AB8AAH

When I first arrived in Nam I was supposed to cook. Well that lasted about 2 month's. That's when I started volunteering to go into Indian country. Mess Sgt was really pissed. Well I kept doing this until he got so pissed he start moving me around to different firebases. Well it wasn't long after that when a CW1 asked me if I had radio experience and I told him yes. That's when I was transferred to AB8AAH on top of Montazuma. What a view from the top of the Mountain. My buddy who also worked the station was Clint Bestor. Now he was a great guy and we had many thing in commons. We even tried flying a radio controlled airplane from on top the Montazuma. I guess it just wasn't the right spot to fly cause it crashed the first time out. But we did have some fun up there. When I received my orders to ship out for the World, I dropped everything, packed a few things and left everything else there at the station. Got back to the States and worked the MARS station at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri about 125 miles west of St. Louis MO. Their call sign was WA0WBD and the civilian call sign was K0WBD. Now that station is tight. But back to Nam. While in country I did visit a few of the other stations, sorry I can't remember their call signs as it has been a long time. I do remember working with Barry Goldwater, and an actress in California. (editor- Lenore Jensen) Man she was the greatest contact. On time every time. If you needed her she was there, and then there was WA0WBD Ft Leonard Wood. That's how I got to work there when I returned home. But you know I still carried that damn MOS of 94B20 Cook, when my real MOS was 11B10 Infantry or Grunt. It still makes me so damn mad because of that MOS, VA doesn't feel I have any rights to claim anything. Funny how the Gov. works isn't it.

Well to tell you the truth my MARS experience really affected me mentally because here I was in a more safe area then others. They where getting hit all the time. I lost few of my best friends and was right there when it happened, I saw it and to this day I still see it. I can't erase it from my brain. Funny how some things you remember and others you forget because they don't mean as much. George and I went thru AIT together and where buddies ever since. Then one night it happened. We had sappers inside the wire. I saw a couple of them but I couldn't make out who they where so I figured they where friendly. That's when the Command Bunker blew up. George was inside at the time. I don't think I will ever forget that night. The reason is I blame myself for his and the deaths of the others inside. It was all my fault because I didn't shoot the SOB. Every time I visit the Wall I break down because it was my fault that their names are on the Wall. So you see I had good times and bad times in Nam.!

And yes I am still fighting the War and the VA.

Well I will get those pic's together and get them to you ASAP. Take Care and thanks for setting up this Site, I think it's GREAT.

John Sedovic AB8AAH SP4 1967-1969