The Beautiful Volcanic Mountain, Mt. Rainier, in the Extreme N/W corner of the State of Washington!

My Viet Nam War Brother, Charl Matteson shared this pic with me. It is of Mt. Rainier in the state of Washington. We served from 1965-1967 with the 4th Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis, Washington We trained together for 9 months before we were shipped to Viet Nam aboard a huge ship on a voyage that took 23 days to arrive off the South China Sea Coast near Tuy Hoa, RVN. Mt. Rainier was snow covered  year round. We could always see in it the distant background every day as we trained @ Lewis! We were known by our Viet Nam War after us as “The Boat People”. It was one of my worse regrets that I never once visited her on a week-end pass! Mouse Click on the image to view it a larger frame!   

MP3 Song "Band-Aid For My Heart"

Click on The Title to this Post for a Link to the MP3 Song.


I visited the 1/2 scale of the Healing Wall today 6/6/09 in Johnson City, Tn. After I looked up several names on the wall, I decided to go back to the fence which is about the width of a football field in order to capture the whole wall (which is 250' long) in a photo. While I was standing against the fence doing my thing with my camera, a lady came up to me and started making conversation. She had seen my cap. Then she presented her card to me along with a metal lapel pin. The pin is in the shape of a HEART with a BAND-AID on it. She then said that she was a member of "The Rolling Thunder" and that she is from Stapleton, NE. She then noticed my Montagnard Bracelet that I wear. She then showed me hers. I then asked her do you know the meaning of the symbols on both of our braclets. She said no, then I proceeded to explain the symbols. I told her that the groups of 3 rings around the bracelet represents the Bamboo in their lives. I told her that the Bamboo is their staple from everything to their homes to their everyday tools. Then I told her that the groups of 3 arrows symbolize their Crossbow Arrows. They take great pride in their hunting skills with their handmade crossbows. I then explained the stars symbolizing their friendship with everyone that wears their bracelets. She then looked @ her bracelet and noticed that the one of the symbols was made a little different. I told her that there were a number of different tribes in Viet Nam just like our American Indians. I went on to say that there is a Dega and a Bru tribe to name a couple. She said that a Viet Nam Veteran gave her her bracelet several years ago and told her to never remove it. After I got home, I typed in the URL that was on her card http://veteransmusicministry.com and as I was looking through her site I found the this link to a MP3 Song Titled Band-Aid For My Heart.

This photo is of 5 Viet Nam Healing Wall Name Rubbings that I did electronically. Isn't the Internet a marvelous tool for communicating. These 5 names were my closest Brothers out of the 181 total names from my until 3rd Battalion/8th Inf. KIA in the entire war.

The GHOSTLY Figures of Names on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.

You Must Double Click On This Photo To Enlarge It To Really See The Ghostly Figures Of Names On The Viet Nam Memorial (Healing Wall) in Washington, D.C.

I was just playing around with Google Earth. I decided to view the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which I have visited 2 times in the past. When I located it I zoomed in on it. As I was zooming in on it, I started seeing white specks on the black granite wall. Then it came to me, the greater than 58,000 names on the wall. The white specks appeared like ghost figures on the (healing) wall.

There are 280 names on the wall from my Battalion alone, including 61 names from my Company. Each line company had about 160 total when we were @ full strength. That's almost loosing 2 complete line companies from the 1st one killed 11/10/1966 until the last one fell on 5/23/1970.

You may ask, why do I dwell on the past. Some say it is a guilt trip. It's not for me to determine. I don't know why God picked Stanley Dix, Richard Wilkins and Cpt. Powers to die in the jungles of the Central Highlands along the Cambodian Border 9097 miles from home. Rest assured my friend, God had a purpose for calling them from this life and not me.

I don't know whether my name is listed in THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE in my final judgement or not. I was saved in the summer of 1961. I worship God everyday by playing the hymn "FACES", sung by "The Greater Vision" on my Cell Phone on my daily 2 mile walk through my neighborhood. Here is the lyrics to this song. I serve a most jealous God. Jealous in that he wants my undivided attention. He wants me to talk to him every day in prayer.

FACES

I DREAMED MY LIFE WAS DONE. I STOOD BEFORE GOD'S SON.
IT WAS TIME TO SEE WHAT MY REWARD WOULD BE
WITH LOVE HE REVIEWED MY LIFE TO COUNT WHAT WAS DONE FOR CHRIST.
FOR THAT IS WHAT WILL LAST ETERNALLY

SEE I'D DONE MY BEST TO SHARE THAT JESUS REALLY CARES
AND HE WOULD SAVE IF THEY JUST BELIEVE
OH, BUT SELDOM DID HARVEST COME AND SO FEW DID I SEE WON
UNTIL THE LORD SAID, "TURN AROUND AND SEE."

CHORUS:
THEN HE SHOWED ME THE FACES OF THE ONES WHO'D COME BECAUSE OF ME.
SO MANY FACES THAT MY LIFE HAD LED TO CALVARY
ALL THOSE YEARS I THOUGHT NOBODY SAW AS I LABORED IN LOWLY PLACES
THAT'S WHEN JESUS SMILED AND SHOWED ME ALL THE FACES.

