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Team Captain [458]
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Most impressive 4th of July fireworks display I ever saw...
Jul 3, 2015, 11:27 AM
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was 45 years ago tonight. I had just arrived at the American compound near Cu Chi for a few days of orientation before heading out to fire base Warrior, not too far from the Cambodian border. On guard duty for the first time in a real deal situation, the older guys explained to me what "mad minute" was. At a predetermined time, known only to those on the berm line, everyone would start firing into the dead zone outside the base. Almost nothing was off limits...M-16s, M-60s, M-79 grenade launchers, shotguns, 45 pistols. No Claymore mines were blown, nor LAWs which have a lethal backlash, but nearly everything else, including 50 caliber machine guns. The idea was to use up old ammo all at one time and if anybody or anything was outside the wire at that moment, it was just too bad. At the appointed instant, a few minutes after midnight all heck broke loose. The flares, which were designed to illuminate the dark, went up by the hundreds, each one breaking into a hue of red, white and blue then softly floating to the ground on a tiny parachute. The thousands of rounds of tracer ammunition made for some spectacular firepower. In honor of our nation's birthday, the minute was extended a little longer to five or ten minutes. I've seen a lot of good fireworks since then but never a match that one.
Every town in America will have its own display and celebration tomorrow, a monument to freedom, national pride and the American Way. Many will soon be forgotten, some may be long remembered in one way or another. What a great way to honor our country. Happy birthday, America!
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Commissioner [905]
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Joined: 10/22/01
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Re: Most impressive 4th of July fireworks display I ever saw...
Jul 3, 2015, 11:39 AM
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Great read....thanks for sharing! God Bless America!
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Hall of Famer [22718]
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Joined: 3/27/08
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Re: Doesn't this belong in the lounge?***
Jul 3, 2015, 11:44 AM
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Heisman Winner [108390]
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no, but...
Jul 3, 2015, 11:50 AM
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i'm sure you do.
happy 4th, tote1.
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110%er [9061]
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Joined: 7/1/02
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Why don't YOU go to the lounge.......
Jul 3, 2015, 11:52 AM
[ in reply to Re: Doesn't this belong in the lounge?*** ] |
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instead of criticizing his message - it seems appropriate for any of the boards IMO given that tomorrow's the 4th of July.
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All-In [25982]
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Joined: 7/31/07
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Re: Why don't YOU go to the lounge.......
Jul 3, 2015, 12:06 PM
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Tigeroftheeye, you must be a real piece of work in real life. Probably still living off his relatives.
What a turd.
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Hall of Famer [22718]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Its actually not bad mom does my laundry and I get to
Jul 3, 2015, 4:02 PM
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watch Clemson basketball w/o having to pay for cable
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All-TigerNet [10469]
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Joined: 5/14/01
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Nice story and a big TU, but
Jul 3, 2015, 2:51 PM
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there was nothing "old" about that ammo. During AIT at Ft. Polk, there were daily demonstrations of mad minutes. I can remember thinking that I wished I owned stock in the companies that produced all that ammunition.
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