10-19-2021, 04:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-19-2021, 05:43 PM by Daryavesh.
Edit Reason: correct typo
)
Apologies, Blue Bird. When I think of those times, I forget that there are many terms and abbreviations we used in the military that those who are unfamiliar with them even here in America might need some explanation.
* C-rats is a shortend form of C-rations or Feldrationen fur Soldaten. In those days, we were given a small cardboard box and inside of it were a can (main course), a dessert (cookie or other), powdered coffe or cocoa, a sterno tab (chemical heating agent in a small metal container to warm food), a pack of cigarettes and other items. To save space here, I looked around the internet just now and found a good description of these here......
https://charliecompany.org/2018/08/25/c-rations/
I would save the items I did not use and trade them for items I wanted. I might add that in 1967, we were getting C-rations dated 1951 (Korean War era). Some of them, we looked forward to. Others such as the infamous Ham and Lima beans, even the goyim hated. It was these that I was able to trade the ARVN (Army, Republic of Viet Nam) Sergeant for the M2 carbine.
I will see if I can think of some abbreviations I may have used and clarify them a bit.
* NVA means North Vietnamese Army (soldier) - these were regulars - not 'irregulars' such as the VC (Viet Cong)
* LZ means 'landing zone' for helicopters. A hot LZ means a landing zone that is under fire by the enemy
* incoming means incoming artillery, rockets or mortars headed your way
* mags means magazines loaded with ammunition for your rifle (or pistol)
* 2nd Lt. is I believe, equivalent to rank of Leutnant
* Di di mau is Vietnamese for 'beat feet' or schnell in eine andere Richtung laufen
* beaucoup dien cai dau or 'dinky dau' is Vietnamese for extrem verruckt im Kopf
You are correct regarding PTSD, Blue Bird. In addition to the more usual circumstances one encounters in a war zone...... I found myself in an area that I was not supposed to be once and was fired on by the door gunner of a helicopter. Some call such instances 'friendly fire'. I do not agree. In my experience, no fire directed your way is 'friendly'...... No matter who is pulling the trigger. For many years after, it was all I could do not to dive under the nearest hedge row eveny time I heard a helicopter close by.
I will add that even if one is well versed in Torah and understands intellectually the distinction between killing in war or in defence of self or others unable to defend themselves...... As opposed to murder (the shedding of innocent blood)...... Every time you take a life, even if you do so to save a life...... It takes a piece of your humanity.
All the best,
Daryavesh
* C-rats is a shortend form of C-rations or Feldrationen fur Soldaten. In those days, we were given a small cardboard box and inside of it were a can (main course), a dessert (cookie or other), powdered coffe or cocoa, a sterno tab (chemical heating agent in a small metal container to warm food), a pack of cigarettes and other items. To save space here, I looked around the internet just now and found a good description of these here......
https://charliecompany.org/2018/08/25/c-rations/
I would save the items I did not use and trade them for items I wanted. I might add that in 1967, we were getting C-rations dated 1951 (Korean War era). Some of them, we looked forward to. Others such as the infamous Ham and Lima beans, even the goyim hated. It was these that I was able to trade the ARVN (Army, Republic of Viet Nam) Sergeant for the M2 carbine.
I will see if I can think of some abbreviations I may have used and clarify them a bit.
* NVA means North Vietnamese Army (soldier) - these were regulars - not 'irregulars' such as the VC (Viet Cong)
* LZ means 'landing zone' for helicopters. A hot LZ means a landing zone that is under fire by the enemy
* incoming means incoming artillery, rockets or mortars headed your way
* mags means magazines loaded with ammunition for your rifle (or pistol)
* 2nd Lt. is I believe, equivalent to rank of Leutnant
* Di di mau is Vietnamese for 'beat feet' or schnell in eine andere Richtung laufen
* beaucoup dien cai dau or 'dinky dau' is Vietnamese for extrem verruckt im Kopf
You are correct regarding PTSD, Blue Bird. In addition to the more usual circumstances one encounters in a war zone...... I found myself in an area that I was not supposed to be once and was fired on by the door gunner of a helicopter. Some call such instances 'friendly fire'. I do not agree. In my experience, no fire directed your way is 'friendly'...... No matter who is pulling the trigger. For many years after, it was all I could do not to dive under the nearest hedge row eveny time I heard a helicopter close by.
I will add that even if one is well versed in Torah and understands intellectually the distinction between killing in war or in defence of self or others unable to defend themselves...... As opposed to murder (the shedding of innocent blood)...... Every time you take a life, even if you do so to save a life...... It takes a piece of your humanity.
All the best,
Daryavesh