1/83 Artillery Update
February 6, 2019

1/83rd Unit News

and

General News

2. Howitzer vs. Gun - I had a question that I have been meaning to ask and thought our friend Johnnie Pearson (68-69) would be a good resource. Our 8-inch Artillery were Howitzers but the 175mm was called a gun. It dawned on me recently that I never really understood why that was the case. Here is Johnnie's reply which I thought might be of interest to the rest of you who did not know why this was.

"I believe the difference is due to barrel length.  So the 105, 155, and 8-inch are (short barreled) howitzers, and the 175 is a (long barreled) gun."

3. Photo Section - I recently added photos sent to me by Harry Boquet (70-71). Harry was hoping that someone could help ID any of the guys in the photos especially the African American gentleman in some of the photos. Here is the link to the page where you can view Harry's Photos.

4. Battalion and Battery Command Roster - When you can, take a look at this and see if you can help to fill in the missing items. There are quite a few missing details. In particular, look at the Section Chiefs for B Battery. For some reason I have an item titled "Section Chiefs", it is the last item for B Battery. I also show the Gun Section Chiefs. The only thing I can think of is that one of you gave me that info without telling me the specific section those guys were chief of.

If you look at A and C Battery, you will see that I don't have a similar misc section. Here is the link.

5. 2019 VA Disability Payment Schedule - Here is a link to this years payment schedule.

6. Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space-A - Dan O'Brien (69-70) sent a link to this story.

7. Support - Please let me know if anyone of you or your family have health situations so we can let everyone know of the need for our support.

8. News - if you have any good news that you want to share send it along. Having good news to share would be a real pleasure, as it seems like we are constantly only talking about sad news. Here is the latest 1/83rd News.

Interesting Links and More

1. Bob Billiards, one of our Aussie mates sent this Australia Day news item featuring his wife Cathy and their classic car, a Goggo Dart Parramatta. Nice video story.

2. Larry Cantwell (69-70) sent this link, Old School Football. This is an old item from when Art Donovan shares with Johnny Carson what playing old school football was like. Art played as a defensive tackle for 12 years in the pros during the 1950’s and 60’s and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Most of this time was with the Baltimore Colts where he shares what football was like back in the good old days. This is very funny.

3. Johnnie Pearson (68-69) sent this. I enjoyed it and thought you might also.

AND THEN IT IS WINTER

You know time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems like yesterday that I was young, just married, and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all those years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the winter of my life, and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those "older people" were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what I would be like. But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey... they move slower and I see an older person in myself now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so... now I enter this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last... this I know, that when it's over on this earth... it's over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done... things I should have done, but indeed, there are also many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime. So, if you're not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can TODAY, as you can never be sure whether this is the last day of your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, LIVE FOR TODAY and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember.. and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life" is a GIFT to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

Remember:

1. "It is Health that is real Wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."

2. Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect!

3. Going out is good.. coming home is even better!

4. You forget names... but it's OK, because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

5. You realize you're never going to be really good at anything.... especially golf or tennis.

6. The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.

7. You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep."

8. You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"...???

9. Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, you don’t go out to enough elegant places to purchase any.

10. Now that you can afford to eat at any expensive restaurant and order the most expensive items on the menu, you can’t eat any of those foods anymore because they aggravate your gout or your diabetes or your high blood pressure or your heart or kidneys.

11. What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

12. You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.

13. But "Old" is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies ... and best of all, our dear ...OLD FRIENDS!!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!"

Did you Know

Despite what you may have been taught in school, there are only 4 Great Lakes, hydrologically speaking, not 5; Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are not distinct bodies of water, but one massive body of water connected by the Straits of Mackinac.

(Courtesy of How-To Geek Newsletter)

1/83rd Website

1. Please let me know if you come across any links in my website that are broken. With so much content, it is inevitable that links go out of date so let me know if you find one that does not work.

2. If you come across anything that you think may be a good addition to our website let me know. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions regarding the website, let me know.

3. Check out all the latest updates by looking at the website Table of Contents.

Vietnam Veterans of America

1/83rd Roster

Full Roster on Website - Check your entry on the Full Roster to make sure all your information is up to date. Notify me if any changes are necessary. If your email stops working, I cannot reach you if you have incomplete or incorrect contact details on the roster.

I have recently become aware of several changes to contact info. It is important that you keep your contact information up to date on the Roster, it is the only that your buddies can find you! Let me know when things change.

Please remember that all contact info that we have for our group can be found on the Full Roster. This is the best spot to start if you need to contact one of the group.

There is a long-standing page on our website where I list men that are either missing, inactive or trying to be located by someone in our group. I am asking everyone to review that page and let me know if you have updates you would like me to make.

I am sure that each of us has someone they would really like to reconnect with. If we all pitch in, we may find many more of our old buddies. Here are some ways to do that:

1. If you are in contact or have contact info for any 1/83rd guys please contact them and tell them about our group or at least tell me and I will contact them.

2. Look through the roster on the website and if you know of others who are not listed, let me know who they are. Also, if you see any incorrect or missing info (including your own entry) let me know.

3. If you have copies of old orders tucked away someplace, send me a copy so I can make sure those names are on the roster.

4. Sometimes all it takes is a name and location and we can find someone but the more details we know the better our chances.

Please make sure that your email system allows emails to be received from both of my email addresses, bill_t_08012@yahoo.com and artillery_83rd@yahoo.com

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