Went to a funeral for an old friend of our family yesterday, then met a nice old gent afterwards who asked me about the miniature crew wings on my lapel. I told him they were Army Aircraft Crewman wings.

He said he was a WWII Army pilot; 29 missions in B-24s, 25 missions in B-29s. I said, "Sir, I think you are probably very lucky to be here." He said, "Yup."

He agreed, and asked what I flew. I told him I was a Huey helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. He said, "You mean, the guys on the sides, with the machineguns?" I said, "Yup."

He said, "I expect we are both damned lucky to be here."

I said, "Yup."

Bob K