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Michael McLeod

Jim: that does sound sooo cool! Like a mega other worldly globular snow blob attack, like being transplanted to another planet. wow.

In the meantime I'm humbled. I just read up on the career of Kathleen Parker, a former coworker of mine at the orlando sentinel, who has become a pulitzer prize winning writer for the washington post.

way to go, kathleen.

anyway guess i better shut up for a while and just focus on being humble. I suppose it's good for me but it doesn't feel so hot.

David Mitchell

After Major Smith's arrival we were all feeling a sense of releif. A sense of calm and normalcy.

I was getting to know him more than most others in our troop because I flew as his co-pilot in the C&C (Command and Control ship) almost every time he flew. (remember, I had asked out of the Scout platoon on my return from my stateside leave) I also flew often with our XO - Captain Bud Beauchamp (another good guy). Not so much with our Operations Officer, whos name I cannot even remember.

Major Smith and I were sort of forming a freindship, or more like older brother - younger brother. I think he was thirty one and I was twenty one. We just sort of clicked. 

Then something quite unexpected happened. President Nixon ordered us into Cambodia.

This will no doubt bring about a mixed reaction from some of you - - (Kent State riots for example).

For us, having flown over a year along that southern Cambodian border, and seeing enormous build-up of NVA (North Viet Nam Army), and our monitoring of their large night-time troop flow into Viet Nam from just across that border, this was more than welcome news. Prior to this, we could not enter and engage those troops, no matter how obvious and threatening their positions were. At times we could see several companies (hundreds of men in khacki uniforms, and troop trucks parked in rows) practicing drill in the open fields less than a few hunded yards inside their border. And there were a few times whne we got into live fire exchanges with them that pulled us across the border, and we had to break off the contact and fly back across the border and leave them behind.  Frustrating!

Oddly, two nights before that scheduled incursion, I was called into the Major's "hooch" (about three cottages down the walkway from mine). Major Smith sat me down with Captain Beauchmp around a table (his hooch was more roomy and furnished than ours).

He began to lay out an explanation of what was about to happen in two days. In addition to the shock of this news, I was stunned that I was included in this briefing, Honestly, I was one of about 35 officers and Warrant Officers in our Troop, and I probably ranked about 25th in senority.

TBC

David Mitchell

I think God is looking out for all of you. I had a contunuing portion about Major Smith all typed out and lost it. Then I found it again - then lost it again. I think it was God's way of telling me to shorten it. 

David Mitchell

So, 2 nights later we were all awakened at 4:00 am and summoned to the "Operations Hooch" - a place with heavy bunker protection, and fitted out inside more like an office. Among other things (desks, file cabinets, and pilot and aircraft schedules) it contained our Troop radio desk (manned 24 hours a day by an enlisted man trained as a radio operator), and a couple of huge wall maps of the entire "Delta" region. 

Once inside Major Smith delivered the plans for the Incursion into Cambodia. For the first time we would be carrying out this mission as a whole squadron (all 4 Troops together out of one refueling location). It was going to be little (here-to-for quiet) Moc Hoa ("muck wha"). Muc Hoa was very close to the area known as "The Parrot's Beak", a part of south east Cambodia that forms a sharp point with it's heavy concentration of NVA regullars

It was also apparent that one troop was being "punished" with the most dangerous section of the mission. You could feel the collective sigh of relief that it was them and not us.

As we were dispersing I asked Major Smith about the roll of "our ship" in the mission. He explained that he would be using a different co-pilot in that first day - a day that was expected to be the riskiest and most intense. He was assigning me to sit with our radioman for the entire day - something about needing a person (Me) with more overall experience than just a radioman if something unusual happened.

I was upset, but I knew his real intensions. He was sparing me the risk of exposure, but without really saying so. I have felt both gratitude and disappointment for having missed out on that historical day.

We were given a few hours go back to sleep - if you could -  for a while before takeoff.

A "normal" day at Moc Hoa. One fixed wing landing srip, 4 refueling hoses, and my usual "Lunch crowd" -often selling fruit, french bread (sometimes with spiders inside) and tall bottles of (re-filled) coke. And buying cigarettes or chewing gum.

