When putting together today’s blog Ann asked me if there were any literary passages, poems, or other such things from my past that I could recite verbatim. The first thing that came to mind was the military alphabet. I can still rattle it off without thinking. It was a routine part of our two-way radio chatter while I was stationed in Vietnam, and even though that was 50 years ago, it must have become hard-wired in my brain.
When I first arrived to my unit in Vietnam it sounded like there was a foreign language coming from those PRC-25 two-way radios. It didn’t take long, though, before I became fluent in the lingo. To get a rough terrain forklift to my site I radioed a request for a Romeo Tango. Guards for our ammunition pads were Papa Golfs and our two-and-a-half ton cargo truck (aka, deuce and a half) was a Delta Hotel.
To give you some feeling for how immersed we were in that lingo, I’m sharing a 55 second audio snippet of the radio chatter I recorded on the night of July 4, 1969 (hence, the title of this Andy’s Corner – “55 Seconds of Radio Chatter“).
I am sure cell phone and other technological advances have changed communication protocol in our modern army. I can imagine that instead of 23 pound PRC-25 radios being schlepped around in the field, army personnel are using compact smart phones that weigh no more than 6 ounces (presumably camouflaged).
And, I imagine that antiquated military alphabetical references have been replaced by military emojis.
It makes me kind of happy I am no longer subject to the draft.
Laughing over here in SF. Still can’t believe you were in the army! I would have boxed my boys up and mailed them to Canada — ethics, morals and patriotism out the window. Terrifying for a mother. And the sons I imagine.
Canada did cross our minds when the draft notice arrived. But then I never would have become fluent in the military alphabet. So was it bad to be drafted? Maybe yes, maybe no (as some wise person once suggested).
amazing.
Amazing that I could remember the military alphabet or amazing what a dork I looked like in uniform?
I’m with Sara, although I did live through this with a husband and brother over there 69-71.
Too bad I never bumped into them. Or maybe I did and didn’t know it. There were quite a few GIs milling about in those years.
Wow…this is amazing on so many levels. The war. The technology at that time and thinking of how much it has evolved. The draft and imagining being drafted or having someone close drafted…and then overlaying all of that your sense of humor Andy!!!!! So well done.
Thanks for the kind words. I would add some appropriate emoji here, but don’t know how.
Andy, I am so very proud of you and your Service, in this beautiful USA! I am also proud to say that I knew you back in our high school days, especially 1961! Connie (Armstrong) Hieb <3
Thanks. Go Chino Cowboys!