41 Years Ago Today

[TimDavie]

In Southern Vietnam there were a group of C-130's and C-123's set aside to spray the jungles and dense foliage that hid the enemy. Spray called "Pink Rose" and "Agent Orange." The group was called the "Ranch Hands" mostly because they acted like ranch hands after hours. During working hours however, they would take their fully loaded cargo plane and turn it into a crop duster. Flying low and slow, then pulling up into what almost resembled a stall turn....yep with a C-123. they would fly back down in the slot to spray the next row and not miss a beat while 4 more planes they were in formation with would do the same thing. Their patch was a green circle with a Brown stripe. The green represented the forest, and the brown represented the spray. Often called the most "shot at....and HIT" unit in Vietnam, the Ranch Hands only lost 14 men out of many hundred. A Bullet entered the window during one of those high-banked turns and took the life of number 8. It was May 21, 1967 when my brother and I lost our Dad.....41 years ago today.
Thanks for reading.

[66stang]

Our country is a better place because of guys like your father.. Sorry for the sacrifice your family had to make for ours.

[KIM]

tim being a vietnam vet my heart goes out to you we lost many good brothers in that war and i never forget a single one ,

[WangoTango]

Hey Tim,
When you hit your knees tonight, tell your Dad thanks from all of us. We appreciated him and a lot of others. I miss my buddy from high school...... Still get tears after all these years.
WT

[Al Lewis]

13 Months before I entered the Air Force. We lost a lot of good men in that war. Most every High School friend I had. Tim, your Dad was doing what he believed in. I'm sure you and your brother are very proud of him and just as sure you'd rather have him back. I honor your father's sacrifice, and that of the thousands of others that came before and after him, every day of my life by remembering them and what they did for us. I think about our troops every day and what they are doing for us now. No matter what any author writes or any politician may spout, our Veterans are what made this country great! Twenty-two years in the Air Force and the loss of now countless friends and yet a story of a man I never new still brings tears to my eyes as if he were my own brother. God Bless you and yours, Tim. The Lord has already received your father in heaven where he watches over you and prepares a place for those of us that will follow one day.

[Zee]

Tim, you and your family is in our prayers. Your dad must have been great man.
Just a note, when I come to this country in 1969, I have gone to selective service office to register and volunteer for service in Vietnam, they would not take me because I did not speek english well.
I was bumed out.
God bless your family.
Best regards,
Zee

[50%plane]

Tim,

I don't know what to say, but Thank You! Military families are too much the unsung heros, especially during a time of war.

May your father rest in peace, knowing that he did his best to defend freedom.

Sincerely,
Chris Todd

[Stu_D]

Sorry to here that Dave . Hope your day is a good ,you must be very proud of what your father did for your country .

Your mom must be one special woman to survive on her own with two young sons .

Stu

[dpoles]

Never Forget.
Remember what MEMORIAL DAY is REALLY for.
Take a moment to think of those who have served and those who serve.

God Bless and Thank You

[meflyrc]

Thanks for sharing. " Thank you to your father may he rest in peace."

[TimDavie]

Just three years ago my niece (now in the Navy) had found the co-pilot that was sitting next to my dad. He broke formation and headed for Da Nang at that moment. He now lives in San Antonio. I just sent him an email entitled "It's been 41 years." i didn't know if he would even know what I was talking about. Here is his reply:

Hard to believe it's been that long, Tim. I have a framed charcoal rubbing just behind me of your Dad (and 3 other friends) that I made at "The Wall" in DC.

I think about that day and it's hard to understand how it could have happened! as many times as we were under fire, We took no other hits that day.

But, glad Liz found me because I had wondered about your Mom and you boys. I include Liz on some emails I send to others.... but have not heard from her in couple of years. I hope she is OK and, that you and your family are all OK, also.

Rags....