HE SAID THOUGH YOU DID NOT SEE THE YIELD, YOU WERE FAITHFUL TO PLOW THE FIELD
AT OTHER TIMES YOU HELPED ME PLANT THE SEED
NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE TASK, YOU DID JUST AS I ASKED
AND THANKS TO YOU THESE SOULS HAVE BEEN SET FREE.

CHORUS:
THEN HE SHOWED ME THE FACES OF THE ONES WHO'D COME BECAUSE OF ME.
SO MANY FACES THAT MY LIFE HAD LED TO CALVARY
ALL THOSE YEARS I THOUGHT NOBODY SAW AS I LABORED IN LOWLY PLACES
THAT'S WHEN JESUS SMILED AND SHOWED ME ALL THE FACES

TAG:
AND FOR THOSE YEARS YOU THOUGHT NOBODY SAW AS YOU LABORED IN LOWLY PLACES
ONE DAY HE'LL SMILE AND SHOW YOU ALL THE FACES.

...THE FACES...YOU'LL SEE THEIR FACES.

Capt. Neville Colburn (The Pineapple..My "B" Company Commander)

This Photo was furnished by Bill Bodine

Double click on the image to increse the % size of the image

I was sad to hear about Capt. Colburn's passing on 5/17/1993. He was only 52 @ his passing. I have some wonderful memories of Capt. Colburn. I still remember him Sernading us with his Guitar and song way back in early 1966 when we were in Advanced Individual Training @ Fort Lewis, Washington. He was a really good leader and an excellent map reader. He knew how to take care of us kids. I had a lot of respect for him for that.

Lt. Charles Arthur Barrett II and Capt. Clayton Powers

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Photo courtesy of Bill Bodine. Photo is of Lt. Charles Arthur Barrett and Capt. James Conrad Powers. Both men were killed in Action. Capt. Powers was killed 5/26/1967 in Battle of Plei Doch and Lt. Barrett was killed 7/23/1967 in the Battle of Plei Ya Bo. Bill was telling me in an email that Lt. Johnson & Lt. Barrett had a Chevy Corvette and a Jaguar XKE and they brought 2 women to his barracks one weekend. I told him that I remember the incident and how I slobbered over the two cars and not the women.

Lt. Clayton Johnson

Double click on the image to enlarge the % size

Photo courtesy of Bill Bodine. Lt. Johnson, C/3rd/8th of the 4th Infantry Division was killed 5/26/1967 in the Battle of Plei Doch

Andrew York,,,Survived the grasp of his enemy, the NVA

Double Click on the Photo to increase the Image Size

Photo Courtesy of Bill Bodine

A True Story about Andrew York C/3rd/8^th, 4^th Infantry Division---Battle of Plei Ya Bo

My Interpretation of the text accompanying this photo furnished to me by Bill Bodine

Captured U.S. Soldier Chews Ropes On His Wrists to Survive Vietnam Clash

AP Wire photo

PFC, Andrew York, 19, rests in a hospital at Tuy Hoa, South Vietnam, after being rescued.

Andrew York’s Story:

Along the Cambodian Border in South Vietnam –(AP)—

Andrew York bit desperately into the crude ropes binding his wrists, tearing at the strands with his teeth and unmindful of the blood the rough fibers drew.

Minutes earlier the 19-year-old from the 4^th Infantry Division was being carried into captivity by North Vietnamese soldiers who had overwhelmed his platoon in the rain forest along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

ARMS GRABBED

Both of York’s legs had been shattered by a mortar round as he was firing his machinegun at the dozen brown clad Vietnamese rushing at him through elephant grass. He fainted. When he came to, the roar of battle was stilled, his wrists were tied to his belt, and his Communist captors stood around him.

Two of them grabbed his arms, two others his feet, and York—from the little town of Chelsea, Maine, married on May 5 to his childhood sweetheart and sent to Vietnam a week later—was on his way to captivity.

But the battle last Sunday was by no means over.

Circling overhead in a helicopter was the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Thomas P. Lynch of Spokane, Wash., who called for silence on the radio net so he could hear the last man on the platoon’s radio set.

Artillery Hits Jungle

“Charger (the battalion commander’s code name), everyone else is dead,” the voice said. There were some mumbled words about home and mother. Then “Charger, I’m dying.” The set went silent.

Lynch assumed that everyone in the platoon was killed. Numerous North Vietnamese could be seen below. He ordered artillery barrages on top of them.

York, numb with pain, was being carried into the Jungle as the first rounds came in. The two North Vietnamese carrying his legs were killed in the first blast. The men at his shoulders dropped him to the ground.

“I realized they were our shells,” York said later at a hospital. “I was sure the Communist would kill me then, what had they to lose? And if they didn’t, then our Artillery would get me. I thought I was dead for sure. All that I could do was pray, and you better believe I was praying.”

Freed His Wrists

The Barrage ended quickly. York was alone beside the two dead men who had been carrying his legs. He tugged painfully at his belt and pulled his wrists free so he could get his teeth to the ropes. Then he started chewing feverishly.

The North Vietnamese battalion that had overwhelmed the 30-man platoon, killing 18 of the Americans, had reached the company perimeter where another 30 Americans were lying in foxholes.

Commanded by Capt. William C. Pratt of Edimburg, Tex., they were soon under rocket and machine attack from the shadowy figures at the edge of the clearing.

