes for chapel services. Some of us even played organ for services. We built chapels. I served as base movie projectionist. We set up chapel services and memorial services.

We were paired up with a chaplain with our same basic denomination – divided into Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish. However, we were trained how to set up for and assist the Chaplain of any denomination.

The first chaplain I worked with was was for just 2 weeks as his assistant was leave. For the next 9 months, I worked with the my assigned Chaplain. If did not take much time to find out I had problems working with him. He was North American Baptist from Seattle, Washington. He was always right – just ask him. He did not know how to give compliments – they were always back-handed.

Tuesday afternoon until Thursday mid-day, my chaplain and I were at BMB as duty chaplain and assistant. While at BMB, my chaplain would select hymns and the title of his sermon for our Sunday chapel service. Saturdays were were generally traveling to one of the other bases for services. That left me Thursday afternoon and Fridays to type and duplicate the chapel bulletin. Also try practice playing the hymns.

I made a big mistake when I told my chaplain that I had played the accordion when younger. He took that I could play the organ for chapel service. I tried it, making an effort, if I knew the hymns. The problems were when he selected hymns I never heard of. If I was lucky and knew the hymn, I might get a back-handed compliment – like “I see you finally practiced before service this week”. Adding insult to injury – once I was out of the Army, I was told that chapel organists got PAID in Viet Nam.

I did one item of defiance that irked him. I grew a mustache. He despised any facial hair. As long as I kept my mustache within Army regulations – there was nothing he could do about it. I still have the mustache!

My Chaplain and I drove the roads of Viet Nam un-escorted. The only think we had was my M-16 rifle. Thanks to my friends with the “Rat Patrol” (gun jeeps). I squirrel some smoke grenades and fragmentation grenades in the back of my jeep. I don't know if the Chaplain knew I had them, but I felt a little better with them.

I asked the Chaplain if we could carry a radio in the back of the jeep. It made sense for me as we are out by ourselves. He said it was not authorized and that it made us stand out (like some high officer). By this, I knew that in Nam – if there was a will, there was a way. I told the Chaplain I was sure someone could scrounge up a radio that I could have in the back of the jeep. It would not show – just used to emergencies. But, he said “NO”.

My bunk space was with Echo Company – Rat Patrol, snipers, and mortars. They were my best friends in Nam. They gave me the nickname of “Preach”. Later, I found out like there were a lot of just chaplain assistants called “Preach” just like medics called “Doc”.

The Rat Patrol offered me to ride with them when they escorted an infantry company out to where they will be patrolling. I figured it would be great – a way to see and understand what some of my hootch-mates did. Besides, I was caught up that day and it would be only a couple hours. But did I ever catch hell from the Chaplain.

One day, the Chaplain decided we should drive out to where there was a little temporary fire base to hold chapel services. Directions to the base included a 7 or 8 mile drive on a dirt road. Topping that off, there had been reports of enemy sniper fire in the area. We were to wait for a gun jeep to escort in to the firebase. Chaplain waited less than 30 minutes past the appointed rendezvous time when he decided we would head in un-escorted. His reasoning “If the Lord watches over me in the freeways of Seattle, He will watch over me here”. I had not option but to drive him into the area. I drove like a NASCAR driver. Thankfully. I grew up driving a jeep on the farm. I knew how the vehicle handled. Was more than a little scared. The Chaplain did not say anything – just held on.

After chapel service, we were to wait, again for escort. There was a fire mission just as we finished service. The base was a flurry of activity. The Chaplain said they were busy to escort us, so we would just drive back to the pavement and Battalion fire base. I drove like a bat-out-of-hell on the way back to the pavement, shaving 1 minute off out driving time on the way back. After all, I knew the road!

I felt bad for the guys out at the fire base. I was able to get into the PX (Post Exchange) every week during our 2 nights at Brigade Main Base. I became almost a satellite PX for them. I kept a list of what the guys wanted from the PX. Picked then up for them and brought them back to the fire base. I did not take any profit – what the PX price is what I charged the guys. There were some things at I just stocked up or tossed into the jeep because I need they would want some. Popular items were film, snacks, and condoms. Never told that Chaplain what all I was hauling back in the jeep.

