Larry South wrote: I was released from active duty exactly 35 years ago today. I can remember it like it was yesterday, well, maybe day before yesterday. How long was that military commitment anyway. I thought it was for something like 6 years. Turns out I was wrong. Maybe it's 6 years for all the other services but in the USMC I think it is for life.

Only in your heart Larry...the VA will advise you of that most immediately.

Hooper

6 years, give or take a life time

Larry
I was out after a tour and a half with VMO-2 at Marble and DaNang in '71. Don't worry about your memory, I can't remember where my socks are, most days. You are right on the mark about 6 yrs for God's lesser children, but for us it's for life. You think our younger brothers n Iraq know that once you pull the cork out the bottle you can't put it back? You think they know that you and I think of them every day? There was a time that I didn't think the younger generation would amount to a hill of beans, but these days I go around pleased as punch and puffed up like Toad frog, and you are the only one that knows why.
Roy

Hey Roy Pitt...I'm not Larry and I don't know what you're talking about, but my opine to Larry was that you're a Marine for life only in your heart (after your initial contract, extensions, etc). Go to the VA and they will tell you that your service WAS the USMC, and now it's over. Get a grip.

Can only say that because I've been there, done that. Hell, in these days of war mongering, the most wounded vets from our imperialism are getting the shaft more than us...and most of them are oh so young...

Hooper

Was?

It depends on what your defenition of was, was, or is it, is, is? Who said that anyway? I do know when I go to the VA clinic here, the people I tend to strike up conversations with --are ---is---was Marines, and that cannot be taken from any of us---except by the USMC! I think of myself as being in the very, very, very, inactive, inactive reserves now. In my mind I can still change an AFCS servo, or pump up the damn accumulator when the APP doesn't start the first time. After all, I am still in shape, as long as "round" is a shape.

See ya soon,

That's a fine and healthy attitude Larry, but get with the program. None of that shtuff counts now, except in your mind (heart). You get the same bed pan and placed in the same line as all others. Been there done that.

Have the USMC recruiters been crawling over each other to get to you and shed all sorts of gracious compliments on you...have your pilots, crew chiefs, or nother supervisors? Probably NOT!

You are on your own with the VA and our present Political Electorial could care less about you...and the thousands of other faithful that did their bidding. Hang tough...get your shtuff into one kitbag and move one with life...

Hooper

Okay, Okay!

You are right, the VA does have to cater to all the branches. I am sure we would all use the same utensils (hopefully after cleaning). I suppose you must have spent some time in a VA hospital. Well, I am sure the VA hospitals ( I've never been admitted to one) would not be a pleasent experiance. I must also say that my motto is:---stay out of any hospital, they'll kill ya' in there.
I do know also that there is no political gain for any of the elected officals to come to our cause, therefore, they don't! All the political parties are guilty of this and it does piss me off when I start thinking about it.
I do know however, in the last few years, partialy because of this web site and a couple of others, I have met up with a few old freinds. I will admit visiting with them now, is like visiting with their Grandfathers, but, I do really enjoy doing that. Hell, I even went to San Antonio a couple of years ago to meet up with one and have enjoyed talking to him from time to time.
As far as meeting with recruters and such, all I can say is, my birthday is 11/10/48.
And last but not by anymeans the least, we need to meet and have a beer.

Once forever and always a Marine

Larry,

I think you have a great attitude, also the VA is not so hard to navigate once you get by the attitudes and the idiots,this can be done by pulling up 38 cfr and the rating codes and educating oneself. I am 100% service connected and I filed my own claim and never had a problem. I have witnessed many arguments and confrontations at the VA Med Ctr. However you have to consider the low level people they have working there, they remind me of the State employees back home, one working and six more to tell him how to do it, sometimes I have had to go to the Patient Advocate, and to my Congressman and Senator but everything you are entitled to is listed in 38 cfr and it is in black and white and when you are right you will cease to have problems.I am presently involved in getting teeth implants that I was informed I wasn't entitled to.later told I would have to wait three years, later told I would fall behind all the Afgan and Iraq returnees,later told that this was not offered at Phoenix VA Med Ctr. When I informed them that they would have to send me to a Ctr. that performed this procedure and pay my travel, board and meals then all of a sudden this procedure is performed at Phoenix, I only have one more procedure for my teeth at present. But as I said you have to get by the idiots and the know it alls to get anything done.