In a forward foxhole Sp, 4 Robert Rohan, from Omro, Wis., fired a claymore mine, shattering a patch of jungle with lethal pellets. Later, 11 dead Communists soldiers were found there with three rocket launchers and two machineguns beside them.

The big American guns to the rear slammed 6.682 shells at the enemy in 3 hours. U.S. Air Force bombers roared in, searing the jungle and grassy clearings with Napalm and bombs. Armed helicopters slashed at trails with machine guns.

Neutralized by Fire

One of Capt. Pratt’s platoons fought its way back to the Company perimeter. Then Capt. Neil D. Buie, came bursting across the clearing with his 120 men of “B” company/3^rd/8^th.

From then on, it became a “mechanical process..” Lynch said, á complete destruction and neutralization of the enemy with heavy gunfire.

North Vietnamese came running from the jungle to surrender, their hands clasped in front of them.

In all, 170 Communist were killed, 19 Americans were dead.

Alive amid the destruction were Pfc. York and ten others in his platoon, all wounded. York had managed to chew through his ropes, had dragged his mangled legs through the jungle to join up with some of his buddies, and gave a very painful cheer as he rejoined his troops.

Good Night Saigon....By Billy Joel

Click on the title to this blog entry to hear "Goodnight Saigon"

Comments About This Song:

This song came out right at the time when the tide turned in the U.S., and all those idiots who spat on the returning Vietnam vets became pariahs, and the vets were finally given a very belated apology for the indignity handed out to them upon their return. The first time I heard this song, I got the lump in the throat. You may think I am making it up, but I remember at the age of four being very angry when I saw footage of the returning veterans being insulted in airports. Good for Billy for making such a touching tribute, and all you douche bags throwing out gratuitous insults at him need to go to the nearest five-and-dime and purchase a life.

Listen folks, this song is sacred to those who fought in Vietnam. Why don't you just leave it alone and let the Vets have it? After a war like that and the disrespect the vets endured when they came back home, it was great that someone in the early 80's was finally brave enough to pay them tribute. You sit there and complain about gunfire, stupid lyrics.... LEAVE IT ALONE. Just respect the men who understand it.

Joel recently said that in the early 1980's a group of Veitnam vets came to him an urged him to write a song about their experiences there. He said he couldn't do it since he never served. They told him that it made him the perfect choice to write it - that real Vietnam vets couldn't get over the emotions involved to write a song about it. So Joel spent several days listening to their stories and then got their approval before recording the song.

What does the Bible say about war?

Question: "What does the Bible say about war?"

Answer: Many people make the mistake of believing the Bible says, “You shall not kill,” and seek to apply this command to war. However, the Bible actually says, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12; 21:15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but rather only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm is by going to war with them.War is a terrible thing! War is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). See also Deuteronomy 20:16-17, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them--the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Exodus 17:16 proclaims, “He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Also, 1 Samuel 15:18, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” So, obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).Jesus’ Second Coming also is exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 proclaims, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”It is an error to say that God never supports a war. Jesus is not a pacifist. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes a war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions of Jews would have been killed? If the Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African Americans have had to suffer as slaves? We must all remember to base our beliefs of the Bible, not on our emotions (2 Timothy 3:16-17).Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “there is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Some wars are more “just” than others, but all wars are ultimately the result of sin. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to the conflict, and praying for minimum casualties – on both sides of the conflict (Philippians 4:6-7).

What does the Bible say about a Christian serving in the military?

Question: "What does the Bible say about a Christian serving in the military?"

Answer: The Bible contains a large quantity of information about serving in the military. While large portions of the military information contained in the Bible are only analogies, several verses directly relate to this question. No, the Bible does not come out and specifically state “Thou shalt serve in the military;” and in contrast it also does not state “Thou shalt not serve in the military.” At the same time, Christians can rest assured that being a soldier is highly respected throughout the Bible, and know that such service is consistent with a Biblical worldview.The first example of military service is found in the Old Testament (Genesis 14), when Abraham's nephew Lot was kidnapped by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies. Abraham rallied to Lot's aid by gathering 318 trained men of his household and defeating the foreign forces.Late in its history, the nation of Israel developed a standing army. The sense that God was the Divine Warrior and would protect His people regardless of their military strength may have been a reason why Israel was slow to develop an army. The development of a regular standing army in Israel came only after a strong, centralized political system had been developed by Saul, David, and Solomon. Saul was the first to form a permanent army (1 Samuel 13:2; 24:2; 26:2). Nevertheless, the army had to be supported by food and other supplies from the homes of individual soldiers (1 Samuel 17:17-19).What Saul began, David continued. He increased the army, brought in hired troops from other regions who were loyal to him alone (2 Samuel 15:19-22), and turned over the direct leadership of his armies to a commander in chief (Joab). Under David, Israel also became more aggressive in its offensive military policies, absorbing neighboring states like Ammon (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3). David established a system of rotating troops with 12 groups of 24,000 men serving one month of the year (1 Chronicles 27). Although Solomon's reign was peaceful, he further expanded the army, adding chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 10:26). The standing army continued (though divided along with the kingdom after the death of Solomon) until 586 B.C., when Israel ceased to exist as a political entity.Jesus marveled when a Roman Centurion (officer in charge of one hundred soldiers) approached Him. The Centurion’s response to Jesus indicated his clear understanding of authority, as well as his faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not denounce his career. Many Centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5,8,13; 27:54; Mark 15:39,44-45; Luke 7:2,6; 23:47; Acts 10:1,22; 21:32; 22:25-26; 23:17,23; 24:23; 27:1,6,11,31,43; 28:16).Historically the places and the titles may have changed, but our armed forces should be just as favorably valued as the Centurions of the Bible. Being a soldier was highly revered. For example, Paul describes Epaphroditus, a fellow Christian as a “fellow soldier” (Philippians 2:25). The Bible also uses military terms to describe being strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).Yes, the Bible does address serving in the military, directly and implicitly. The Christian men and women who serve their country with character, dignity, and honor, can rest assured that the civic duty they perform is condoned and respected by our Sovereign God. Those who serve in the military deserve our respect and our thanks.

