A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen comrade – “Arnie Nakkerud, You Are Not Forgotten”

An Ace of Spades reader sent me this touching essay written by her husband this Memorial Day to keep alive the memory of a fellow Army helicopter pilot who did not return from Vietnam.

I was a 20 year-old kid when I first met you at Ft. Wolters, Texas. We were both arriving to the base, young Army helicopter pilot cadets, class of 66-15. You were from Seattle and I was from a little coastal town, Hoquiam, in Washington State. Being from the same state is what we first had in common entering this new world of helicopter pilot training. That first meeting found us together through the checking-in process, being assigned rooms in the same barracks and attending classes together. We ran together when off-duty and also flew together during training.
We voluntarily held back a month after completing Fort Wolters training as our flight class was larger in numbers than Ft. Ruecker could accommodate. After that month of downtime, we arrived together with the class of 66-17 at Ft. Rucker, Alabama to complete our training. Through all of this, we continued as roommates, flying mates and running weekend trips to Panama City in my red 1963 Corvette. Memories of you, my friend, are many, some stories I can tell and some stories I will not tell.
To this day, your presence continues within me as a great friend who had a truly positive impact on my life and times while in the Army helicopter flight program.
You taught me how to be me and to open up and enjoy life. You taught me that in your presence, I was always laughing at your antics and wantings to bend the rules just enough to afforded us getting away with living the colors of life, closer to the edge. How many weekends we danced and drank the nights away on the beaches of Panama City, Florida.
I remember the trip one weekend when we hopped in the Corvette, top down just after being released Saturday morning. We skipped breakfast, threw some clothes in the back, topped off the gas tank and left Ft. Rucker for Panama City. We stopped in a small store for a quart of milk and a bag of Oreo cookies that we shared as our breakfast while driving south down the back roads. The weekend was ahead of us and we owned it!
A few miles down the road and in one of the dry counties, an old Sheriff pulled us over to check the car for alcohol. He found us drinking milk from a quart carton and finishing off a bag of Oreo cookies. We explained to him that we were helicopter flight cadets at Ft. Rucker and were on our way to spend the weekend at Panama City. The sheriff checked our milk carton for alcohol as that would have been the things young guys like us would do. But no. We were indeed telling the truth, milk and cookies.
There were many cars that day pulled off the road and being checked for alcohol. Folks were out of their cars as sheriff deputies checked their vehicles. The sheriff tipped his hat to us for being the "outstanding young men we said we were" and let us leave the line-up to get back on the road.
You and I laughed so hard several miles down the road when you pulled out the 5th of whiskey you had tucked under your seat. To this day, I still laugh about so many of those moments we shared.

The last time I saw you my friend was while placing a photo of you at the "Wall" in Washington DC, 2005. To this day, I weep as I am now.
I do look forward to the day when I do get to see you again. I am hopeful we are afforded the time to sit, talk and catch up on stories. Knowing you as well as I did here, I bet you have stories and stories to tell. You are not now nor never will be forgotten, my friend.

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 06:10 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 first

Posted by: Admirale's Mate at May 25, 2026 06:12 PM (/enuJ)

2 Hello

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's Phone at May 25, 2026 06:12 PM (n7rxJ)

3 tooth

Posted by: Admirale's Mate at May 25, 2026 06:13 PM (/enuJ)

4
I'm so thankful I don't have anyone on that wall.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's Phone at May 25, 2026 06:13 PM (n7rxJ)

5 dangitol

Posted by: Admirale's Mate at May 25, 2026 06:13 PM (/enuJ)

6 Just turned in my Guardians game and see the umpires have adopted the English tradition of wearing a poppy. Beautiful for Memorial Day.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at May 25, 2026 06:16 PM (SxOcO)

7 Willowed:

Medea and Jodie are evil, imo.
Posted by: EveR at May 25, 2026 06:15 PM (wTevN)

Yeah. Communists. They had made her a figurehead and they probably figured she would go along when they went underground. I don't think they ever really got her though. Crazy, but genuine and all commies are fake as fuck.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 25, 2026 06:22 PM (zZu0s)

8 The travaling Vietnam Wall came here a couple years ago
Certainly glad it came here as chance to see real thing won't

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 06:24 PM (Ia/+0)

9 No, they will not be forgotten. Not even when their statues are torn down a century from now in some paroxysm of stupid. We - those of us who know - will remember you and why you served and how you died. For two and a half centuries, why and how. And we will try to honor you not just by keeping your memory, but by making your sacrifice worthwhile.