Carl L. Rice

Teeth Implant!

Crap, I could use a few of those, but they keep advertizing them on TV and it scares the H-e double L's out of me. That looks like it hurts! Anyway, Thanks for the moral support. You know, I first thought about the USMC when my oldest sister was a senior in high school and talked to a recruter. She did not join, however, I did that old 120 day delay thing the next year. Where I lived I could go to farming or become a hero----I choose the hero route. Suprise, no hero's, just dedicated people doing what we were told and believed. Maybe we were young and dumb, but, maybe that's not all bad. Anyway, my much younger sister and brother followed me into the USMC.
My Father past away 8 years ago today and I just talked to Mom, and she is sad, but told me how proud she was of all of us and was thinking of all the Mothers and Marines in harms way. She was glad that all of us kids would be together later this week and, what the hell, did I mention thanks for the moral support. Maybe we could get a beer soon.

Seems to me you have a solid copy on the reality of the VA, with maybe one exception...I needed the VA twice in the past 12 calendar months and they literally saved my life both times. Inside the place, in one of their beds and rooms, it's like a swarm of bees all over you...I needed to go home to get some sleep, but it was all for the best.

Have met up with many old friends on this website. On the 9th I'm gonna pack my parachute bag and head to Ft Worth for my third reunion.

1948? Just a puppy. LOL.

Semper Fi...Semper Gumby.

Hooper

Truce!

I'll see ya there. Please come and look me up. I'll be the one with the big--- dumb--- blank-- look on his face. That's the way I go around most of these days now. Oh yeah, did I mention my Dad was from Oklahoma? Anyway, see ya there! I'll be around the 463 area I guess.

Was there looking for you Larry. Signed on w/HMH 462, but didn't go to many places except the purple Foxes and 164 hosp rooms. Did the hot & steamy afternoon out at the airfield...ran into more old friends than I was emotionally prepared to...but stayed out of the beer tent, which was good.
Good thing ole YL-37 didn't have a misfire during it's fly over...woulda probably landed on a one way street the wrong way. YIKES! Ran into Fred McCorkle just about as many times as when we were at New River swilling beer and playing flag football against each other!

I've averaged a reunion every 8 years, so...maybe see you in Puerto Rico in 2014...

Hooper

Sounds good to me.

I was looking around for you some too but there were way to many old men there for me to find anyone. I did run into a few mech's from 463 and hung around with them during the dinners. Boy, the logistics of putting that whole thing on is pretty impressive and the people doing that put out a lot of effort and don't get nearly enough recognition. My only question is, what the hell did I eat on Saturday evening?

S/F Larry

FW A/C show

Men
Piping in to say thanks for comming out to the hangar to see what we put together. We meaning (The OV-10 Bronco Assn./OBA), we have less that 300 members and only about 30 of us close enough to do all the work. Our membership is from all the services that used the OV-10. Tom so sorry about the 53 not making it in but heard it to a chip light and layed over in In. for repairs. That caused an 80' hole in the center of our Helo set-up. At the last minute we thought we should put the 47 next to the 46's so you could show your families the differences but no time left, Fri. night. We got Boy Scout and CAP unit help but otherwise it was an all OBA event, my wife got her feelings hurt when she heard that most visitors thought it was a PoP run/sponsered event. Not possible for me to get my feelings hurt, I forgot and left them at home. I saw a guy walk up and put his hand on one of the 46's, bow his head for a moment. He thought no one saw, that was my pay back for 4 days of running around like a crazy chicken.
Roy