Open Letter To Vietnam Veterans.....

Dear Hero,
I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single mother and, I’m sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people on the planet. To be perfectly honest I didn’t care one way or the other about the war. All I cared about was me…how I looked, what I wore, and where I was going. I worked and I played, I was never politically involved in anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media. It happened without my ever being aware. I listened to the protest songs and I watched the six o’clock news and I listened to all people who were talking. After awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I’d have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing it, and we never saw what it was doing to our to our brave men. All we were shown was what they sere doing to the people of Vietnam.
My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam. When he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation –not only of miles, but also of character. I didn’t understand.
In fact, I didn’t understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the anguished face of a Vietnam veteran. The picture was taken at the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His countenance revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had given for us and what we had done to you. I understood that I had been manipulated, but I also knew that I had failed to think for myself. It was like waking up out of a nightmare, except that the nightmare was real. I didn’t know what to do.
One day about three years ago. I went to a member of the church I attended at that time, because he had served in Vietnam. I asked him if he had been in Vietnam, and he got a look on his face and said, ‘Yes’. Then I took his hand, looked him square in the face, and said. “Thank you for going.” His jaw dropped, he got an amazed look on his face, and then he said, “No one has ever said that to me.” He hugged me and I could see that he was about to get tears in his eyes. It gave me an idea, because there is much more that needs to be said. How do we put into words all the regret of so many years? I don’t know, but when I have an opportunity, I take it so here goes.
Have you been to Vietnam? If so, I have something I want to say to you-Thank you for going! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please forgive me for my insensitivity. I don’t know how I could have been so blind, but I was. When I woke up, you were wounded and the damage was done, and I don’t know how to fix it. I will never stop regretting my actions, and I will never let it happen again.
Please understand that I am speaking for the general public also. We know we blew it and we don’t know how to make it up to you. We wish we had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never completely go away and you know what? It’s inside us, too; because when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it and we suffer guilt and we don’t know what to do so we cheer for our troops and write letters to ‘any soldier’ and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and we love America. We love you too, even if it doesn’t feel like it to you. I know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it does nothing for you.
We failed you. You didn’t fail us, but we failed you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We have learned a terrible painful lesson at your expense and we don’t know how to fix it.

From the heart,
Julie Weaver

Taking Sniper Fire

TAKING SNIPER FIRE

I remember distinctly taking my camera out to take a photo of the Rice Patty that we crossing in single file. Then all of a sudden we started taking Sniper Fire from the treeline ahead of us. It was an often harassing tactic to take long range sniper shots of us while we were out in the open. I still remember us having to go DOUBLE TIME (Running) at our enemy and as usual they were gone when we got to the treeline. You know what? After all of the commotion was over, I discovered that I had lost my most prized possession to the Rice Patty while running at the enemy after the incident. I had lost my BOWIE KNIFE. All that I had was an empty Knife Sheath.

My Favorite Song Back In 1967 "PAINT IT BLACK" just click on this title to play the song

Photo Of Me Holding The Head End Of A Dead Burmese Python

Click On The Image To Enlarge

Thanks to Tommy Routh for this photo of me holding the head end of a Giant Burmese Python, one of the largest snakes in the world.

I can not remember the details of how we killed the giant snake. Ordinarily you would think that I could remember the details but I can not. I can't even remember the boys name in the middle of this photo. I remember the boy on the right though because I was with him ever since boot camp. He is George Talton, small because of all the weight that he had to endure caring all the heavy rounds for his M-79 Grenade Launcher

