Blog 3415 – 03.10.2025
Certain Days
Certain days of the month sometimes come to have special meaning for us. The tenth is one of those days for me. Fifty-five years ago I spent what I often refer to as my long hot summer in South Vietnam. The tenth of January was the day that I arrived “in country”and January 10, 1971 was therefore my DEROS date.
Like hundreds of thousands of GI’s in that particular war with a tour of duty of one year I began immediately ticking off the days till I could go home. On the tenth of March 1970 I got to mark off another month and every month thereafter.
Fortunately, because the war was winding down and President Nixon had promised to bring another couple of hundred thousand troops home before Christmas that year, I got what was called “a Christmas drop” which meant that I got to come home a month early. The tenth of December became my new DEROS date.
Even though fifty-five years have come and gone the tenth of the month is still a very special day for me as I recall the thrill of feeling one month closer to coming home.
To all those away from home today and counting the days, may they fly by till you are home safe and sound and I the arms of those you love.
Your friend and fellow traveler,
Forever Short Timer,
David James White
Bobby Vinton – Mr. Lonely
theencouragingword 