Thank you.

Posted by: GWB at May 25, 2026 06:25 PM (kU0PQ)

10 Lost my best friend and college roommate for two years. I was over there at the time so did not make the funeral. Captain Charles F. Thomas IV.

Posted by: Javems at May 25, 2026 06:26 PM (zFsEm)

11
8 The travaling Vietnam Wall came here a couple years ago
Certainly glad it came here as chance to see real thing won't
Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 06:24 PM (Ia/+0)

I have been to the real thing. It lays on your heart a long time.

Posted by: Piper at May 25, 2026 06:30 PM (p4NUW)

12 10 Lost my best friend and college roommate for two years. I was over there at the time so did not make the funeral. Captain Charles F. Thomas IV.
Posted by: Javems at May 25, 2026 06:26

I am so sorry, and so grateful at the same time.

Posted by: Piper at May 25, 2026 06:31 PM (p4NUW)

13 Arnie’s patch says he served in MACV, Military Assistance Command Vietnam.

Posted by: Javems at May 25, 2026 06:31 PM (zFsEm)

14 The debt paid by America’s fallen is unpayable, but it is not unteachable. It is written in sacrifice, in folded flags, in names etched into stone.
_ZH

Thank you for my freedom.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 25, 2026 06:32 PM (zfQ1S)

15 Powerful essay. Thank you for posting it.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 25, 2026 06:33 PM (8zz6B)

16 OT, late for the Nerd's thread earlier.

https://youtube.com/shorts/T3dMxwIRreQ

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at May 25, 2026 06:35 PM (qx7Zg)

17 >>>I have been to the real thing. It lays on your heart a long time.
Posted by: Piper at May 25, 2026 06:30 PM (p4NUW)
*****
"It lays on your heart a long time". I mean this respectfully, how can anyone not love Southern women? Thank you Piper.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at May 25, 2026 06:39 PM (UPqWP)

18 17 I mean this respectfully, how can anyone not love Southern women? Thank you Piper.
Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at May 25,

I would never feel disrespected by this! Thank you.

Posted by: Piper at May 25, 2026 06:43 PM (p4NUW)

19 May his memory be a blessing.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 25, 2026 06:43 PM (RIvkX)

20
British couple spending Memorial Day in America. (It's long, just something to have on while you're doing other things.)

youtube.com/watch?v=zGC4EwTdeQI

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 25, 2026 06:46 PM (n7rxJ)

21 Captain Charles F. Thomas IV.
Posted by: Javems at May 25, 2026 06:26 PM (zFsEm)
=====
May his memory be a blessing.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 25, 2026 06:47 PM (RIvkX)

22 Thanks for sharing, Buck, and thank you to the reader who sent it in.

Posted by: tankdemon at May 25, 2026 06:49 PM (CvBUs)

23 In the Cowboystatedaily.com there’s a story about a chopper pilot who claims he received 27 Air Medals, the headline “Green Beret Chopper Pilot”.

I hesitate to question anyone’s service but he was in Viet Nam for a year. I think those guys probably deserved 27 Air Medals, but I dunno.

Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 06:49 PM (w3KHJ)

24 Thanks Piper

Posted by: Javems at May 25, 2026 06:49 PM (zFsEm)

25 WO1 Arnold Olaf Nekkerud

Date of death: 07/31/67. Aircraft commander of UH-1H 66-16529 assigned to the 189th. In transit at night between Oasis and Holloway, helicopter inadvertently entered IFR conditions, and then struck a tree.

