In 1968-69 they had the International Kite Competetion which at that time was held in South Vietnam. I was in IV Corp in the Mekong Delta the region was great for steady wind. Many of the Viet Minh were expert's Kite flying but a lot of us American
flyers caught on pretty quick to their tricks. ( lines with glass, lines cut, people setting up picnic in our area, etc.). Anything to through a guy off. Sometimes they would hide thier kites. Yep !! you could not see them. The guys I use to fly with were a funny bunch... Always coming up with better ways to fly and compete.
We actually flew helicopter's over the flying field and made everyone mad. Yep. Of course we took it too far on ocassion. I mean the guns and bullets thing was rather intense. But we eleminated the competition. It wasn't always one way. At 19 yrs. old and co-pilot you don't expect the others to shot bullets at your helicopter or crash. Twice. I mean come on. O.K. I went to the hospital but 20 days later again !!! Please.
The whole competetion thing was rigged from the start... Fake judges, annoying attitudes of the older flyers in charge, lies, a lot of guys got serious string cuts and burns from illegal string. Because it was rigged a lot of hurt feeling also.
I wore my Offical T shirt I got from the competetion and people mocked me. I really got mad a couple times. I liked the shirt and the cool laple buttons. Had to smack a few people who laughed. Did me some good and them... They had bad teeth anyway. Saved them root canals.
I finally gave up on the whole kite circut thing and kinds decided an education was better... than punching people. I liked the new University T shirts better anyway. Go Oakland U and Wayne State.
Yea, Norm it started there.... I wasn't going to die and I wasn't going to stop unless they killed me. It's what we believed at the time.
Today!! I regret what I did,but I don't apologize for it. I did what I believed in at the time. I suffer today from my wounds ... would I do it again.. No. I'd defend my country but in cicumstances such as we live in today. Vietnam ...
From Army hospitals to a career as a shrink .... I can't complain.. espically since your sewing me a $24.51 set of Chessy Flight Straps ...
