Huey, that was uncomfortably close to "fraternization" for a few of the "lifer" (and I use the term in it's most negative sense) type commanders. Guys who simply didn't get it.

They are the same jackasses who today do not want crewmembers anywhere near VHPA. Guess what? They're afraid some gunner is going to tell them exactly what he thought of them, and why. And they should be. You know very well the type I'm talking about.

We had some General and his dog-robber Major on our ship one afternoon, taxiing them around. One stop was at an unsecured 'Yard village. We landed outside the village and had to shut down because they were visiting for a while. I stayed right in my well watching the treeline and everyone else stayed alert also, one pilot strapped in all the time. You know the feeling that there are eyes on you? I had it, big time. They came back and while I was trying to get the General aboard as we cranked as quick as possible so we could bolt, the Major started ripping me a new one about my lack of military courtesy, not saluting the Genl. (Which I did not do on purpose, so as not to make a target of him.) So I apologized to the Major, locked my heels, and snapped him the snappiest salute you ever saw. As he climbed aboard, all satisfied-like for straightening out my shit, I stuck my head in close to the General with a little smirk and told him no disrespect intended, but we were departing immediately, before somebody shot the Major. That got a grin out of him and a baffled expression from the Major.

Bottom line: we can be damned proud that so many guys are alive today because of what we did and how we did it for a short time when we were young.

Bob