Platoon Sgt told Tootie, “Here, big boy; you carry this”
and handed him an M60 machine gun. He carried it
from then on.
Veterans of Vietnam MC, Region 3
Unsung Heroes
One of my favorite things about being involved in
the motorcycle world again has not just been the many
acquaintances, friends, brothers, and sisters I have
made, but the absolute most special to me has been the
veteran organizations and clubs I have had the pleasure
in which to be involved.
As much as I love the WW2 Veterans, the ones who
are nearest and dearest to my heart are the Vietnam
Veterans. I don’t know if it is because I am old enough
(yes I’m that old) to remember the last few years of
the war or if it’s because they were so mistreated and
neglected, or both. Our heroes, who went through
hell and back for the country they love, came home
only to be spit on and called “baby killers”, among
other things. Verlon Emmett Lawrence aka Catfish
states, “Vietnam was not declared a war, but called a
Police Action. We almost did not get any benefits for
this. ” According to Wikipedia, this is how Vietnam
Conflict is explained: “The term “Vietnam Conflict”
is largely a U.S. designation, it acknowledges that the
United States Congress never declared war on North
Vietnam. Legally, the President used his constitutional
discretion—supplemented by supportive resolutions
in Congress—to conduct what was said to be a police
action. It took some great senators to get this changed.”
Our Vietnam Veterans not only fought a war in
Vietnam, but so many also fought their own wars in
their minds, hearts, and their bodies due to injuries
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and Agent Orange; only to come home to be treated in
this way.
I have a lot of friends and family who are Vietnam
Veterans; some I have known the majority of my life.
Of these, the Vietnam Veterans who are bikers are
the ones with whom I’ve become the closest. Despite
everything they’ve been through, I see big smiles and
hear bigger laughs. The stories I’ve gotten aren’t “oh
poor us” stories, but rather joking and laughing; telling
the funny stories. Toego with the Veterans of Vietnam
Motorcycle Club, Region 3 informed me it wasn’t the
bad, but the good they choose to remember. So I won’t
be telling you any of the horrid war stories, but the
light-hearted ones that no matter how many times they
tell to each other, they still laugh just as hard. On this
note, let me add that Toego is also the one who said for
the VoVMC to tell me some dirty stories. I’m honored
they allowed me to be a part of hearing their stories
and laughs. I’m especially honored the VoVMC Region
3 allowed me to sit in on parts of their September 2015
and January 2016 meetings so I could get some of their
stories.
The first time Tootie got stoned was his first or
second day in Vietnam. They had been burning meat
(cooking steak) and drinking beer at the EM (Enlisted
Men’s) Club. He was walking back when he walked
upon a guy sitting on a grassy hill and wearing purple
honeycomb glasses. This guy told him to sit and
smoke, and then told Tootie to put on the honeycomb
glasses. Tootie stated it was actually like looking
through a honeycomb.
garden rake on a tripod and covered it with a tarp. He
was asked what was under the tarp and he replied a
Rakey; they let him pass.
One of Toego’s (1968-69) stories he told wasn’t
about Vietnam, but about a trip back home to
Michigan for a memorial service where he learned
his Uncle Delbert Williams is in the “iconic picture”
with President Eisenhower on June 5, 1944 with Co. E,
502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (Strike).
Tootie Ray (Jan 5, 1969-Jan 5, 1970) tells about how
he was gone to Breaux Bridge for the crawfish festival
the first weekend of May and after a fun weekend came
home to find his father casually sitting when he walked
in. He looked at Tootie Ray and said, “Here you go,
boy” and handed him his draft notice.
Tootie’s funniest story I believe is the one he tells
about when he was on the helicopter coming in on Hill
219. They were hovering about 5 feet off of the ground
while the group was sitting on the struts with their feet
hanging off. Everyone bailed off, his heel got caught,
and he “busted his butt” as he tried to jump; he cracked
his knee cap. Tootie spent 288 plus days in the jungle
out of his 365 days. The rest of his time he was either
on R&R or in the 67th Evac in Quy Nhan. He was at
the 67th Evac twice.
(Comtinued on Page 24)
In Fort Benning, GA during Jump School Tootie’s
group was the first group to jump out of a C-141,
which is a big jet for those of you, like me, who didn’t
know.
Memories of Tootie’s include his first day of Jungle
Training. While he was in formation the Platoon Sgt
was instructing and explaining what all they would
be doing when going on their first night ambush. The
Rattler (1969-70, 1970-71) told me about when he
was based out of Phan Rang; he worked 9 miles out.
He went back to the base to get supplies for the beach,
but didn’t know he had to have at least an m60 on a
tripod. When he got stopped at a checkpoint he put a
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