Odd but instead 4th , what was recalled is instead April Fools 1967 and just one spent in combat. Fractured 2 vertabrae C-6/C-7 around 4 PM Operation Junction City, Tay Ninh City War Zone C biggest para drop since D-Day, 82nd and 101st. Displaced a few thoracic and extruded L-4/L-5 same ejection seat malfunction trapped in cockpit, left leg pinned under seat bottomed ( happens as you are ejected next thru canopy not blown with seat armed at bottom) while we figured put what was happening and get it done during 6G pull out from 2000 feet to 10K. Just took slight negative Gs on level off , could raise all 3,000 pounds ( an easy 500# times 6) I’d been using one foot to move. Go to a gym and try it! Woulda been the world record. Seat back up and could see out? I reinstalled the safety pin removed pre take off list until we landed about dusk. Not a prime condition in getting shit shot at us by 1OK RVN down below operation was moving out to Cambodia border.
Always have had left arm paralysis episodes since but on July 2nd my right arm went out with severe pain radiating from neck thru blade to inside arm to small fingers. NOTHING in my meds covered the pain and sleeping was hard to come by with blazing hot whirlpool soaks and codeine 24/7. Bad weekend for sick call at WellMed but got in Monday for eval and cervical radiculopathy rt side got me finally steroid 6 day series to gobble Wed PM. Next spine clinic apt on Aug 5th. Getting good relief now but been doing all posting over on message bd to cut down on the pain episodes while sitting up. When can’t even read Playboy sitting on the guest pot due pain? ya got probs, believe me!
48 years later still seeing the results of a brief episode of pure panic exertional rhabdomyolysis using last conscious minute of what I felt was death balanced on the knife edge of survival. Re-taught roll the dice at least gives you playable odds. All bets since and just one of many along with hundreds hours in combat seem smaller wagers viewed this angle from 30 at ancient 77. Live means you won. 8
Hard to compare any with 2 spent in combat, 1966 and 1967 . 500# fireworks and rockets red glare. I’d landed at Clark AB, PI with a severe tropical ear infection Memorial Day ’66 and spent more time in the Flight Surgeon’s office than the 2 week class and flight training as PACAF B-57 dive bomber from straight and level SAC B-52s. For sure helped lead to Rt ear removal in ’80 after medical retired Oct ’77 for April ’67 combat injuries and 10 year hanging in to stay on flight pay. Too much finally began Jan ’77 hospitalization and Mar. lumbar back surgery, Wilford Hall Med Cntr Neurosurgery and lengthy recovery. One day October in USAF and covered? Next day totally on my own and disabled unemployable to all extents with a young family in tow. Work in progress