The Nurse noticed I
had smoking stuff in my shirt pocket and asked if I wanted to go outside and
have a smoke. I said "Sure" and we went out on a private deck
reserved for doctors and nurses. We
introduced ourselves, she being Nancy (alias for story), I being Dale.
As we were smoking and caring on small talk I noticed a Life Line
helicopter approaching from a distance. As
the chopper got closer I noticed Nancy becoming very fidgety and agitated.
As the chopper settled onto the helipad, I noticed a hazing come over her
eyes. As I stepped around in front
of her to see better I recognized the look as the "1000 yard stare".
I had seen "the stare" many times on my brother who was with the 2/9
Marines in Ashau valley. After about 5
seconds she noticed me staring. She
was embarrassed and started to apologize. I
said "No need for that - bet
you were a combat nurse in Nam". Nancy
said "Is it that noticeable"? I
said, "Yes, it is, if you've seen it before". Nancy went on to
relate her tour in Vietnam. She had
done time on the hospital ship Repose and also time in the Navy hospital in Da Nang. She stated the maimed bodies and dying soldiers had really
gotten to her. Nancy said the
helicopters arriving at the hospitals in Nam always preceded the carnage.
The wop - wop of the blades of the Life Line helicopter (vintage UH1E) at
close range had brought back those memories.
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