Thanks to all the vets. I for one am glad some of you did not have serve. I did a second tour to keep someone else from going to Vietnam. Many of us did that to protect others. We got to go to school also but just later.

There are no winners in war, just survivors.

I have my Selective Service System Notice Of Classification card setting here on my desk dated 21 September 1965, I-A. At least I had some idea of what I was getting into because I was in Europe in the beginning of 1965. There you saw on TV what was really going on. There was less hiding the truth from the public in France at that time.

On May 7, 1954, the French-held garrison at Dien Bien Phu was over runned so by 1965 the French were fed up with the whole thing. So I guess there was little reason to hide much by that time.

I was part of the people that were never there in the places that we never were. I think this was the beginning of the serious lack of trust in our federal government and the people who were in power.

Thanks to all the vets I served with who made it possible for me to return alive, and to all the vets both here and abroad.

If you get hungry Eddie, just drop by anytime. You will always get something good to eat at my house. Sorry, but I ate all the C-rations....lol

Cheers,

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”