We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:59:23 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Time: 0530 on the morning of a day two weeks after the defoliation mission. The Place: The bunker beneath the wayhouse constructed by the work detail from Tay Do Two battalion. Phouc was finding it more difficult to maintain his Revolutionary Ardor with each basketful of earth he hauled from the bunker to scatter into the dead grass. Sergeant Van had been displeased with the implications of the message Phouc had relayed from Colonel Trinh and had placed Phouc in command of the bunker-construction detail -- which consisted solely of Phouc. As he hauled what he had decided was... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:38:37 -0600 What I wanna know is, is there a Celestial Psychiatric version of Soldiers' Angels for poor old Carborundum? I mean, I betcha he's getting some bad wing cramps in that straight jacket. What with the Delegated Omniscience, we just know he starts frothing and headbanging when Chief Bill starts to think about flying a hellaflopper. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57615 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57615 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 01:46:36 -0600 Excellent story, Bill - fitting the (potential) actions into the known timeline made it a tense read ;-) No, we won't believe they had extras, but we'll believe they gave you your share. And not just for breathing, neither. But don't forget the Captain Crunch box one ... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57614 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57614 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:24:28 -0600 rickg - COORDS was the way CORDS was spelled in Can Tho. Got no idea why, but that's what was painted on the sign in front of their hootch and that was the spelling on the mission sheets. Maybe there was originally another word in the acronym (Can Tho was one of the first established) or maybe the Viet sign painter charged by the letter. Xray Sierra was across the Ba Sac -- see what WS89480253 turns up. Most of the areas we defoliated *did* grow back after the following rainy season. One of these days, I'll do a post on the stuff, including how it worked. Or how we were *told* it worked. AFSis - Ain't a chest full, just the left half and part of the right. And I got most of that stuff just for having a discernible pulse. No, really. Honest to Pete. Ummmm, would you believe that they had some extras and gave me a couple? And I got one in a box of Cracker Jax, I think... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57584 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57584 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:04:59 -0600 It's CORDS: "Civil Operations for Revolutionary Development Services." Look up Robert Comer, William Colby and John Vann. Your story could have been on the XRay Sierra mapsheet. Wikimapia shows that it grew back. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57568 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57568 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:18:17 -0600 wow. bravo! more more more!!! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57548 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57548 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:16:05 -0600 SB, Guess what song is on my ipod right now? "Magic Carpet Ride" always reminds me of you. "why don't you come away with me, little girl, on a magic carpet ride...." ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57543 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57543 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:50:18 -0600 "there *are* Ladies who visit" surely... you jest. *wink* Thanks for giving us a glimpse into how you earned that chest full of medals and ribbons, Chief. Even more glad you're here to tell the tale. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57542 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57542 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:39:41 -0600 FuzzyBee - Check your mail. But you didn't miss the previous installment, it just wasn't partic'larly exciting. Heh... Capo del Fuoco - Grazi, Signore, grazi. Benvenuto a "Castel Argghhh!"... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57535 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57535 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:37:59 -0600 "sorta-kinda entertaining"...surely you jest. It was full on entertaining. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to share your experiences. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57534 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57534 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:06:04 -0600 Haven't read it yet because I just realized I missed the previous installment. Anybody have the link for it? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57533 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57533 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 06:34:44 -0600 Well, geez, JTG, I'm a rude and crude Neolithic knuckle-dragger. Whaddya expect? The cut-and-dried version actually was pretty emotional, albeit mostly in the dialogue, and there *are* Ladies who visit. Plus Mizz Thang reads over ry's shoulder... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57531 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57531 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:15:00 -0600 Come to think, BOATS is less rude than TINS when de-acronymized. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57530 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57530 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:06:22 -0600 Dang, Chief! You have exceeded yerself with this one, you excessive person, you! Obviously some poetic license there, but as Hollywood says, "Based on a True Story." P.S. And if the truth is less entertaining, emotional, and evocative than that, I don't wanna hear it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57526 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/denouement.html#comment-57526 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 04:14:11 -0600