A small part of the "OPS" (Operations) hooch interior - not that night.

Michael McLeod

Dave:

Yikes,

I've said it before.You've got some riviting memories and a gift for relating them clearly.

We've talked about this but not for a while: forgive me, my memory is fuzzy, how far along are you with this memoir? Is itj just for your own mental health and enjoyment or are you shopping around for a publisher?

From what I recall seeing you surely have the material and the ability.

I'd offer to help but if you've got God chipping in with his opinion I'm substantially outranked. Only got as far as an E-5, as I dimly recall.

David Mitchell

Mike,

I've looked at some writing and publishing websites including REEDSY. (which is free), ATTICUS, LIVING WRITER etc. And I've just seen LACUNA for the first time.

And Scrivener is way too complicated!

In case any of our readers have any exxperience with these (or others), feel free to share your experience.

But I have a ways to go yet with the text itself.

David Mitchell

That first day went very rorugh, especially for one of our sisiter Troops. They had their first team of Scout pilots (the Loachs) shot down and killed before noon, and other Troops had some serious damage to their ships. I was told it was also chaos with the heavy load of air traffic - 4 sets of 5 ships coming and going and trying to share just 4 refueling hoses, and manage all the landing and taking off from this one little airfield. They had set up a makeshift control tower on the back of a truck to try and manage all this, but it was only just so helpful.

I should be greatful to have avoided it.

------------------

After that first day in Cambodia, most of the North Vietnames Regulars pulled back from the border. They had all heard the 21 mile limit that Nixon had put on us and had retreated to approximately that distance back from the border over night.

-----------------

   NOTE:  This will no doubt remind some of the current anger we feel about Trump and Iran. My recollection was that if the students at Kent State could have seen the large, blatant encampments, and heard the pleading comments from the local ARVN (our allies) to get after these NVA (enemy) troops, there would have been a very different attitude towards this incursion.

--------------

There were exemptions of NVA holdouts here and there, and we continued to seek them out in the following days. I had returned to flying with Major Smith as his co-pilot and our "partnership" resumed. We were flying into Cambodia from different locations on that border, from Moc Hoa all the way west, from Sa Dec, to Cau Lahn, to Chow Duc - alll familiar refueling bases we had worked out of before. Things slowed down to (almost) normal within a few days.

TBC

Michael McLeod

Is artificial intelligence that much of a threat that the pope had to send out that warning?

David Mitchell

Mike,

I am the least "techie" person on earth. But from what I can gather, the Pope's warning is valid. It looks as if un-checked AI has huge potential for good AND evil.

Michael McLeod

nerd word for the day. just ran across it, never saw it before, but perked right up because I knew enough german to recognize welt, which in german means "world." 

An Umwelt (plural: Umwelten) is the specific, subjective perceptual world experienced by a particular organism. Derived from the German word for "environment" or "surroundings", it describes how an animal's unique sensory capabilities—and what it considers significant—shape its reality, even when sharing a physical space with others. 

Michael Boulware

A lot of our people have been asking about Friday , Julty 24 plans for the day before our reunion. We are going to have a before the reunion party at Woodlands Backyard, 668 Grandview Ave, just north of the freeway. The owner is a Watterson backer and is setting aside a section of his restaurant so we can talk to each other without shouting. He is providing a free bowling machine. There is ample parking and a great menu. Plan to meet there at 4 o'clock. He has been told that we should be out of there by 8, he doesn't care if we stay longer. There is no need to make a reservation; just show up with a smile. That's Friday, July 24, 4 o'clock , at Woodlands Backyard in Grandview.

Michael McLeod

Please forgive me if I have posted this before. we were on the subject of snow and it reminded me of a favorite poem by robert frost. love it so much i know it by heart. it's about snow,yes -- but it's also about something much deeper. Love the line that compares melting snow to a disappearing snake, and the fact that the very last word  is a clue to what's really on his mind just gives this poem the most resonant final "ta da!" I can recall.

It's called "First Snow" 

James Hamilton, M. D.

More Parking Lot Photography

Yeah, good photos are available everywhere, and cellphones allow anyone to capture them. But it helps to develop an eye to appreciate the subtle scenes that are easy to overlook. 