General Vo Nguyen Giap

Born: 1912 Place of Birth: An Xa Vietnam Military University: none
Wars Fought:-World War II-First Indochina War(French-Indochina War 1946-1954)-Second Indochina War(Vietnam War 1965-1972)-Third Indochina War 1979-81Vietnam War:Gen. Giap planned and directed the military operations against the French that culminated in their defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
During the 1960's Giap controlled guerrilla operations against South Vietnam and the United States and planned the Tet Offensive of 1968.
In his book, Giap clearly indicated that NVA troops were without sufficient supplies, and had been continually defeated time and again.
By 1968, NVA morale was at it's lowest point ever. The plans for "Tet" '68 was their last desperate attempt to achieve a success, in an effort to boost the NVA morale. When it was over, General Giap and the NVA viewed the Tet '68 offensive as a failure, they were on their knees and had prepared to negotiate a surrender.
At that time, there were fewer than 10,000 U.S. casualties, the Vietnam War was about to end, as the NVA was prepared to accept their defeat. Then, they heard Walter Cronkite (former CBS News anchor and correspondent) on TV proclaiming the success of the Tet '68 offensive by the communist NVA. They were completely and totally amazed at hearing that the US Embassy had been overrun. In reality, The NVA had not gained access to the Embassy--there were some VC who had been killed on the grassy lawn, but they hadn't gained access. Further reports indicated the riots and protesting on the streets of America.
According to Giap, these distorted reports were inspirational to the NVA. They changed their plans from a negotiated surrender and decided instead, they only needed to persevere for one more hour, day, week, month, eventually the protesters in American would help them to achieve a victory they knew they could not win on the battlefield. Remember, this decision was made at a time when the U.S. casualties were fewer than 10,000, at the end of 1967, beginning of 1968.

General Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader of the North Vietnam Military. The following quote is from his memoirs currently found in the Vietnam war memorial in Hanoi. "What we still don't understand is why you Americans stopped the bombing of Hanoi. You had us on the ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder, just for another day or two, we were ready to surrender! It was the same at the battles of TET. You defeated us! We knew it, and we thought you knew it. But we were elated to notice your media was definitely helping us. They were causing more disruption in America than we could in the battlefields. We were ready to surrender. You had won!" General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed what most Americans knew. The Vietnam war was not lost in Vietnam -- it was lost at home. The exact same slippery slope, sponsored by the US media, is currently well underway. It exposes the enormous power of a biased media to cut out the heart and will of the American public. A truism worthy of note: Do not fear the enemy, for they can take only your life. Fear the media far more, for they will destroy your honour.

This is What I Ate 3 Times a Day Per 365 days

C-RATIONS
Commercially prepared meals were used in the field and at times when hot meals were not available. These meals came in a case containing 12 meals. Each meal was in it's own cardboard box, which contained the individual items sealed in cans. A can opener (called both a "John Wayne" or a "P-38") was needed to open the cans. The accessory pack with each meal was sealed in a foil pouch.
This is the official Quartermaster's description of C-Rations used in Vietnam
"The Meal, Combat, Individual, is designed for issue as the tactical situation dictates, either in individual units as a meal or in multiples of three as a complete ration. Its characteristics emphasize utility, flexibility of use, and more variety of food components than were included in the Ration, Combat, Individual (C Ration) which it replaces. Twelve different menus are included in the specification.
Each menu contains: one canned meat item; one canned fruit, bread or dessert item; one B unit; an accessory packet containing cigarettes, matches, chewing gum, toilet paper, coffee, cream, sugar, and salt; and a spoon. Four can openers are provided in each case of 12 meals. Although the meat item can be eaten cold, it is more palatable when heated.
Each complete meal contains approximately 1200 calories. The daily ration of 3 meals provides approximately 3600 calories."

There were 4 choices of meat in each B group. Because there were several "vintages" of C’s issued to the Marines in Vietnam, more than 4 items may be listed in the B groups as well as the brands of cigarettes included in the accessory pack.

B-1 Units
Meat Choices (in small cans):
Beef Steak
Ham and Eggs,
Chopped Ham Slices
Turkey Loaf
Fruit:
Applesauce
Fruit Cocktail
Peaches
Pears
Crackers
Peanut Butter Candy Disc,
Chocolate
Solid Chocolate
Cream Coconut
Accessory Pack*
*Accessory Pack
Spoon, Plastic
Salt
Pepper
Coffee,
Instant Sugar
Creamer, Non-dairy
Gum,
2 Chicklets
Cigarettes, 4 smokes/pack Winston or Marlboro or Salem or Pall Mall or Camel or Chesterfield or Kent or Lucky Strike Kool Matches, Moisture Resistant Toilet Paper

B-2 Units
Meat Choices (in larger cans):
Beans and Wieners
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Beefsteak, Potatoes and Gravy
Ham and Lima Beans
Meatballs and Beans
Crackers (4)
Cheese Spread, Processed Caraway Pimento
Fruit Cake Pecan
Roll Pound Cake
Accessory Pack
Spoon, Plastic
Salt
Pepper
Coffee,
Instant Sugar
Creamer, Non-dairy
Gum, 2 Chicklets
Cigarettes, 4 smokes/pack: Winston or Marlboro or Salem or Pall Mall or Camel or Chesterfield or Kent or Lucky Strike or Kool
Matches, Moisture Resistant
Toilet Paper

B-3 Units
Meat Choices (in small cans):
Boned Chicken
Chicken and Noodles
Meat Loaf
Spiced Beef
Bread
White Cookies (4)
Cocoa Beverage Powder
Jam: Apple or Berry or Grape or Strawberry
Mixed Fruit
Accessory Pack
Spoon, Plastic
Salt
Pepper
Coffee, Instant
Sugar
Creamer, Non-dairy
Gum, 2 Chicklets
Cigarettes, 4 smokes/pack : Winston or Marlboro or Salem or Pall Mall or Camel or Chesterfield or Kent or Lucky Strike or Kool
Matches, Moisture Resistant
Toilet Paper