He was eight months into his tour in Viet Nam when this accident happened. Just weeks before the crash he had married in Hawaii.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 25, 2026 06:58 PM (2GVsD)

26 God evening! Played hockey with a kid who's dad was shot down in Vietnam. He was listed as MIA but when I went to my oldest boy's wedding we travelled up to DC to see the memorials and I found his name on the wall. Sad and sobering for sure.

Cpl. Donohoe, Cpl. Boudreaux and Capt. Milnes.
*pours one out*
*Hand salute*

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 25, 2026 06:58 PM (3Ope8)

27 Not even when their statues are torn down a century from now in some paroxysm of stupid

Well, you’re certainly far more optimistic than I am.

Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 06:58 PM (w3KHJ)

28 God has special mercy for the men that die in battle.

Have faith.

Posted by: no one of any consequense at May 25, 2026 07:00 PM (qFwJc)

29 Pretty sure “Green Beret” teams had no pilots. Perhaps some dedicated to their service perhaps

Posted by: Javems at May 25, 2026 07:01 PM (zFsEm)

30 A.Puma: Thank you for that update on Arnie’s death. I was going to look it up.

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at May 25, 2026 07:01 PM (d9Cw3)

31 Not even when their statues are torn down a century from now in some paroxysm of stupid

Well, you’re certainly far more optimistic than I am.
Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 06:58 PM (w3KHJ)

I think there will be Americans for a long time who remember. Even after there might no longer be a United States. I believe the flame will be kept alive, no matter how it might flicker.

Posted by: GWB at May 25, 2026 07:02 PM (kU0PQ)

32
Merlin Raye Allen was the son of Alden and Eleanor Allen. He was inducted in the U.S. Marine Corps in late October 1965. He was trained as a radio operator and joined Team Striker of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in early 1967. He was one of five Marines killed after their aircraft was hit by small arms and automatic weapons fire on June 30, 1967 in Thua Thien Province in Vietnam. His remains weee recovered and repatriated in 2018.

Members of the Allen family were friends of my Dad's parents in Wisconsin.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at May 25, 2026 07:02 PM (s9VOe)

33 Visited the wall with hubby nec, he had a difficult time holding it all together. He lost quite a few friends during his tour in Viet Nam.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at May 25, 2026 07:04 PM (2NHgQ)

34 In honor of First Sergeant James Howell Sumner.
Panel W26, Line 103.
Maternal grandfather of my wife.
Helicopter crash May 2, 1969 Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.
He had been in country 38 days.
Someday sir I will look into the other 20 years of service.
I know Silent Drill Team is in there.

Posted by: Reforger at May 25, 2026 07:04 PM (gbGyB)

35 Legalinsurrection.com
Mayor Jacob Frey honors Saint George Floyd on Memorial day

You can't H8 Communists enough

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:07 PM (Ia/+0)

36
Medal of Honor citation for Fr. (Lt.) Vincent Capodanno (Servant of God)

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF, in connection with operations against enemy forces in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 4 September 1967. In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lieutenant Capodanno left the relative safety of the Company Command Post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded... Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately fifteen yards away, Lieutenant Capodanno rushed forward in a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine gun fire.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 25, 2026 07:10 PM (HdYcL)

37 Buck

You are welcome. Even 'in country'' accidents can kill just as much as enemy fire.

All deserve to be remembered.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 25, 2026 07:12 PM (2GVsD)

38

I think of the families who got the knock on the door.

It's what you dread when there is a war going on.

It is usually quiet here in our small town. Today it is eerily quiet.

There are so many people who get what Today is about.

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:13 PM (3ek7K)

39 My golf buddy was a Green Beret Special Forces, airborne guy. He told me story when a Catholic priest was flown in. He gave General Absolution to everyone. He said Mass and gave Holy Communion to everyone. Little did they know it, all those Protestants just became Catholic.

Posted by: no one of any consequense at May 25, 2026 07:14 PM (qFwJc)

40 Submarine duty was insanely dangerous during world war two. Army Air corps was not any better, close to 10,000 were killed in training in CONUS. Planes are littered all over the place.

In those days they called the USA “Zone of the Interior” which is kind of cool. I’m pretty sure we had a border in those days as well, and was taken very seriously.

Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 07:16 PM (w3KHJ)

41 Thank you is such a paltry offering for those that have given such sacrifice . Freedom is never free and our Heroes continue to pay the price but it us that owe the debt.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 25, 2026 07:17 PM (5P5DO)

42 Jesus paid the price and anyone that joins Him in that price is saved.

Posted by: no one of any consequense at May 25, 2026 07:18 PM (qFwJc)

43 Here's a Vietnam draft calculator. You can put in your birthday and see if you would have been called up:

https://tinyurl.com/2e2br885

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:19 PM (3ImbR)

44 Vietnam was over before I was out of school

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:20 PM (Ia/+0)

45 I was born in 1955. There was no lottery for me, My older brother got 199. His friend got 4. Neither were called.

Posted by: no one of any consequense at May 25, 2026 07:21 PM (qFwJc)

46
Army Air corps was not any better, close to 10,000 were killed in training in CONUS. Planes are littered all over the place.

_____________

In Guard of Honor by James Gould Cozzens, set at an airbase in Florida, Colonel Ross comes across the recovery of a B-25 that crashed in a swamp. In another episode, several paratroopers drown when a jumpmaster's error leads them to parachute into a deep lake.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 25, 2026 07:22 PM (HdYcL)

47
He was listed as MIA but when I went to my oldest boy's wedding we travelled up to DC to see the memorials and I found his name on the wall. Sad and sobering for sure.

Cpl. Donohoe, Cpl. Boudreaux and Capt. Milnes.
*pours one out*
*Hand salute*
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead

==============

Yes, MIA are deliberately included on the wall.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 25, 2026 07:26 PM (n7rxJ)

48 If you want to search military aircraft losses:

https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 25, 2026 07:27 PM (2GVsD)

49 My cousin John was killed in Vietnam just a few days after his 19th birthday. It took quite a while for his body to come home, and my aunt desperately wanted an open casket. The top half had to be enclosed in glass. They did the best they could, but it was heartbreaking to see.

A year later his 21year-old brother Joe was killed in a car crash. Today is his birthday.

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:27 PM (3ImbR)

50 You can't H8 Communists enough
Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:07 PM

Sât Công

Posted by: Duncanthrax at May 25, 2026 07:29 PM (0sNs1)

51 IrishEi, Condolences to your family. Hope you are well.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 25, 2026 07:29 PM (5P5DO)

52
IrishEi,

How heartwrenching.

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:29 PM (3ek7K)

53 >>>Vietnam was over before I was out of school

>>>I was born in 1955. There was no lottery for me, My older brother got 199. His friend got 4. Neither were called.
~~~~~

Of course, if you were of age at the time of the lottery, you would already know your number! This calculator is just to see what your number would have been if you were of age at the time.

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:29 PM (3ImbR)

54 Skip, Ican hate them enough and do.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 25, 2026 07:30 PM (5P5DO)

55 My uncle and mom's cousin both went to Vietnam and thankfully returned. Both gone now but at least had long lives

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:32 PM (Ia/+0)

56 If you search the USAF accident database with just two criteria: 44 and FL the site will return 1722 records.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 25, 2026 07:33 PM (2GVsD)

57 My last good Vietnam vet buddy past away a couple of months ago. He came back pretty messed up but eventually found God's mercy and forgiveness. He was generous to a fault and could talk your ear off.

Posted by: pawn at May 25, 2026 07:35 PM (+rSJz)

58 >>>IrishEi, Condolences to your family. Hope you are well.
~~~~~

Thanks, Ben. I'm doing well. Can't believe this was over 50 years ago, but the memories feel like yesterday.

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:35 PM (3ImbR)

59 Just to see I entered mine and my two kids' dates. My husband already had his own number from back then, high enough not to be drafted. The three of our bdays all had numbers under 15.

Posted by: Lirio100 at May 25, 2026 07:35 PM (ky7/T)

60
It disgusts me that history isn't taught in schools today.

Sacrifice? So many people have no idea what that means.

