A Long Time Between Musters

Well, I tried, ahh, what's 9 months between posts? 

It's not that I didn't give it my best shot as a matter of fact I had two false starts. That has to count for something, after all we know that close does count in some circumstances like horseshoes and handgrenades. Enough groveling....

Since the last post I returned from the NSA Danang Reunion in April 14' and managed to report via the newsletter on the gathering of Seabees and NSA Security. Yup, most of the folks we're of the class of 67-70 the exception to the rule was my old friend Tony B. of the class of 65-66. The one special moment was Bruce Tuttle who who drove from Mississippi to meet up with me. We couldn't cover all 45+ years in the couple of hours together but dang it we tried. 

Not singing sour grapes but most of these folk attend this annual reunion regularly and we felt like being at a 3rd cousins wedding reception. On the whole a good time was had by all and we managed to meet some new friends which actually got me to try FB. Since then I have been trying to become *liked* and *friended*.... WTF? Obviously, I have a long way to go.

For what it's worth, I have to admit, FB has some merit and redeeming qualities. So, I had to wade into the water rather slowly and become comfortable to some degree. Not totally but somewhat I dare say.

Now, now, please stop whimpering, I'm NOT throwing this blog under the bus. I know that the 2 or 3 regular readers would be heartbroken (lol), even though they have to be awoken between posts. In the end this blog still has a broader reach in terms web searches than FB and, I feel, is a bit more warm and fuzzy if I may say so myself. Remember the mission: *the lost tribe of CHB 2*

I will post the last (Summer 2014) edition of the Newsletter for those that are interested. It includes a summary of my trek to Baton Rouge LA. with a few other morsels of information. For those who have not been counting we are approaching a countdown of less than 100 days until 4.28.15 - the 50th anniversary of the arrival of CHB 2 in Danang RVN. This was OUR D-Day (Danang Day) and no, you won't find it on your calendar or the newspapers. Yet it's as clear today for me as Normandy was for our greatest generation.

If you're interested and you have joined FB than stuff this in your URL and see how we're doing. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chbtwo/

BTW - if you're not a fan of FB, well, you're not completely SOL. Whatever I find of interest I'll try to share here as well.

I hope to see you over at FB, thanks!

Back on the stick again

Well the lazy POS has begun to add some more stuff to the existing content. Please don't ask what took so long as I will not answer. As I already stated it has been difficult to get started again. I have be re-energized with the prospects of the 2014 NSA Danang reunion at the end of this month.

So, the first issue that was resolved was the awards tab - no more links to the ".gov" site to annoy everyone's security settings on their PC's. Everything is now is in a scroll format and easy to navigate.

The Newsletter tab has been updated. Not exactly what I had in mind, but until I figure out a better way to convert the raw file this will have to do.

This is progress, I'm exhausted, tomorrows another day!

The Truth Be Told I'm Just a Lazy POS!

Let's see, if my memory is correct, the last communication from me was ahhhh.. about eight months ago. I can't give a valid excuse for the silence other than lack of  UMP FT. Haven't been exactly silent in the course of my other cyber travels just this one I'm afraid. So, in the spirit of reconciliation I can only hope that if another bout of laziness rears it ugly head someone will HOLLER...... "Off YOUR A$$ and get to work!

Actually, if I were to catalog a list of excuses there would be a few that would fit the bill. And the usual suspects come to mind, of course there was the annoying issue with my ISP, the email was broke and the clutter with that god awful spam. Oh, let's not forget that virus that almost brought my computer to the junk heap along with all my critical data. Bla-Bla-Bla..... Your a lazy POS!

Here it is a year later since the last newsletter and the hot topic still remains the same.  Sandy! Since I wrote last we here in the NY metropolitan area still are dealing with her wrath but without the impending doom of 2012. Although the storm surge has receded its remnant is still very noticeable to all to many. Now that all the political showmanship has subsided the folks are still left to clean up whats left of their lives. 

Thank you Mr. Obumma and Gov. Kristy Kreme.

As I enter the holiday season I look back to see what has transpired that might put a smiley face on the past year. Yeah, I could do the "good news - bad news" routine but in the end, well, "it is - what it is"!  Not a whole lot has changed in my world over the past twelve months. AND THAT"S THE GOOD NEWS! I'm sure there are those of us, after reflecting on 2013 would be happy to settle for JUST THAT! I, for one, fall within that category. Thank God, my problems are only situations that I'm able to resolve and not left to others in their infinite wisdom and authority. I'm very lucky indeed.