How to make a C-Ration Stove:
The small cans included in the meal were ideal for making a stove. Using a "John Wayne" pierce a series of closely spaced holes around the top and
bottom rims of the can. This stove was satisfactory, but did not allow enough oxygen to enter which caused incomplete burning of the blue Trioxin heat tablet, causing fumes which irritated the eyes and respiratory tract. A whole heat tab had to be used.
A better stove was created by simply using the can opener end of a "church key" (a flat metal device designed to open soft drink and beer containers with a bottle opener on one end and can opener on the other commonly used before the invention of the pull tab and screw-off bottle top) to puncture triangular holes around the top and bottom rims of the can which resulted in a hotter fire and much less fumes. With this type of stove only half a Trioxin heat tab was needed to heat the meal and then the other half could be used to heat water for coffee or cocoa. A small chunk of C-4 explosive could also be substituted for the Trioxin tablet for faster heating. It would burn hotter and was much better for heating water. . A stove was usually carried in the back pack or cargo pocket and used repeatedly until the metal began to fail.

How to Heat a C-Ration Meal:
1. Choose the meal to be consumed
2. Open the can lid leaving at least 1/4 inch metal attached
3. Bend the still attached lid so that the inside of the can lid is facing 180 degrees from it's original position (inside up).
4. Bend the edges of the can to form a handle
5. Set meal on stove and heat to desired temperature, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

"Outstanding" Ham & Mothers:
1. Open and heat a can of Ham and Lima Beans
2. When hot, add one can of cheese spread and stir until all cheese is melted.
3. Crumble 4 crackers into the mixture and blend thoroughly.
Eat when the crackers have absorbed all excess moisture.

The Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.

" The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.

"Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son.

The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "

We have $10, who will bid $20?

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?”

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?"

"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who takes the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 year ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

Isn't It Time To Ask Vietnam Veterans For Forgiveness? By Patrick Butler

I don't mean running up to Vets and doing it one by one, though that's not a bad idea.
I mean a well-publicized official, ceremonial event where somebody with influence, position and corresponding power actually asks Vietnam veterans to forgive the people of this nation for how they were treated during and after the war.
I don't mean an "honoring" ceremony per se, lauding their sacrifice for this country. That's different and it's been done by some. I mean humbling ourselves as a nation, officially recognizing that a great wrong has been done by us, the people. Collectively. No one making excuses or saying "yeah, but" for any reason...

Hasn't this been done already? Evidently not. Talking too "recent" veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, one 52 and another 25 years old, they both made comments about Vietnam.
"I'm so glad we're past Vietnam and how those soldiers were treated by the public," said Lt. Col. Victor Zillmer of the Army's Corp of Engineers. "I'm very thankful people everywhere have been very supportive and that means a lot to us. We serve the people and politics has no part of it. I think ever soldier feels the same way."
Zillmer's comment reveals that soldiers today still think about Viet-nam and how America shot its own wounded. Vietnam vets have memories no other veterans have to deal with. It's the healing of those memories I'm talking about. There are just some things a ribbon, or a wall sculpture or a "thank you for serving" won't touch.
They need to hear us say, "Please forgive us. We were wrong."
I was chatting with Lt. Justin Lee for a Memorial Day story when he stopped, realizing I'd been present during the Vietnam War years.
"What was that like?" he asked. "How did people really react to the vets coming home?"
My mind reeled. In front of me was a young man who hadn't a real idea of what it felt like to be an American male during the Vietnam War. I'm 54 now and I realized I held a key to our past the younger generation can only grasp at.
What to tell the young lieutenant? Images of citizens shouting, "Hell no, we won't go" or crowds singing "Country Joe" McDonald's anthem of the late '60s "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag" or violent protests meeting GIs after they got off the plane from "in-country" flashed before my eyes. I can feel it now.
"It was a time when soldiers were thought of by many people as agents of an abusive power," I said, finally, feeling helpless to paint the big picture. "Some people felt betrayed by their own government. Some protesters, who didn't know much, only knew they were being asked to potentially die for something they didn't understand. The soldiers took the heat."
Lee shook his head.
"I'm glad I didn't have to go through that," he said.
The Vietnam ghost is still with us and not just as a comparison to current events. It's in the far-reaching memories of the young men and women who came home to an aggressive atmosphere and still recall the uncomfortable and perhaps searing experience.
Who among us easily forgets a single insult or comment said in spite? If Christians in particular want a "scriptural" basis to ask forgiveness, take another look at Matthew 5:23: "If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, first go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."
It has been far too long that the spectacle of how we, us, treated our soldiers, is still lingering in the minds of new and old veterans alike. We need to put it to rest. And we need to do it while the Vietnam Vets are still alive. We need to identify with the wrong done to them as "our" wrong, even "my wrong," not someone Else's, taking collective responsibility and enabling this healing to our national psyche.
Back in 1971, I wrote letters to soldiers - strangers, while they were in Vietnam. I wasn't angry at them. But I'm embarrassed they were reviled at home and I'm not going to point fingers at who was responsible.
We're responsible. Us. They were our soldiers. They're our people. I hope, wish, that every religious leader on this Memorial Day Sunday will ask Vietnam vets in their congregation for forgiveness. We need to do it for them first, and then for us.
Vietnam Vets, please forgive us. We didn't really know what we were doing. It was our pride and arrogance that got in the way, thinking more of our ourselves than of you. There really is no excuse for it. We'd be grateful if you forgave us and let us embrace you once again, and that in turn you would honor us by embracing us as well.
God bless you.

