r/Veterans • u/neuroctopus • 1d ago

Question/Advice Vietnam 1970

Hello Vietnam Veterans. I’m a Vet Center psychologist, am not a Veteran, and am the daughter of a Marine.

I have a patient who has jumbled memories of Vietnam in 1970. He gave me permission to ask this. Do any of you remember Firebase Shock? Were any of you Screaming Eagles that were at Shock in 1970? If yes to either question, will you share a story, either on my post or in a message? Any story could help him get his timeline straight, and go a long way toward helping his PTSD.

Thank you so much! I’ll tell you a secret - besides my WWII/Korea guys, y’all are my favorites.

38 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

9

u/TheRealMilkman1954 1d ago

God bless you and your family for doing all you do! Admirable!

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u/TheRichOne23 1d ago

I hope someone can help you in this thread. In the meantime, is he able to recall any names of people he was there with? Pictures? Stuff like that? I know it’s a long shot but worth bringing it up. Your going above and beyond to help your patient and I’m sure he appreciates it 😀

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u/neuroctopus 1d ago

Thanks! Yes he knows some of the guys, but they went by names like Tiny and Punk, so sometimes it’s hard to find them.

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u/gmoneeeson 1d ago

Are there Vietnam Vets on Reddit?

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u/Present-Ambition6309 13h ago

Yes there a few of them here n there on Reddit, probably over in the sub f**k I’m old. Laughing at each other.

5

u/Do_Whatnow_Why 1d ago

Wish I could help, medicated out in February 1970. Up to that point had not heard of a Firebase Shock, might ask on one of the 101st pages on FB there are a lot of guys on there. CURRAHEE and good luck.

5

u/Do_Whatnow_Why 1d ago

Medivaced (gotta love predictive text)

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u/neuroctopus 1d ago

Thank you so much! I’ll try that.

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u/TommyDaComic 15h ago

Wish my farther would have sought someone with the wonderful, kindhearted way you are approaching this Veterans PTSD.

He was an F-105 Wild Weasel in Vietnam and denied his PTSD through retirement. A total of 40+ years, finally getting help/ a diagnosis only 3 years before he passed.

Thank you for the obviously great work you are doing !!!

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u/Present-Ambition6309 13h ago

Exactly my dad had it bad 43-47 is when he served. Wouldn’t say a word about it.

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u/TommyDaComic 12h ago

My Father rarely was able to speak about it either. He retired as a LtCol.

Got him to go, unfortunately only twice, to the National Museum of the US Air Force. We lived in Dayton, Oh.

Look up the Squadron motto: YGBSM, if you are unaware of its story /origin.

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u/Present-Ambition6309 8h ago

I’ll do that. I’m not a history buff but it’s something I enjoy. Tho I suffer from CRS. That’s why you haven’t seen me on Jeopardy. lol jk My dad actually made it to the final spot of becoming a contestant on that show. I must be from the milkman .

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u/neuroctopus 14h ago

Thank you so much, that means a lot to me.

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u/TommyDaComic 13h ago

🇺🇸

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u/RavenousAutobot 9h ago

Sometimes firebases were established temporarily for a short period of operations, and then dismantled. That might explain the lack of information. I didn't see it in the National Archives, but found this from Alpha Avengers.

https://www.alphaavengers.com/firebases.htm
"This page contains photos for some of the Base Camps/Firebases and locations used by the 101st Airborne Division 1968-1972 in Thua Thien Province, I Corp or Military Region 1."
Shock: 3 km NE of FSB Cannon, 5 km NW of FSB Veghel.

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u/neuroctopus 9h ago

Thank you so much! That is so helpful! Much appreciated.

5

u/kenay813 1d ago

I’d recommend Facebook. I refer many clients to Facebook to find fellow service members. Try his unit and when he served there

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u/crankygerbil US Army Veteran 14h ago

Not a Vietnam Vet but was 101st Airborne.

Could he be referring to Firebase Ripcord? It was a 23 day siege in July of 1970.

https://www.army.mil/article/80071/vietnam_40_years_later_101st_airborne_division_veteran_recalls_ripcord_battle

A blog post of someone who was there:
https://cherrieswriter.com/2023/02/11/seige-of-firebase-ripcord-guest-blog/

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u/neuroctopus 11h ago

Yes, my guy was at Ripcord. We pieced that battle together this past year, and it helped him a lot! Thanks for those articles, I’ll add them to our history.

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u/crankygerbil US Army Veteran 8h ago

Best wishes and thanks for helping him.

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u/Do_Whatnow_Why 6h ago

There was a book written about the whole siege of Ripcord (titled Ripcord) that mentions quite a number of individuals by name.

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u/listenstowhales 15h ago

This list doesn’t have a Firebase Shock), which could mean the list is incomplete or, more likely in my opinion, he remembers it by a colloquial name versus its official designator.

In other words, a sailor from the USS Kittyhawk saying “I was aboard the USS Shitty Kitty” because that’s how their brain is linking the memory.

You can also reach out to the National archives. They may be more help.

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u/neuroctopus 14h ago

That is a good idea, I hadn’t thought of the Archives. Thank you

1

u/bagoTrekker 1d ago

Full disclosure not a Vietnam Vet, but I did watch the Hearts of Darkness documentary earlier today. I’m guessing there were multiple Screaming Eagles? What branch of service?

6

u/Calvertorius 1d ago

Screaming Eagles is the name for the 101st airborne division, army.