My Tour of Duty, Interview & 'Soundtrack'

Thanks to Rattler's persuasive nudge, I found the music and video's at UTube quite the memory joggers. Then Koen nudged me to make this thread. It is with much gratitude that I dedicate this first installment to Rattler & Koen, for their excellent ideas.

It was Koen's idea to do an interview as well. So we have combined the two, since it has proven to be far more efficient, as the videos themselves sometimes prompt questions (once again Rattler was ahead of the curve).

Eric Burdon - The Animals - We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

Ah! What music!

If you care to answer: What do you feel/think -today-

- when you see this vid? What memories does it induce?

- About "Apocalypse Now"?

- About the Phantoms coming in and bringing relief (?) ?

- About the "gooks"?

- And, about the US (or any other if you care to comment) mil culture?

Just asking, and with all due respect, do not feel obliged to answer publicly.

Rattler

Feb 1969 on FSB Alpine, ~ one month in country, and only recently turned 19 years old. Picture taken with a Kodak Instamatic camera which upon our return here some 6 mo. later, was left in pocket of my 'field modified' (most armor plates removed) Flak jacket. Gunny had busted me for having pulled all but one layer of plates from the jacket. He made me get a new one as soon as we got to rear. The camera was no longer functioning as the dampness and humidity had ruined it. Water spots on pic are evidence of the beginning of its deterioration.



One can see my bunker/fighting position behind me. In the distance one can see the wooded areas (jungle). And though the grassy areas look to give one good fields of fire, the grass is actually 6-8 foot tall Elephant Grass. We used to use WP from our 60mm to burn the stuff off,  to take enemy concealment away, but on our return in 6 mo., it was as if we had never touched the stuff, as it had completely replenished itself.

[cue music]

Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Koen sez:



My given name is Joseph, as was my Father's, in order to avoid confusion, my parents decided to call me 'Jody' as a nickname. I have used that name my entire life, even after I discovered it has a special significance to members of the US military. It might be proper to include it in the W&T glossary(?).

'Jody': The infamous villain of the American military. Best known as the guy back home, who steals your girlfriend/wife's heart, while you are away serving your country. When marching or double timing (running), the cadence was often set by songs of his exploits. The common refrains alluding to his having stolen your girlfriend/wife, your Cadillac, and just about anything else of value to the service member. There are innumerable versions, and even a CD with some of the more renowned ones. The generic name for these songs to aid in keeping step during marching or double timing  is,  'Jody calls or cadences', even when 'Jody' and his exploits are not part of the call.

Example:
Ain't no use in going back
Jody's got your Cadillac

Ain't no use in calling home
Jody's got your girl and gone

Ain't no use in feeling blue
Jody's got your sister too

It goes like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxrmr4nJgqA

Within an hour of my arrival at my Company in  'The Nam', word that 'Jody' had arrived in country, spread like a wildfire and almost everyone in the Co. had come to see me in person, incredulous that I was now there to suffer along with them. The morale boost upon my arrival, was visible in the way all my visitors smiled and joked with me, it was as if they all knew me personally. Very few rotated out of the Co. during my tour, without first saying goodbye to me, they would ask me for my GF's phone number or promised to take good care of my Cadillac. I was delighted to be their foil in this oft played 'comedic drama'.

a related term:
'Dear John Letter': The dreaded letter from a spouse/GF advising a service member, that she has found another love. The means by which a service member learns of his now lost love. 'John' is the generic name used for the service member. With the advent of women serving in greater numbers , for them it is called a 'Dear Jane Letter'.

A classic anti-war song of the era...

The Youngbloods - "Get Together" Re-Post Prev (anippygirl)

Bob Dylan, 'Masters of War'

Masters of War

It's an F-100 Super Sabre, from the lack of camo, I would put it early war. During my tour, I only worked with 1 F-100 and it was totally camo'd. In these clips, you will see a lot of repeated footage. I am always looking for new ones, and while it may have been the most well covered war ever in terms of filming, access may be a bit difficult to procure for those who make these videos.

were they important? mostly we see F-4's

thx for the info, we need to set up a Vietnam Aircraft topic!

And this is perhaps my favorite music from the two cassettes I carried...

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Who Do You Love Suite (1969)

This being a Live version, sound quality is rough, but very rich in improv licks.

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Who Do You Love (Live 1970)