from Neighborhood to ‘Nam…..and back.: Bogie: the Black Flag

from Neighborhood to 'Nam......and back.

Growing up in a close knit neighborhood during the ‘50s and ‘60s was not unusual, it was the norm. Friendships were long and the bonds were tight. Friends walked to school together; joined scouts together; played sports together; grew up together. They dated and married girls from the neighborhood. . .And, most of them went to war together, not as a group, but as single individuals….and those same friends parted ways for a time. Each moving on to a new phase of their life.

The neighborhood was ‘Kaisertown’, a Polish-American community on the far east side of Buffalo New York. . .the war was Vietnam.

This blog is a collaboration of stories and experiences from this group of men, childhood buddies, all now in their sixties, whose friendships have lasted a lifetime.

These are also recollections from those young men who stayed behind. . ’caretakers’, as you will, of the old neighborhood that was a part of them . . .keeping the memories alive until all returned.

6.29.2011

Bogie: the Black Flag

I complain about the heat here in Tennessee, but I can handle it.

I remember a funny boot camp story. The DI (Drill Instructor) told us that when the black flag goes up on the parade deck, the temperature was over 95 and that we would not have any PT (physical training) or running out side, so we were all praying to see that black flag fly. . .Well, the DI's didn't lie, we didn't have PT or run outside. . . they ran us in the squad bay where it was about 130 degrees! Now we were praying NOT to see the black flag again, but we did see it, 2 more times.

Right now, the flag temperature stands at 90 here. . . Oh, changing times. . . Pussies!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: hey Bogie, remember taking me to NYC in your Camaro?; 11:23:00 PM