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:36 PM (3ek7K)

61 four seasons, sacrifice now means foregoing that second $8 cup of coffee.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 25, 2026 07:39 PM (5P5DO)

62
You are correct Ben Had.

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:40 PM (3ek7K)

63
Here's a Vietnam draft calculator. You can put in your birthday and see if you would have been called up:

https://tinyurl.com/2e2br885
Posted by: IrishEi ?!

I was just about to be. In 1970 after dropping out of college. I had already taken the draft physical examination. So I joined the Navy instead. Ended up on a minesweeper in Cam Ranh Bay and Da Nang.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 25, 2026 07:41 PM (Cqx++)

64 Visited the wall with my wife and our young son in 1992. I found the names of 5 guys I knew, 3 of them friends since Junior High. Just touching their names inscribed on the wall made me well up in tears. I was drafted in Sept 1967, but was assigned to the Signal Corp after basic infantry training. I received orders for 'Nam once, but they were rescinded for some inexplicable reason. I was given the chance to get married, have a son, and grow old. An opportunity none of those whose names are on the wall were given. I am tearing up as I write this.....sorry.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at May 25, 2026 07:42 PM (5xuJ/)

65 Just to see I entered mine and my two kids' dates. My husband already had his own number from back then, high enough not to be drafted. The three of our bdays all had numbers under 15.
Posted by: Lirio100 at May 25, 2026 07:35 PM (ky7/T)
~~~~~

Yikes! The lottery system was just plain awful. Sometimes I think we would have been better off leaving the draft as it was, when everyone knew they would serve unless they had some kind of deferment.

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:42 PM (3ImbR)

66 History isn't taught in schools, Cultural Marxism is

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:43 PM (Ia/+0)

67 I had two brothers that served during the Viet Nam war. Karl signed up and went in 1968 as a Marine and Butch was drafted into the Army in 1969. Butch was almost three years older than Karl.
Both brothers talked very little of their time in the military. Karl was stationed in Okinawa and he was aware the population hated them being there.
Butch landed at a base in Bien Hoa and ultimately died of complications from Agent Orange just before he turned 75 in 2021. Karl died in 2023 also at 74...I was posting here in the middle of the night in a delusional state of mind as I watched him go.
I never knew a grandfather but my dad's father died in an Army plane that hit Mt. Deception in 1945 about two weeks after Japan surrendered. They had been mapping a path to get fuel to China. About two months before that my dad at 21 was commissioned an ensign in the Navy but he never got a ship. He said the closest he got to the ocean was his mother's house in Kilgore, Tx.

In 2011 I was building a house for my parents on my sister's property in Hunt County, Tx. Standing in line at the Home Depot buying materials for the house, my dad whispered (continued)

Posted by: DanMan at May 25, 2026 07:44 PM (8uzBS)

68 thatcrazyjerseyguy, never be sorry for tears shed in memory of lost friends.

Posted by: Ben Had at May 25, 2026 07:45 PM (5P5DO)

69
It is okay to tear up.

It is a teary day here and we were blessed we didn't lose anyone.

They are heroes.

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:45 PM (3ek7K)

70

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet ‌access, Iranian state media reported on Monday, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war against U.S. and Israel.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 25, 2026 07:46 PM (Cqx++)

71 So many moving stories of heroism and service.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 25, 2026 07:46 PM (RIvkX)

72 Here's a Vietnam draft calculator. You can put in your birthday and see if you would have been called up:

https://tinyurl.com/2e2br885
Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:19 PM (3ImbR)

I was drafted (thank you Perth Amboy draft board), Sept 1967. There were 53 of us there at 0630 to swear The Oath. Then, to Newark for another physical. Later, we left Newark for our trip to Fort Dix. I will remember my military ID number forever.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at May 25, 2026 07:48 PM (5xuJ/)

73 Looking at old family wedding pictures of my own folks as well as the many aunts and uncles. In every single picture, the grooms are all in uniform, as well as many of the ushers and best men.

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 25, 2026 07:49 PM (3ImbR)