A big part of the day I spent at BMB was visiting our Battalions troops sick or injured in the 2 Evacuation Hospitals at Long Bimh Post. It was a day a week for me while with the 199^th. During my service with IIFFV, one of the two assigned chaplain assistants went every day at the hospitals. I got to detest visiting the hospital. When I was out of the Army – you really had to be a good friend or close family member before I would visit you in the hospital.

Right or wrong – while on the 199^th, I was like the “gate-keeper”. The guys in the unit (including NCOs and Officers) did not like my Chaplain. The guys would tell me some of their problem, looking for guidance the questions they had – is this a problem for the Company Commander or the Chaplain.

If one of the battalion's companies were back at BMB for “Stand-Down” and it happened to be that I was at BMB, I was always invited to party with them.

About 8 months in country, the recon platoon invited me out on a patrol with them. I took that a great vote of confidence – that they felt so comfortable with me. I asked the Chaplain. What a mistake that was. He forbid me doing it and said that the only way he would allow me into the field was if I changed my MOS and gave up my Chaplain Assistant job. Well – I was not born yesterday!

During this time, I was called up to my E-5 promotion board. I felt I preformed well in from of the board. Was able to answer their questions. One surprised me. Being assigned to an Infantry brigade, I was surprised when one of the review board officers asked me about a vestment color for a particular part of the church year. Luckily, I nailed it. Did not make it the first month, but the next month. With 11 months and 8 days on active duty, I was promoted to SP5-E5. I make particular note of this because the Chaplain still did not appreciate my work.

Two months later when we were both going to other units – he told me that it was a good thing because otherwise he would have put me in for a disciplinary Article 15. Years later, I learned that he had left a negative oral report for my future Chaplain. He was given the option to take me or change m MOS (without telling me or allowing any rebuttal). Hell of a nice guy!

My final Chaplain – Major with IIFFV-Arty (Second Field Force Viet Nam – Artillery) was a joy to work with. Each week the chaplain went into Saigon to visit a missionary couple. The other assistant and I alternated weeks driving. There were 2 of us assistants in the office. The other was SP4-E4 – so I had rank on him. We shared our work load. The only time I recall pulling rank on him was Christmas 1970. It was my second Christmas in country and advised our chaplain that I would be over at Long Binh Post to watch the Bob Hope Show. As such, the other assistant would cover the office.

Fast Forward 40 years. A section of our government has been taken over by the Evangelical “Christians”. They remind me of a chaplain I served with in Viet Nam. His religion was “his way or the highway”. They think they are always right – how dare anyone challenge them. And, what about separate of church and state. Its OK to mix politics and faith if its an Evangelical Christian – but no other religion allowed.

Like my dad, I try to live by the Golden Rule. I believe that any reward I have coming in any afterlife, I earned by keeping true to my personal values. I detest others trying to inject their religion on to my values.

We Didn't Belong

Watching "The Viet Nam war", I want to add thoughts I published several years ago. Infantry unit chaplain assistants did not “belong”. We were not field troops and we were not REFMs. Even with Echo Company reunions, I still have this feeling – though they do their best to make me part of their group. They have conversations at the reunions talking about this or that place, the conditions or the firefight. Here were my thoughts.

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"In Vietnam, I was a Chaplain Assistant with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. I was trained as a Chaplain Assistant with MOS 71M20. Our job was being a jack-of-all-trades for the Chaplain. We were his driver, acolyte, clerk, jeep mechanic, handyman, and bodyguard, among other things.
Being with the 199th LIB, we were on the TOE of Brigade HHC. This should classify us as REMFs – the rear support personnel. The thing is, we spent most of our time out at the Fire Support Bases with the infantry battalions.

Recently I’ve been in contact with another Chaplain Assistant that was with the 199th at the same time. It was surprising to hear how much of our thoughts, feelings, and experiences were the same. I began to wonder why.