From the Heart of a Vietnam Veteran

From the Heart of a Vietnam Veteran

It seems so many have forgotten the meaning of Veterans Day. But what makes it so special a day that every American should take a moment to reflect, and thank those who served?
Veterans Day isn't simply about the men and women who served in the Armed Forces of this great country. It's about their sacrifices, heroism, and unselfish dedication to the United States of America. It's about their willingness to lay down their lives for the ideals on which this country was founded. It's about sacrificing their lives so someone else may live.
It's about giving their all that others may have freedom. It's about fighting in the mountains, jungles and deserts in a foreign land, in the hope the same battles will never have to be fought in their homeland.
It's about fighting oppression to allow others the power to express their opinions and views, without fear of reprisal and sanction.
It's about vowing to "leave no one behind" and carrying a comrade in arms from the battlefield on your shoulders in the hopes he will live, but knowing that at the very least, he will be buried in his beloved country.
It's about enduring the horror of war in the hopes your children will never have to do the same. It's about laying in the mud, or sand or in a hole, and praying that the shelling will end. And looking at your buddies alongside you, and whispering words of hope and encouragement.
It's about being dead tired and still finding the strength to go on, sometimes when the odds are so heavily against you that it almost appears hopeless.
It's about the doctors and nurses who endure hell with you and work tirelessly tending the wounded. It's about visiting a buddy in the hospital and reassuring him that he'll be OK. It's about writing a letter home for someone who will never return home.
It's about writing that letter for yourself, just in case you are one of the unlucky ones, and putting it in your pack where it would be found.
It's about cursing and swearing and praying and hoping. It's about crying and smiling, sometimes at the same time. It's about working and fighting side by side. It's about a common goal, where personal wants and needs are forgotten. It's about the sharing of a smoke or a candy bar, or cookies sent from home.
It's about the looks on the face of a serviceman when he sees death and carnage for the first time.
And it's about the face and smile of a child who has been rescued from the ravages of war, even if only for a while.
It's about the fields of white crosses and rows of simple bronze markers in cemeteries throughout the country, marking the graves of brave men and women. It's about the graves on foreign shores where many died in the name of freedom, but who never were able to come home.
It's for the veteran shedding a tear while remembering friends and comrades from long ago.
It's for the prisoners of war who endured the misery and torture of captivity in enemy hands.
It's for those who venture out in storms because the book says they have to, but the book doesn't say they have to return.
And it's for the families of those brave men and women, who fight a personal battle every day their loved ones are gone.
No, Veterans Day isn't simply a specified moment in time. It's a day where every one of us needs to thank those who served this great country, both the living and those who have passed on. Those of us who served will never forget them; please take a moment to remember them too.

The veteran who wrote this wishes to remain anonymous.

Photo of a map of the 2 large Battles that I was in

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This is a Google Photo that I made from Google Earth. The bottom pin is Plei Ya Bo, the middle pin is Plei Doch and the upper pin is Dak To. The NVA used the tactic to ambush us and then break off and run for the Cambodian Border. The Battle for Dak To occurred the week before I was preparing to come home. I came home, in late November 1967. This famous battle in the grids YB, occurred right in the corner of Viet Nam-Laos-Cambodia. I lost 77 of my brothers in these 3 battles.

Photo of a Vietmamese $20 Dollar Bill

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Photo of a $10 Viet Nam Bill

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This is a photo of a $10 Dollar Vietnamese Bill

Photo of My Friend Stanly Wesley Dix

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This is the only photo that I have of Stanley W. Dix. He was killed in the Battle for Pleiu Ya Bo (Three Trees). He is the kid on the right side of the photo. I supper imposed a photo that I took of Stanley W Dix name on the Viet Nam Wall about 3 years ago during the time of my nephews wedding. So far I been able to visit the HEALING WALL a couple of times.

Photo Of A Small Montygnard Boy Riding His Water Buffalo

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My good ole buddy Tommy Routh sent me a CD today 5/19/2007 with a collection of his photos. Boy does this photo bring back ole memories.This Photo is of a small Montygnard boy riding his >2000 lb. Water Buffalo.You see they are a very docile creature to the Montygnard People. They would listen to every command for the "YARDS" and mind them but if a G.I. appeared before them would snort and get really aggressive toward them. It's as if they feared us as their enemy, and to a certain degree we were. I still remember our higher ups giving us orders to shoot & kill all of them that we would see out in the BUSH (away from the Montygnards Villages). We operated on the rule if anything moved around us to SHOOT it! You see any wild Water Buffalo's roaming out in the wild would often be taken by the Viet Cong or the North Vietnamese Regulars and used to carry all of their supplies from the Hoa Chi Minh Trail into the Pleiku Providence to supply their forces.I remember our M16 (.223 Caliber) bullets would only make them mad. We usually had to bring them down with our M60 Machine Guns (.30 Cal.). Then it took several rounds to bring one them down. NEVER-NEVER did we kill one of the "Yards" Water Buffaloes unless they were paid visits by the NVA. The NVA would often take the "Yards" food and rape their women and it is too awful to say what they would do to the Montygnards Village Chiefs and elders. Then orders would come down for a mass evacuation of entire Villages minus their Water Buffaloes and then we kill their Water Buffaloes. Our Engineers would build them new villages to settle in. I remember all of our relationships with the Montygnards. They are a POLYNESIAN people and not Asian. They were are most loyal Allies and what did we to them--WE PULLED OUT AND LEFT THEM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE WHOLE NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY. I have read all kinds of horror stories about them since then. We brought back a small % and settled them in down in Ashboro, N.C.