If you look around the Blog it will become clear that not much has changed and that is usually the case, after all we have both been dormant. I wish I could say it was because of things to write about but that is not the case at all. Although there have not been any new revelations regarding the "Lost Tribe" there has been stuff worthy of print - BUT just not here on this Blog. Simply stated, they are matters of a personal nature, that should not be discussed on this blog. I think that is the problem in a nut shell.

Over the past year I've been in touch, via phone and email, with several of our brethren just to touch base and to see how things were going. Some of the stuff regarding health and the like is very personal and I struggle as to what to share and to with whom. In the end silence wins the day - thus this Blog goes quiet.

So, what is the end game you ask! What it all boil's down to is this, I have changed my expectations of what my vision of the Blog should be but will maintain it in a manner that those with interest will still follow it. In the remainder of the year I hope to fill in the gaps in the various areas of interest and possibly enhance those areas of less interest. So keep a lookout!

The original The Hatch Cover newsletter will be still available via email. It's a simpler means of sharing what's happening and leave the common knowledge stuff on the Blog. In the next couple of weeks a new edition of THC will be on the news stands. It will look the same but some what abbreviated for simplicity, so stay tuned.

With Veterans  Day behind us Thanksgiving is sure to follow. I for one dread the hassle of the travel and preparation that sometimes drains the goodness of the spirit. We all have people and family to be grateful to have in our lives. It is a very lonely time of year for those away from loved ones. As I recall in 1965 some of us could not be any further apart. We still have troops in harms way and far away from home this Holiday - keep them in your prayers. I will be at one of our local VA hospitals with other VVA brothers for Christmas.

We can not forget these warriors. We were forgotten once ourselves back in the day.

Have a safe and healthy holiday!

The Winchman

 

Welcome Home Brothers and Sisters!

 

March 29, 1973

On this date the last United States troops left South Vietnam, ending America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War. For me the date really had little significance yet I do recall the speech by Nixon announcing the success of the "Vietnamization" process for ALL Vietnam. My recollection of the event was just another face saving line of BS from an already untrustworthy bureaucrat. This was not a good period as I recall. For the first time since 1966 when I was discharged I was out of work. Being able to get a day here and there doing odds and ends. It was not as if I had no skill as I worked as a Lithographer (offset pressman) for the past 7 years. It did not matter thus the old axiom ' a man with a trade will always have work' became a myth. Eventually, under the GI bill I went back to school while still working in my craft at night.

 It took thirty-eight years  for March 30th to be designated Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. In MHO "too little too late"  I guess it was necessary to relieve some of the guilt of the political class of the day both national and local levels. After all, over the past 38 years a great many of us had quietly went about our business and have now had become a "voting block' to contend with in future elections. Forgive my skepticism but nothing in politics is done without  producing political capital. It's been that way since the beginning of time.

 

I personally prefer to celebrate a fellow veteran service and sacrifice everyday.  After all those who made the ultimate sacrifice remain in the hearts and minds of their loved ones for eternity. I was never put off by the fact that there was no big banner waving welcome home. Like most vets of that period I was just grateful to be back home. So, in my eyes, if you took the oath at some point in your life you deserve your nations gratitude. There is nothing more gratifying for me then to see the smile of a fellow veteran when asked "Has anyone thanked you for your service today? Well then, let me be the first!"

 

 

Remember, we're of a unique breed. At some point in our lives we wrote out a blank check to the citizens of the United States of America payable up to and including our lives. We swore to protect and defend our Constitution. So, my brothers (and sisters), if no one has thanked you for your service today, then let me be the first. THANK YOU!

Welcome aboard! Grab a cup of "joe" and take minute to read the bright RED print to the right. Now that you know where I'm coming from let's get started.

Well, spring has sprung and it's well into March. This is the first post of 2013 and most of the stuff posted until now has been sort of a test drive with this Blogger thingy. Not to say it was without substance as it was a reflection of a time and circumstances this swab-jocky will never forget.

Your in the drivers seat boy's

This is the maiden voyage for this blog. Hopefully this will be the goto place for all of my shipmates for the latest on what's going on in the search for the Lost Tribe. So, if you are a CHB One'er or CHB Two'er and read the last Newsletter, your most likely here to kick the tires. Be my guest, check it out there will be a quiz later.

As mentioned, untill I get a few details ironed out, the comment section will not be functioning. Hopfully by mid April I'll have it up and running. If you need to reachout to me use the Email address on the Home page.