This evening Janet and I pulled into the parking lot of one of our usual quickie eateries and, once again, I was able to view clouds, partnering with the Front Range and Pikes Peak, to create a stunning post-sunset. In moments like these one has but a few seconds before the light changes to darkness and the scene is lost.

With minimal photo editing (available on the phone itself) I was able to create an image close to what my eyes saw. The two flagpoles seem to be pointing to a portal of entry through the clouds to heaven and the line of thick clouds at the bottom of the scene were shrouding the Front Range of the Rockies.

Sunset over the Rockies! Gotta love it!!!

Jim

P.S.

Why do I do photo editing? It shows what I really saw and so can crop out parts of the photo that are not pertinent to the theme.

Michael McLeod

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/opinion/america-incarceration-prison-time-film.html

worth the trouble of copying and clicking.

hope the link works for you.

Jim: beautiful image!

Michael Boulware

I challenge each of you to pick out FIVE people in our class that you want to make sure you get to spend some time rebonding with at our reunion. I know our lists are going to number a lot more than five, but I am establishing limits. At the top of my list is Goose McKeon and Steve Hodges. Those two always did their best at everything they attempted. I would love to see Joe McDonough, that guy is as close to a perfect person as there is. Bill McCray and Gus DiNovo always make me laugh talking about our old grade school days. WOW! My five filled in quickly. I sure have a lot more I could add but I set a limit.

David Mitchell

Mike B.

I'd have to go with my old OLP guys, John Jackson, Kieth Groff, Kevin Ryan, Tommy Swain and Charly Kaps.

But then I'd be forgetting Tom McKeon and Steve Hodges. Where do I stop?

Joseph Gentilini

I am really sorry that I now find I am unable to attend this reunion and I was really looking forward to it.  SO HAVE A GOOD TIME!

Joe Gentilini

Michael McLeod

Graupel! 

That's just one of those words that sounds so cool when you say it out loud, whether or not you even know what it means. 

Unfortunately it's not a word that comes up in conversation down here in Orlando though. I had to look it up when I ran across it in a story I just read.

Graupel (pronounced GROW-pul) is a type of winter precipitation consisting of small, opaque, white pellets that form when supercooled water droplets freeze onto falling snowflakes. Also known as "soft hail" or "snow pellets," it is distinct from actual hail because it is soft, crumbly, and easily crushed between your fingers. 

Michael McLeod

Your other way cool word for the day is "cockamamie."

Cockamamie (sometimes spelled cockamamy) is an informal American slang adjective that means ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical. It is typically used to describe a wild, unconvincing, or hare-brained idea, excuse, or plan.

Mark Schweickart

Mike -- Thanks for bringing up the word "cockamamie". This was one of my father's favorite expressions that would come blurting out of him whenever he was particularly annoyed by something. I don't think I have heard anyone else ever using this word. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Footprints

Our home is punctuated with memories.

As we downsize the bareness of most of our carpeted rooms are left with imprints of furnishings which have been hauled away or donated for others to use.

We are down to the essentials that we still need and use until our house is sold and we can move to a unit which we have reserved in Ohio. Our walls are bare, the pictures and artwork that once were there will have to be separated into "keep or not" categories soon. 

Fifty years of living in this home allowed us time - perhaps too much time - to make it a part of us and who we are.

Pray that our house will sell soon and our return to Ohio will go well.

Jim

Michael McLeod

ok though this smells faintly of a popularity contest I'll bite on the suggestion of a top five I'd like to catch up with at the reunion:

Stan Kronenberger Mary Clare Hummer Dave Dunn Keith Groff Jim Hamilton

plus all the other hot girls I lusted after if that's ok. I know I'm a wheezing and disgusting old fart but it's all I got left.

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mike B.

I sent you a Message on this site.

Joe

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mike as a retired, if there is such a thing, reporter I've noticed youhaven't said a word about the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.  NO, not that one.  A man who can recite the Canadian National anthem should be well aware that this is the 2250th anniveersary of the founding of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Michael McLeod

your word for the day is "scalawag." Don't hear it anymore but I remember my mom using it.

A scalawag (also spelled scallywag) is a mischievous, deceitful, or disreputable person, often a playful rascal.