We got back to Brigade Main Base for 2 nights a week, when our Chaplain was on duty there. During that time we spent a lot of time visiting the wounded at the 2 evac hospitals. We saw very little of our fellow Chaplain Assistants – except during these visits to BMB – and then only those that happened to be in at the same time. We were never at BMB long enough to develop any friendships with the support personnel. We didn’t really “belong” to this group – we were field guys.

Back to the FSB. We lived with the grunts, rat patrol, snipers, and recon. Our closest friends were 11B, 11E, etc. For some strange reason, these guys adopted us. But we never felt we really “belonged” to their group. We lived with them, drank with them, partied with them. We laughed and cried with them. We were invited to their stand down parties. But we could not “belong” because we didn’t share the field/combat experience.

Some of us ended up going out with the troops one way or another. My Chaplain wasn’t happy when he found out I went with the rat patrol when they escorted the infantry for troop insertion. Recon was willing to take me along on a short patrol – but the Chaplain put a stop to that. Others were able to spend more time in the boonies – yet we still didn’t feel that we “belonged”. (see right)

 We visited the sick and wounded. We set up the Field Cross for memorial services. We suffered survivor guilt to varying degrees. And mostly we kept it all to ourselves. After all, it was our job to assist the Chaplain helping the troops. Hell, I don’t think our Chaplains had any idea what we were feeling.

I moved on to HHB II Field Force Vietnam Artillery in the fall of 1970. IIFFV was a REMF group, but my roots were in the field. I wore my boonie hat with pride. Ball caps were required at IIFFV unless you came from a field unit. So, while I made some good friends, I still didn’t really “belong”.

When we got back to the “world”, it was difficult for all Vietnam Vets. The country did not accept and understand us. We no longer “belonged” to their social group.

Each of us handled this in our own way. I finished my college degree and used work to suppress the thoughts for over 30 years. Now, with retirement, the war in Iraq and some other catalysts I probably don’t recognize, the feelings have come to the front. And I still don’t feel that I really “belong”.

SP5 Tom “Preach” Winfield
71M20 Vietnam"

It's a Boot Thing

When I moved from Iowa to New Mexico, I left most of my boots.  Over the year and a half since I moved, I found how much I miss my boots.  Slowly, I have added to my collection.

As you can see, most at cowboy boots.  With them, I have invested in snap-fastened western shirts, cowboy hats, and some nice belts.

The pride of my non-western boots is the 16" loggers.  You may notice there are no rubber boots in the collection.  The weather here in the Albuquerque area is not very conducive to rubber boots.  But I am thinking of adding some rubber boots to the collection.

Yes, I do have 2 pair of sneakers that I brought with me, but seldom wear them.  Picked up a pair of cleats at a local surplus store.  I love my boots.

Heading Home

Visited with Betinna  and John at Panera (coffee & cinnamon roll for breakfast). Had an uneventfully drive to Dodge City.  Had some rain between York, NE and the Kansas line.  Checked into my motel.  Found out my favorite sports bar was also NOT opened on Sundays (had been last year).  Decided to check out a new place, not too far from my motel.  Had a good bacon cheeseburger & fries at "I Don't Care" family restaurant.  I was there for happy hour - 2 pints of beer for $4.  Good food and friendly folks at the bar.

On to home in the morning.

Radio & Race

Saturday morning it was time to see my friends in the Council Bluffs ham radio club. Met them at Super Saver for breakfast.  Besides the nornal locals, a former member, now in Missouri, was also visiting.  Great visit.  The 2 hours did not be enough time for catch up.

From there, Over to Panera for a visit with Bettina and John.

I had seen on Facebook that there was a high school mountain bike race at Tranquility Park.  Drove over there to see some of my friends in the race/trails days.  By the time I was done with that, I was thirsty, hungry, and tired.  Stopped my the Abblebees near my motel for a brew and order of onion rings.  Crashed into bed.

Easy Day

I basically got every thing that I came to Iowa to accomplish.  Rested most of the day.  Picked up a couple souvenirs for a friend in SE New Mexico.  Bought a couple things for myself while I was there.