My brother Free Dating, Singles and Personals

My brother Posted: 10/23/2009 6:42:20 AM
Three years older than me we never got along. Nothing in common except fighting to be mom and dads favorite. I was the little pain in the ass who tried to tag along when he was with his friends. He was the goofy brother who couldn't play one sport. Like I said nothing in common. As we grew older we seemed to grow further apart and then he entered the army in 1966. Mom and dad worried and both cried when he was sent to Vietnam. His job as a truck driver in a convoy only worried them more. Every night on the news there was footage of burning vehicles and destruction. As I watched I found myself admiring him and just never pictured my brother doing anything brave or special. I could never say that to anyone because after all. We had nothing in common. After high school I was going nowhere and going there ast. Me and my friends were getting into trouble. Nothing serious but we weren't on the good track. Still not sure but one day I walked into the army recruiting office. While in basic trasining my brother came home but only for a thirty dsay leave. He had extended for another six monts in Nam. I had signed up for Aircraft maintenence so ater basic training I found myself in Fort Rucker Alabama. I was bored silly and just knew I couldn't work on aircraft. Just not exciting. I signed up for Helicopter Doorgunner School. There I found my calling. Nothing more exciting that flying in a gunship when you are still only eighteen. My entire class was sent to Vietnam except me. Wouldn't send a brother while his brother was in country. I signed a waver to go over with my class. My brother had to sign a waver to stay. Mom and dad were not happy. I shipped over in April of 1969 still two months short of my 19th birthday. As I walked up the steps of the airliner leaving Fort Lewis Washington I was terrified. Just figured I'd never see America again. We were nothing but boys going into a horrible place. We landed in Camh Rhan Bay around 10am. It was already over a hundred degrees. The door opened and we started down the steps. New guys in a place that treated you like fresh meat. The base was huge that made you feel even more insignificant. Suddenly mom dad and Philadelphia seemed like a part of my life that would only continue in dreams. I had no idea that my brother had been stationed there but as I continued down the steps there he was. Standing there with a smile on his face and a big hug as I set my first foot in country. My pain in the ass brother who had nothing in common with me had checked the manifest daily to see when I would be arriving. It's hard to explain but no feeling I have ever experienced equals that day. To be that far from home and thinking that you will never make it home again and suddenly find a piece of home in front of you is incredible. Between the two of us we spent forty six months in Vietnam. Put mom and dad through hell but we survived. Only one bullet hole in my ankle and a bunch of close calls for both of us. Ever since we have had a bond that is stronger than just brothers. We live fifteen minutes from each other and visit each other often. Mom and dad are long gone and we still talk about what we put them through. I don't think we realized what we must have done to them until we both had kids of our own. Back then we were just stupid kids who felt indestructible. To mom and dad we were still their babys. For all those years when I didn't think my brother and I had anything in common I was wrong. We did have one thing in common. We were and will forever be BROTHERS.