Photo Of A 155mm Selfpropelled Artillery Piece

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Thank to Tommy Routh for this photo of A 155mm Self Propelled Artillery Piece. These were @ our Forward Fire Base. I'ts no wonder that I have a hearing problem. The concussion from one of these babies was something else. We had to stand guard out in front of these big guns and we didn't know when they were starting a fire mission. The only hearing protection that we had were our two hands.

Photo "After Our Battle at Three Trees"

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I took this photo after our famous "Battle at Three Trees". I thought how Ironically this photo depicts the "Battle at Three Trees. You have to imagine the Bush country to my rear (approx. 50 meters) as I took this photo. That's where the NVA attacked us from. Charles Flood tells all about this battle in his book "THE WAR OF THE INNOCENTS"

Photo Of A Solid Gold Buddha That I Took While On R&R In Bangkok, Thailand

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I took this photo of a real solid gold Buddha in August of 1967 while I was on R&R in Bangkok, Thailand. I have a lot of photos of this beautiful city.

Photo Of Me Resting @ One Of Our Forward Base Camps

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This photo was shot by one of my buddies while I was resting while guarding our Forward Fire Base. The Forward Fire Base contained our HQ Company and all of our supporting Artillery (both the 105mm stationary and 155mm Self Propelled Artillery) and of course one Line Company. An Infantry Battalion was made up of 3 Line Companies and a Headquarters Company. The Rotation back to the Forward Fire Base (company in reserve) occurred every 8 days or so which meant that 16 days in the Boonies and then the next 8 days protecting the Forward Fire Base. Sometime in the Fall of 1967 the army added another line company to the 3rd Battalion-8th Infantry which was "D" company. Life for us grunts was somewhat more relaxed when we were in reserve. We still had to pull Nightly Ambush Patrols. and daytime patrols because the NVA knew where we were at all times because of our big guns going off all the time during fire missions. It's no wonder I have lost my hearing. You can't even come close to imaging the concussion was from a 155mm Self propelled Artillery Piece. I still remember the difference between the NVA assaulting one of Line Companies and just Harassing Fire from our huge guns. The artillery would fire continuously if one of our Line companies were in trouble and sporadically fire when they were just harassing the NVA.

Photo From Brother Ed Pippin

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This photo was given to me by Brother Ed Pippin. The photo is of a shot down Huey Slick Helicopter. If I'm not mistaken it was a resupply slick and was shot down while resupplying my company "B" during the Battle for Dak To by a NVA B-40 rocket round. I was @ Dragon Mountain, our main division base camp in Pleiku waiting for my departure from that war. I think the term was DEROS. I remember hearing about this battle with the notorious NVA 11/11/1967, just 9 days before my departure

We lost 18 brave men in this battle from my company. I do not have the figures of WIA. Brother Ed Pippin received a serious wound in this battle. I don't have the figures but I'd say most of these boys had less than 3 months in country!

You can read all this battle @ the following Link!

http://www.ivydragoons.org/Files/DakTo/dakto_narrative.htm

Photo Of Kurt Nagl & Charlie Steinmetz

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This photo was given to me by my good friend Kurt Nagl. Even though he is a YANKEE from Maryland, I still claim him as my Brother-In-Arms along with Charlie. Kurt was a an A-1 medic over there in Nam. Lionel Dudley nicknamed him the "Flat Footed German Yankee" but he is from Austria instead. I found the following quote from the Ivy Dragoons Website Guestbook by Kurt:

Nov.22, Thanksgiving Eve., Two Anniversaries for me. The first, Nov.22, 1955 I stepped off a ship in NY Harbor on my way to become an AMERICAN. That was 51 years ago. 40 years ago on Thanksgiving eve, before I was sent out to B Co. I was pulling perimeter guard on FBC. Since I had surgical skills, I was asked to carve all the TURKEYS in Sgt Bagleys Mess Tent for the Battalion. I spent all night carving & fellow immigrant an Irishman named Ryan, spent the night Baking. We were still in Tuy Hoa chasing Charlie & not NVA in the Highlands, which came later. Peace My Brothers & Let Us Give Thanks. Doc

Let me tell you about my friend Charlie. I still remember Charlie in Basic Training getting Giged about every day for not SHAVING. Charlie had the blackest, thickest beard and after he shaved he still didn't look like he had shaved. The rest of us BOYS 18-19 yrs old only had fuzz. I hope to see both of them this June at our next reunion down in Nashville. I saw Kurt about 36 years ago and Charlie it has been about 39-40 years since I saw him. I fought beside Charlie @ Plei Doch and Plei Ya Bo and all of the smaller skirmishes.

Clem Woods? In Tuy Hoa

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I think the boy in this photo is Clem Woods from I believe Cleveland, Ohio! Yet another photo that I had to doctor up some.