Oldeagleclub.com - Honoring All Who Served

"Men of the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade pause for a moment's rest after the Battle of Hill 875. American troops went to the top of Hill 875 after some of the most vicious fighting of the Vietnam War. Dak To, South Vietnam. November 23, 1967.
Original description and photo sourced from the US Army Center of Military History"

Perfect Gift Idea for Dad, Grandpa who are veteran.

Step out of the comfort zone. Some of you are unaware of just how amazing you really are.

"SOLDIER PROFILE – GENERAL RICHARD E. CAVAZOS, FIRST HISPANIC FOUR-STAR GENERAL IN THE U.S. ARMY
Born to a Mexican-American family in Texas, Richard E. Cavazos followed in the footsteps of his father, a World War I veteran, and joined the U.S. Army. Graduating from his ROTC program with distinction, Cavazos was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1951.
Deployed to Korea to serve as a platoon leader in the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, 2LT. Cavazos led the majority-Hispanic unit in a series of heroic combat actions, earning a Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross.
Returning stateside in 1953, Cavazos continued rising through the ranks, and deployed to Vietnam in 1967 as a Lieutenant Colonel. While commanding the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, he continued to exhibit extraordinary bravery, leading his men on the frontlines in heavy combat against the North Vietnamese Army. LTC Cavazos earned his second Distinguished Service Cross for actions taken on 30 October 1967 during the First Battle of Loc Ninh, when he fearlessly led his men through withering fire against Viet Cong troops entrenched on a hillside.
In 1982, Cavazos shattered a glass ceiling by ascending to the rank of full General, becoming the first Hispanic American to wear four stars in U.S. Army history. General Cavazos led U.S. Army Forces Command until his retirement in 1984 after 33 years of superlative service to his country.
Cre: U.S. Army Center of Military History"

This photo of US Army Spec. 4 David Blouin, from South Portland OR with the 1st Air Cavalry Division was taken on 3/23/1967 his head in bandages for a grazing bullet wound, keeps a finger on the trigger as he huddles under ferns and brush as Vietnamese fire is directed his way He was on a recon mission & ran into North Vietnamese force fortified in trenches and bunkers along a tree line. Recon unit (of 1st Battalion 9th Cavalry) pinpointed the enemy positions, pulled back and called in air power to pound the North Vietnamese

"Amid the muddy chaos of Con Thien, weary Marines of 1/9 “The Walking Dead”, replace the even wearier Second Battalion. “The most noticeable first impression of Con Thien is mud,” one man recalled, “and a unique smell of mud, human waste, and decomposing flesh —not overwhelming, but there all the time…. One cannot go very far without seeing and smelling various small body parts”.
October 7th 1967.
Photo and Caption via Geoffry C. Ward, The Vietnam War: An Intimate History."

During the Vietnam War, the US Navy SEALs used the m/45 extensively. One of the gun's qualities which appealed to the US Navy was that the m/45 can fire almost immediately out of the water (over the beach). It also saw use by CIA operatives and advisers. In US service it was largely known as the "Swedish-K" or "K-Rifle". The US Navy was so impressed by the m/45 that when Sweden embargoed the export of weapons to the United States in 1966, Smith & Wesson was given the task of producing a copy. This was designated the Smith & Wesson M76. However, by the time the M76 was ready for combat deployment, the US Navy interest had largely evaporated.[10] Many of the m/45s used by US forces and agencies were devoid of markings, implying clandestine use ("sanitized").

The expression on the medic's face.
Eyes that speak.
Still so young.
And then having to go through this.
A bloody war, a cliche.
But the young ones learned fast.
Became adults overnight.
And left their childhood there.
The lived day by day
Because tomorrow you could be dead.