"Give you an idea of how important those guys thought helicopters were... "

I hear that a lot, too, even though I make it clear that I was just a helicopter support weenie.

A neighbor of mine was a 199th Light Infantry
Recon type, and is covered in scars. Says slicks and guns saved his arse SO many times.

Also, last week, I was in a Nextel store and while waiting to be helped, a wiry little Black guy asked where there might be an ATM. I told him of the closest one I knew, and he asked if I might be going in that direction. I was, and gave him a a lift. He is a trucker, hauling yachts from Florida to all points, and was waiting for a repair on his rig. He noticed my COIN on the console of my truck, and asked if he could see it.

Of course, I accommodated him. when he saw "Pleiku-An Khe-Dak To" he said something like, "well, I've been to two of those."

I told him- "what a coincidence, so have I."

He told me he went over in '62 with a helicopter company, (he couldn't remember which one) and remained in the Saigon area. He said his second tour was with 2nd Bn, 7th Cav, and he was all over X-ray, Albany, etc, in the fall of '65.
(I was drinkin' beer in Mexico then.)

I had two appointments I couldn't cancel, so I dropped him off at the best burger joint around, right in front of the Red Roof Inn, where he waited for his truck repair.

Small world, isn't it?