For those who may have just happened to stop by, well, we're not excluding you at all. Your more than welcomed to browse around and see what our experience was like almost a half a century ago.

Thanksgiving - 1965, I was very thankful - I think, I don't remember....

Here it is, the day after Thanksgiving and still feeling the effects of over indulging as I seem always do on this annual venture in to gluttony. No matter how resolved I set out not to over do it I fail miserably. It will be different next year, I'll lay off the Pumpkin Pie, and the stuffing...yeah right. Who am I kidding, unless I get sent back to Vietnam between now and then, odds are the scenario will be the same. Thank GOD!

There was a time it was not about the parade, black Friday, football or food (well maybe a little - the food that is). The traditional Turkey Day festivities in 1965 were reserved for the folks back home and the military that were far from the war that surrounded us in Danang RVN. You see it was just another day, nothing out of the ordinary, depending on where we had to be and when we had to be there breakfast, lunch and dinner was a hit and miss situation. What was it to be today? The bartering would begin with myself. I'm working nights (12 On - 12 Off) I need the sleep, so I pass on dinner for an hour more sleep, and hopefully supplement the box-lunch with C-Rations till breakfast. This would be the daily routine, working 12 hours a day with only one day off a month off, I can assure you that sleep won out over food on most day's.

I honestly can say that I recall almost nothing of that Thanksgiving. I may not have even given it any thought had it not been for a friend. We did not know each other while we were there but crossed paths within the last year or so. We met at a Veterans Christmas Party about this time last year and we stay in touch regularly. It did not take long for us to uncover what we had in common besides Danang. In the early day's of the war berthing was a huge issue for the support troops. Before we had a permanent place to hang our hats temporary quarters would be a APL (Barracks Barge) or APA (Attack Troop Transport).

The USS Navarro APA 215, a WWII Attack Troop Transport ship, once seen action during the invasion of Okinawa was still active during the Vietnam era. In the winter of 1965 she was berthing support operations personnel and would later be landing U.S. Marines along the coast of Vietnam. Anchored in Danang harbor this last Thursday of November would be a celebration for her crew and the resident transients who were far away from family and friends. It had to be memorial event. Then I remembered; a copy of the Menu I sent home to my girlfriend later to be wife. I wondered, what did she do with it? My friend would get a big kick out of seeing it after all these years. After 42 years of marriage I could count on one thing for sure, the woman who virtually kept every birthday card, most likely had to squirreled it away some where.

The woman's amazing! absolutely AMAZING! There they were, every letter, card and interesting little tid-bit that I thought was important at the time, neatly tied up in a shoe box. I’m also very grateful that she decided to separate the artifacts from the letters when she stored them. I really think I’d had a real problem wading through all the mushy love letters - the one or two I did have the courage to read, were in today’s vernacular OVER THE TOP. Ah-Ha I found it, so let’s just close this box and get it to the scanner. Then I heard from the top of the basement stairs "what cha doing down there?"  I could only envision a conversation about then and now regarding the letters as I impulsively shouted  “nuttin honey". Whew, that was close!

I must have been impressed with the spread since I thought enough of it to save the menu. The menu included everything that the Surgeon General deemed healthy at that point in time. If the EPA were to get hold of this today they most likely would declare it an environmental impact zone. That would be immediately followed by the Attorney General violation of church and state law suit since one other page included a passage from the prophet Issiah . In the end it was a well worth risk I'm sure. The thought of C-Rations or a Box-Lunch on Thanksgiving would violate some tenet of Culinary Code of Conduct.  Not to mention that of a Higher Authority. Looking back at it and reflecting on the gratitude I have today with things far more plentiful I can only conclude that I had to be considerably more grateful under the given conditions. 

So today, I find myself brooding and as lunch rolls around and the reality of Thanksgiving at some place other than home looms heavily. Oh NO, NO leftovers! Considering that all I had to do is stuff my face, NO dishes, NO cleanup, NO garbage, and I get to maybe watch some football.  These are the similarities to my Thanksgiving in 1965. Except for the locations, the folks in attendance, 47 years, couple of time zones the major difference is TODAY.  I look around and see the many gifts which have been bestowed upon me I clearly see why I'm thankful. The BIG problem is - what the hell am I going to do for lunch?
　
　
　
　
　

Hope ya didn't hold yer breath!

