VIETNAM

Delta 2/8 Cav. 1st Air Cav.Div.

Aprial 18 1968 to January 18 1969. 11B

HHC 1st Bde. 1st Air Cav.Div

January 18 1969 to June 1969 Door Gunner

"Tommy Harris "Smiley" Web Master"

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There was a lot of drug use in the Vietnam war. Statistics show that about 56% of the G.I.'s in Vietnam used drugs at least once. There were a number of guys in my unit that smoked marijuana (myself included) when we were on fire support bases or in the rear but never in the field, never in combat. It was overlooked by many commanding officers who knew it was a way for us to relieve the stress of warfare (as was alcohol), however the amount of drug use in Vietnam was comparitably the same as that in the U.S. for the same age groups. Hard drugs did not appear noticeably until the early 70's and was mostly used by rear personnel not combat soldiers.

As for civilian casualties, well all wars have had them for civilian and Vietnam was no different. There were isolated cases of atrocities against Vietnamese civilians but no more than any other war (and perhaps even less because of the heavy media coverage of the war).

What were the worst things about the war? Knowing you could be killed at any time, seeing other G.I.s dead or dying, walking miles every day through thick jungle or steep mountain terrain in hot humid weather with 80 to 90 pounds of equipment on your back, being so thirsty you drink water out of a bomb crater or rice paddy, sometimes having to strain the bugs out by pouring the water through one of your socks and living with millions of pesky insects and reptiles (some deadly). Every Day, every minute, every second you are always preditor and prey, you're even consciously alert in your sleep. You wear the same clothes for months at a time, you bathe when you cross a river, you check for leaches every morning and every night and listen for the sounds that can kill you. The popping of a grenade handle, the click of an AK 47 selector switch, a machinegun bolt being charged, a distant mortar tube "Dupe-Dupe-Dupe", wondering where the rounds will land while you're lying in a nest of ants. I guess you could sum it all up by saying the worst thing about the war was being in the INFANTRY.

I will print some excerpts from the Company log to give you an idea of what it was like day to day during my tour of Vietnam (I arrived in Country June 6th, 1968). I will also print stories that coincide with the log entries from the guys who were there. If you are a student and would like information about the Vietnam war you can e-mail me.

Tommy "Smiley" Harris

This is living out of a foxhole. Terry Shoopman prepares a c-ration meal.

There is another G.I. on the left side of Terry about five feet away. Our camouflaged clothing and helmets helped us blend into the jungle scenery.

"ANGRY SKIPPER HONOR ROLL"

"SOME GAVE ALL"

 Delta Company 2/8 Cav Was an Infantry Company in the 1st Air Cavalry Division. We all were 11B. In April 1968 when I Arrived, Vietnam was not a good place to be.
ONE thing for sure, WE WERE INFANTRY "BEFORE INFANTRY WAS COOL."

The "Angry Skipper" Journal

Recently a high school student sent me an e-mail message asking for information about the Vietnam War. She wanted to know about the drug use, about women and children being killed, and she wanted to know what I felt were the worst things about the war.

I'll tell you what I wrote to her:

WEAR IT LOUD

WEAR IT PROUD

The Combat Infantry Badge

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Mouse Passed away on May 20th at the Columbus Georgia Reunion.

"GOSSIP " "FRONT PAGE NEWS" "REUNION'S"

"MOUSE" REST IN PEACE BROTHER

Mouse was doing what he loved to do which was to attend or host a reunion and he and I were hosting this one together. It did turn out to be one of the best ones thanks to Mouse. Mouse started this web site in 1996 and has turned out to be one of the best.Because of his web site many Veterans have been reunited.If not for Mouse I would not have found all the veterans whom I served with.I have made so many friends because of this site.Mouse was a gracious man and spent a lot of his time helping Veterans get their benefits from the V.A

MICHAEL "MOUSE" McGHIE DEC.17th 1947 - MAY 20th 2011

"Angry Skipper" ..was the radio call sign for Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry (Airborne), 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the Republic of Vietnam from 1967 to 1970 (But we adopted it for all the years)..65-72.Our platoon radio call signs were: 1st Platoon "White Skull",... 2nd Platoon "Rifle Range",... 3rd Platoon "Wild Cat" and 4th Platoon "Lethal Weapons" and Our Battalion was known as "Stone Mountain".

The History of "Angry Skipper"

THE Original and Official "Angry Skipper " Web Site !