Tending the Garden

One morning flying low north of Phu Bai near Highway 1 a rather elderly lady had assumed the position and was fertilizing the garden. She smiled that betelnut smile and waved. Another heartwarming memory.

buck simmons

Buck,you may have spent too much time on franklin street??

Franklin Street

Hi Credman,

I've found that Franklin Street bears a resemblance to Gate 2 Street and BC Street in terms of exotic displays. The signs are easier to read on Franklin Street, however.

Mmm, country ham!

Semper Fi and Happy Birthday.

Buck

What next ?

Buck Simmons;24713 wrote: New Souvenir,

Recently, we took our dogs to the dog park. While there, I broke up a dog fight by sticking my foot into the fight. (I’ve never been known as clever). I was wearing sandals and one of the dogs bit my toe where the nail meets the side of the toe. The puncture never healed up, but got worse with time.

I saw a Podiatrist who made tsk tsk noises as he examined my toe. He said that the only time he had seen my ailment was when he was an intern at a VA hospital in San Diego.

Apparently, while climbing out of a flooded rice paddy in 1970, I picked up some kind of rot that lay dormant for 39 years and was activated when the dog bite gave me a puncture wound. Also reminiscent of Viet Nam, he tore out half my toenail to treat it. I told him I would tell all my secrets, but he kept going anyway.

Arch Ratliff and I had a complete radio failure all those years ago and were retuning to Marble. As we neared DaNang, there was a sudden lurch, a bang and a shadow passed us on the left doing umpteen million mph. It was our tail rotor! Arch did a great job putting it into the flooded paddy (it was the monsoon season). The shock of the landing bent our throttle linkage, jamming the engine at full flight rpm. I jumped into the paddy to shut it down and must have picked up the bug while wallowing around. I remembered what they used to fertilize the paddies and, when I saw something floating near me, I remember hoping it was a snake! My bandoleers nearly drowned me. I thought the 1,000 rounds I normally carried were added safety, not an anchor.

Anyway, after 39 years and many foot washings (I swear I wash them), a dog bite brought all those memories crashing back, with a little souvenir form I Corps that I didn’t even know I had.

Semper Fi,

Firebase Simmons

Buck I had some what of the same happen at the VA. Some years ago my feet was for ever breaking out and it seem to follow my Blood along the Veins. Just like going around in a cycle of sorts. This was call anywheres from Athlets feet to >>....as One Doctor said I had Plants growing in my body. Longer Story!
Any ways no matter what I used it still went though this cycle. However
I did made a joke and told them Guess the Plants saw the Agent Orange and ran to my feet. Also They said that it will never go away to live with it. This has a mind of its own,and come and goes like the breeze on a wind swept day. Just want to pass it on ..........Semper Fi and Happy Birthday MARINES.

Hi Jerry,

I also had a recurrent problem that still persists. About twice per year, I used to get chills and fevers that would last 1 or 2 days. As I've gotten older the frequency and severity have both improved. One doctor wrote it off to residual malaria, but I've never been sure. Maybe too much Ba Mi Ba.

Happy Birthday,

Buck

Scarface 48