I remember making sure the letter to my mom was where it could be found if I didn't return that day.I remember walking to the Swamp every morning in the dark. My feet knew the way because my head was still asleep. I remember doing the pre-flight with a flashlight sometimes hoping to find a red X but knowing I would fix it so we could make the mission.

I remember the cool morning air as we banked right and headed north to Polei-Kleng. I remember having my head stuck inside my flight jacket trying to lite a cigarette as my gunner drank a can of club soda spiked with pre-sweetened Kool-Aid.

I remember milling around the ships while the pilot had their morning briefing, listening for the enemy mortar rounds to leave their tubes. I remember checking my weapon every five minutes to ensure it would work if needed.

I remember every firebase on every mountain top in the valley. I remember every face of every grunt that I took into that rotten place. Their faces were all the same, young and afraid.

I remember the pads on the firebases that would disappear as we were on short final as enemy mortar rounds would start to land. I remember kicking supplies off as we hit the pad and pulling wounded back on before another mortar round would land.

I remember the ponchos that wrapped our fallen brothers for their final ride home. I remember the blood caked mud on the ID cards I was given to hand to the litter barers at Mary Lou.

I remember the tracers that would come out of no where. I remember running out of smoke gernades every day because we received so much fire.

I remember the short lunch breaks with the other crews that helped me keep my sanity. It was the only meals I can remember eating during the entire time.

I remember the bloody,sweat-soaked,dirty bandages on the wounded. I remember lighting packs and packs of cigarettes for the guys that were headed for Mary Lou.

I remember the flights back home. I watched the spent brass from my weapon roll around on the gray floor which was covered with dried blood. I remember every night sweeping out the spent brass and washing the floor of my ship.

I remember doing the post flight with a flash light and finding a new hole in the tail boom. I remember walking back to the barracks in the dark. My feet knew the way because my head was asleep.

I remember the only important things were eating, sleep, and cleaning my weapon. Nothing else mattered. I remember every day, I remember none of the days because they were all the same.