74 Another budby on the wall is Captain John C. Stringer II. Oddly I can touch his name, and the above mentioned, Charlie's name at the same time.

Late I know but got to get John up there.

Posted by: javems at May 25, 2026 07:49 PM (zFsEm)

75 My uncle who had major health issues did havechis last years full paid at the Vet Center. At least they did something right for him

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:50 PM (Ia/+0)

76 If you search the USAF accident database with just two criteria: 44 and FL the site will return 1722 records.
——

It sounds a little morbid, but I wish there was a simple list of Army or military deaths and KIA by chronological date and name. Aviation is relatively small, and I’m sure I knew some of those guys. I don’t know if such a simple list like that exists.

Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 07:52 PM (2RHvg)

77 "I don't why I get a discount...I didn't do anything" I about fell out and said "daddy, you were there".

Karl died in that house 12 years later.

Butch's grandson just got a 4 year scholarship to Texas A&M's Corp. paid for by the Marine corp.

Posted by: DanMan at May 25, 2026 07:52 PM (8uzBS)

78
I asked Hubby if people shoot off fireworks on Memorial Day.

He said he thinks it isn't appropriate. He spent many years in the Army.

What do yall think?

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:55 PM (3ek7K)

79 I don’t know how true it is, but I read somewhere at some point, maybe in the latter 1960s, they took to having draftees take one step forward.

This was the actual moment of induction. Those who refused to raise their hand and take the oath, were already in violation of a lawful order. Ha!

Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 07:56 PM (2RHvg)

80 "What do yall think?

Posted by: four seasons"

No.

Posted by: fd at May 25, 2026 07:57 PM (vFG9F)

81 XH2, whom I shall always refer to as: "number two" (because that is the polite way of saying POS) was in VN, 69-70. PBR. Not the beer.

Anyway, he was no hero. Only joined USN to avoid the draft. Became a junkie. Dishonorably discharged as "unfit for duty" after going AWOL.

Why do I mention this? Because an otherwise intelligent (he was clean when we met) man was effectively kill3d in VN, but continued to 'live' afterward. A zombie. A criminal who would --and did-- steal from his own mother.

It was his addiction and mental problems that ultimately destroyed us and him.

Posted by: JQ at May 25, 2026 07:58 PM (rdVOm)

82 No loud bangs here either

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:58 PM (Ia/+0)

83 Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet ‌access, Iranian state media reported on Monday, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war against U.S. and Israel.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 25, 2026 07:46 PM (Cqx++)

Best to assume this is a "Hundred Flowers" fake-out. Or at least that the IRGC will use it as such.
I'm hoping Starlink, which bypasses this stuff, is still active.

Posted by: gKWVE at May 25, 2026 07:58 PM (gKWVE)

84 I asked Hubby if people shoot off fireworks on Memorial Day.

He said he thinks it isn't appropriate. He spent many years in the Army.

What do yall think?

Posted by: four seasons at May 25, 2026 07:55 PM (3ek7K)

Brother was 82nd Airborne in Iraq. He does not like fireworks.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I Have Become Comfortably Lame at May 25, 2026 07:59 PM (0aYVJ)

85 On 4th hard to tell incoming from out going

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:59 PM (Ia/+0)

86 4th of Julyis a Friday

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 07:59 PM (Ia/+0)

87 Cafe is nood.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 25, 2026 08:00 PM (zZu0s)

88 I remember one of my WWII veteran uncle’s saying offhandedly “I don’t like guns”, tough to argue with his perspective.

Although he always voiced strong approval of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Apparently many ETO veterans were scheduled for redeployment to Japan and this was not a popular decision.

Posted by: Common Tater at May 25, 2026 08:03 PM (2RHvg)

89 Army Air corps was not any better, close to 10,000 were killed in training in CONUS.

I had an Uncle who died on a training flight in Louisiana during WWII. Never had a chance to meet him as I was born in 1957.

Posted by: vin at May 25, 2026 08:08 PM (2RP3u)

90 My husband tried to enlist. They rushed through the enlistees as they had a busload of draftees on the way. If you failed one test, that was it. It was at the Oakland Induction Center which had been bombed. They did the hearing test where the construction crew was working. Everyone passed. And there werea couple of guys that were drafted as Marines.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 25, 2026 08:08 PM (7T8ei)

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