Disneyland of the Far East

No E ticket rides!

By Dave Stromire

Echo 2/1 ’68-69

We stopped for lunch at a rest area, near Little Big Horn. We were on our way to Oklahoma. This would be my first Pow Wow. My best friend Gerry and his mom, who is Cherokee, had invited me to go along with her and Gerry, their dad and younger brother and Sister.

  I had been so excited; I packed my shoes away on the family station wagon. I did not dare ask anyone to take all the luggage down and rummage for my shoes. Gerry gave me his older brother’s expensive sandals. His brother at the time was in boot camp in San Diego and about to Graduate. Jerry and I took off looking for arrowheads. While his mom fixed lunch. I was jumping around on big boulders, when I broke the straps.  Gerry, who idolized his big brother, laughed at me and gave me the usual crap about how His brother Tommy is a Marine, and was going to kick my butt.

 It was an awesome vacation, except for the fact, that every time we would get in trouble his relatives would blame it on me. His uncle Swimmer had said it’s that blonde kids fault, he’s got those beady Eyes!  You can’t trust anyone with beady eyes. Gerry's Dad would just laugh and say he knew who the real culprit was.

  We arrived back home just about the same time Tommy came home for leave. He fit right in with the Corps. I was in awe; this guy was Marine right out of the recruiter’s wall posters. I knew from that day, I wanted to be a Marine. Tommy filled me in on just how sadistic the DI’s were. He said you just have to laugh at them, to survive Boot camp, or they will get to you. He forgot to tell me, not out loud. My Mistake! 

   I joined the Corps on the buddy plan with Gerry and another friend.  Of course, I was the only one who ended up in boot, policing cigarette butts at four in the morning. After I graduated boot and ITR, I was assigned to a holding company, until I became of age.  Tommy received his orders for Nam.  On the Very day his Mom arrived from Portland, to say good-bye to Tommy. I got my orders to go home on leave and that when I was to get back from leave I would be of age. So I had a ride home with Tommy's Mom.  We all told Tommy to be careful.  Of course, he said there was nothing to worry about that he was more worried about me. He said he wished he had never talked me into going in the Marines. Because he was a High School grad and his MOS was in Radar. He said, Dave your a high school drop out and 0311, but don't worry, he said. You will probably get the Million Dollar wound.  I have heard of the million Dollar wound. It was like; you get a scratch and collect a million dollars, Right?

  On the very day, that the Danang ammo dump blew up Echo was out in the bush.  Once that we found out by radio, that Danang was not being overrun by the whole North Vietnamese Army we sat back to watch an awesome display of fire works. We could actually see the Shock Waves pass over our heads.  Late in the afternoon, we set up for the night I broke out a letter from Gerry and Tommy's mom, which I had not read.  She wrote me often. I was one of her kids. She wrote that Tommy was Stationed on top of this big mountain near the China Sea, and asked me if I was near there.  I asked The LT, where this big mountain was. He pointed towards Danang at this huge mountain, and said right there Dave.

  I showed him the letter from Tommy's mom, and told him Tommy is like a brother to me. He said, Dave, Take a three-day in country R&R, and go up there. When we came out of the bush and back to 2/1s rear I hitched a ride with the mail, as far as Dog Patch, then caught a supply truck up this very long switched back road to the top.

  At the top was an arc shaped sign over their front gate. In red and yellow were the words, "Disneyland of the Far East." Tommy was elated, when I found him at their NCO bar. He showed me around all these huge Radar Satellites and Big round Observatories. Tommy said that once a few gooks got through their wires. The caught them there, just standing and starring at all this high tech stuff.

  That night, we were setting in lawn chairs on a wooden deck, drinking beer. It was completely overlooking all of 2/1s area of operations. What Tommy Called "Indian Country.” Occasionally, we could see tracer rounds going off down there, and what looked like firefights.  I told Tommy, I didn't like being up here away from my brothers down there.

  I went back to Echo, the next day, one day early. Tommy now knowing where I was, and always feeling guilty for talking me into the Marines looked very sad at my leaving him. It must have been really hard for him to think that those firefights down there in Indian country could involve me. Then one day, his mother wrote him about me being wounded and in Japan.  He immediately thought on that day at Pendleton. When he told me, I would probably get the million-dollar wound.  MORE GUILT.

  A few years after the war Tommy, a friend, and myself packed up and moved to Anaheim California. We were only three blocks from Disneyland. The real Disneyland of the far west. Of course having a bachelor apartment in Sunny California, we partied a lot.  Tommy would get a little high, and start telling war stories about him and me. As if we were in the same battles.  I would just smile and go along with him. Besides, he made us both out like Rambo’s.

  One Day at Hunting Beach it took a lot of arguing, but Tommy persuaded me to wear shorts. You need to get some sun on those skinny white legs Dave!  People walked by me, trying to avoid any eye contact. Well, my legs looked like; a great white might have attacked me. Then three of the most beautiful southern California girls came walking by they looked at me in disgust. One even murmured eww yuk. Tommy was like my big brother. He would defend me at the drop of a hat. He was all over them poor girls telling them, that is my brother, he is a Marine he's a hero they walked away crying. I told Tommy, You don't have to defend me you have enough to deal with. I told him that my Juvenile counselor, said, it was either the military or Maclarin home for boys. And please stop feeling guilty for everything that has happened to me. The last Time I saw Tommy. It was at his moms 85^th birthday, three years ago. She had a Pow Wow. It was Awesome.

  Tommy is locked up in a prison, in the middle of a desert. In his letters, he writes he has found peace with God. In my story, I want Tommy to know. He has paid his dues. He owes me nothing, and never did.  In fact if it wasn't for the Grace of God. I would be in jail from my drinking.  I will be here for him. I owe him that much. Maybe one day? We can take our grandkids to Disneyland together. But for me, No E ticket rides!