WAR The Day my Dad disappeared

[Tex88]

March 13, 1968, 56 years ago, the Day my Dad went down in his A1 Skyraider and disappeared in the jungle of Laos with his copilot Major Barnes. By this time in the morning, the staff car had already pulled in, out front of the house and the knock had come on the door. My Mom was already a puddle laying across the kitchen table. I remember it all so clearly, seared into my brain. I was upstairs in our room getting ready for school, senior year, when I heard her call out my name. I turned and looked out the window and saw the staff car parked out front. I remember turning back and leaning against the wall, knowing what was waiting down stairs, took a big breath and headed down to deal with the situation. I still miss him

Skyraider

Reminds me of this song:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERFZja9wb0

 

[adgal]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Your dad sounds like an amazing man. I remember just waiting for a vehicle like that to pull up to our house when my sons were serving in Afghanistan. One Mother’s Day the communication lines were down - they always shut them down when someone died. It was the worst Mother’s Day I ever had. He called two days later and was fine, but had lost a friend. My heart goes out to all of the families who sacrifice loved ones for this country. No matter the politics, those troops and their families are heroes.

 

[stormie]

I'm so sorry... I truly have no words any better than those already said. Your post brings me to tears...

 

[Sacajawea]

The truly awful part is that the gov't that tasked those men there... doesn't give a damn.

If you made it back - you're messed up and can't get adequate care. If you didn't make it back - then HERO! - but you are dead and your family & loved ones need to deal with that - sans support.

None of this makes sense to me.

 

[et2]

Thank you for sharing, and your father’s service. Too many lives cut short. I understand completely your thoughts about your boys.

We would hope we see the freedoms these men and women fought for protected. It seems our goverment consider its citizens expendable, pawns, and couldn’t care less about them … if they return home.

It’s a shame we see what’s happening to our country as we speak.

 

[Bogey]

Thank you for sharing.

 

[dawgofwar10]

My Dad served in Korea, as a REMF, and I missed Nam by two months. But your Dad flew a Sandy, totally tore up the Vietnamese, saved so many lives until a a Huey could come in. He had balls that hung out of the cockpit doing what he wanted to do, I realize that as a young man back then you may not have understood that. But I give you the the biggest heartfelt salute to him but your family as well.

 

[SlipperySlope]

We lose so many of our best in wars. Your father and many others have sacrificed so much. I pray we never forget their sacrifices. My future BIL came back and was never the same. I'll never forget the ugly looks some gave him in the airport when we picked him up. He was in his dress Army uniform and by the early 70's there were so many protests against the war.

It sounds like your Dad would be proud of his children.

 

[Siskiyoumom]

Thank you for sharing with us the significance of this day for your family. Sincere condolences on your profound loss. My dad came home from VN forever changed and not in a good way.

 

[bassgirl]

Big {hug}

 

[fairywell]

So sorry for your loss. That had to be a lot to deal with at your age. Your mother, it had to be so hard for her.

 

[usmcpackrat]

Your father, and the men like him, were my heros when I was a boy. Nary a book about Vietnam I didn't read if I could get my hands on it.

Every movie, every piece of surplus, every veteran I could meet.

The first and still to this day the bracelet I wear is a red aluminum pow/mia bracelet. I'm on my 4th one still the same pilot's name and memorized.

It is the very reason I earned the title of U.S. Marine.

Your father is a hero. And one of mine too.

 

[155 arty]

March 13, 1968, 56 years ago, the Day my Dad went down in his A1 Skyraider and disappeared in the jungle of Laos with his copilot Major Barnes. By this time in the morning, the staff car had already pulled in, out front of the house and the knock had come on the door. My Mom was already a puddle laying across the kitchen table. I remember it all so clearly, seared into my brain. I was upstairs in our room getting ready for school, senior year, when I heard her call out my name. I turned and looked out the window and saw the staff car parked out front. I remember turning back and leaning against the wall, knowing what was waiting down stairs, took a big breath and headed down to deal with the situation. I still miss him

Skyraider

So sorry ...may God bless him and your family. Till Valhalla!

 

[155 arty]

My Dad served in Korea, as a REMF, and I missed Nam by two months. But your Dad flew a Sandy, totally tore up the Vietnamese, saved so many lives until a a Huey could come in. He had balls that hung out of the cockpit doing what he wanted to do, I realize that as a young man back then you may not have understood that. But I give you the the biggest heartfelt salute to him but your family as well.

Salute ....and well put my friend

 

[Wildwood]

Your father, and the men like him, were my heros when I was a boy. Nary a book about Vietnam I didn't read if I could get my hands on it.

Every movie, every piece of surplus, every veteran I could meet.

The first and still to this day the bracelet I wear is a red aluminum pow/mia bracelet. I'm on my 4th one still the same pilot's name and memorized.

It is the very reason I earned the title of U.S. Marine.

Your father is a hero. And one of mine too.

I wore one of those for years and eventually gave it to my sister...she still has it in her jewelry box.

 

[Wildwood]

We lose so many of our best in wars. Your father and many others have sacrificed so much. I pray we never forget their sacrifices. My future BIL came back and was never the same. I'll never forget the ugly looks some gave him in the airport when we picked him up. He was in his dress Army uniform and by the early 70's there were so many protests against the war.

It sounds like your Dad would be proud of his children.

I remember picking daddy up at the airport and there were no welcome home banners and such for the guys that got off the plane that day but years later, when he moved in with me at around eighty, he wore his cap with Korean Vet on one side and Viet Nam Vet on the other, all the time. People made up for it...he wore it everywhere and he loved to go out and eat. People started paying for our meals and the first time it happened, I broke down in the restaurant and cried like a baby...he was finally getting the welcome home he deserved.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing. I hope you found peace today.

HD

 

[Capt Dan]

I feel so bad for you and your family i started crying reading your post i spent 4 years in the marine corp. i spent 2 years 3 months and 21 daysboots on the ground in viet- nam it is never far away. i will pray for peace for your family.

 

[undead]

your dad was a hero

 

[patriotgal]

Thank you for sharing this. Sorry you had to experience it. I have a couple of cousins who made it back but were just shells.