Here it is a few days before Thanksgiving 2012 and I feel that I'm now ready to take the plunge. Ready is a relative term, since nothing about this Blog even resembles complete. I think that is what brought me to this point to begin with, I finally came to the conclusion that it will NEVER be complete. There are no goal posts or game clock driving me today. I think that is what attracts me to this medium. If for whatever reason I get behind I have a fall back position. Ahha, the dog did ate my Blog, or, when that fails there is can only be one logical excuse BUSH DID IT! So, lets get on with the task at hand.

As I mentioned in the summer Edition  of the 2012 Hatchcover "I'm working on it" or maybe still working on it! This has not been an easy task to say the least. Probably has something to do with my lifelong battle with procrastination, ya know, mañana , maybe. Yep, it's sloth with five syllables. 

So, today is anew let me begin with that! Seriously, I have been focusing more on the visual aspects of the Blog as opposed to the content. I can't help myself  I'm a visual person. There I said it! I always felt that I was somewhat challenged by the written word and grammar. Even with all my years in parochial school, both my spelling and grammar rely totally on spell and grammar checker of MS word. I really should have a look at some of the letters I wrote in Vietnam to really see just how far I have come. Maybe tomorrow.

I have struggled as to what I really wanted to accomplish with this Blog. Was it to be a portal for the Lost Tribe to share tidbits of information? Or, maybe a historical collection of  memorabilia via photos, reflections and historical facts. I would ponder these options regulalrly. Mañana, yeah that's the ticket. 

Analysis paralysis, a secondary contributor to my current dilemma. Not today though, as I have made a decision to move on and brings me to this point.  I have decided to put the burden on YOU! So, the success or failure of this effort lays squarely upon you. Huh, thought you'd get away easy didn't ya.

As you may have already observed, the tabs below the Hatchcover banner are many and will hopefully will hold some if not all of our history. I can only speak for myself, until recently, I had no idea how much STUFF I had managed to save from back in the day. That being said I'm sure that I'm not alone. All of those boxes I moved around for years and never giving a second thought to the contents. Credit where credit is due. My bride of 44 years for many years discouraged me from tossing much of it. Thus it would move to a new location every 15-20 years. Who knew, that after almost a half a century, the contents would be a treasure trove of memories. If I'm correct I bet some of you folks have got a box or two that has been shuffled around all these years as well.

So here's the deal! I will be the proprietor of this site and hopefully it will be the sole depository of all things Cargo Handling Battalion TWO. As most of you guy's know the Hatchcover (our quarterly newsletter) has been the main means of communication. In time I would hope this Blog would be the source for just one ANNUAL Edition Hatchcover reflecting on the finds of a year via this Blog. Whoa there, I hear Ron Gosset saying, "what about us ONE'ers". Ron, we broke bread together in Danang with you guys and we will always be Brothers.  We were grateful for your support some 40+ years ago and it continues today. Your contributions will always be welcome here. We also have made contact with many shipmates who served before and after Vietnam. Whether you are a plank owner from our beginning or a active member of NCHB 1 or Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) your input is grist for our mill.

I will end with what you can expect from me. As the owner of this Blog I have to set down some Rules of Engagement (ROE). Since this may now be view by many in the blogosphere a perimeter must be established. I invite all to read what we share but will restrict commenter's to the men and women whom I know having a vested interest in the search for the "The Lost Tribe of CHB 2". When necessary contact me please use thewinchman@gmail.com  

• Comments will be allowed at my sole discretion and must be registered
• I am a benevolent dictator NOT without limits to my likes and dislikes.
• Salty language MAY be tolerated if properly disguised and in good taste ( a$$-hole, sh#t head ) keep it clean!
• All media matter received for display will be marked with the CHB 2 watermark to protect from any unauthorised use.
• Please use the common formats for documents (.doc, .docx, PDF, Jpeg etc.)
• I reserve the right to ammend these ROE at my sole discression.

The frequency of posts will most certanly be a product of my time and of course your participation in this venture. May I suggets we refrain from comments on  political events and topics of religion, race and other HOT BUTTON subjects. We are here to callaborate in the efford to reunite our splintered unit and clear out the cobb webs of our memories. All of us are Veterans and some disabled. Keeping that in mind your knowledge of health issues relating to you and your service can be valuable to someone else. I will retain a list of email addresses so we may be in contact in a private manner if necessary.

That being said, I wish all vistitors a very Happy Thanksgiving. Please remember we have troops all around the world who will be away from love ones. So as we sit and enjoy the bounty of our labors remember those who make it possible as they serve to protect our freedom. God Bless America! Our Republic is not perfect, but still the best game in town!