American History in Real Life
Movies in the past have often shown characters that were touched by historical events. Yet sometimes, the truth is often more fantastic than anything Hollywood can devise. These stories of real people show how the events of the past touched their lives. Some times the stories are dramatic, sometimes simple, but all in all they weave a tapesty of the richness of the American experience.-
Recent Posts
- Call Me a Fighter ‘Gator October 7, 2021
- Bridge and the Art of War August 19, 2021
- Some thoughts on combat July 31, 2021
- The Brotherhood of Warriors January 20, 2021
- My special love – The F-4 Phantom II October 7, 2020
Subjects
Copyright notice- An American Family, 2013- 2021
© John Norvell
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Category Archives: Veterans
Bridge and the Art of War
June 1973 turned to July. Most days, everything went as planned: TO-Take Off, rendezvous with the tank, take on gas—we loved the big gas station in the sky—get the target information. Contact the FAC; drop some surprises on the commies, … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, American History, Combat, F-4 Phantom II, Thailand, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans
Tagged agent orange exposure, Vietnam War
2 Comments
Down to the “South 40”
In May 1973, I checked in, as a new GIB, assigned to the 13 TFS at Udorn RTAFB. I had come to the war late as a non rated officer who entered Nav School in the fall of 1971. Now … Continue reading
Decoration Day then and now
70 years ago when I was young we celebrated “Decoration Day.” In those days the term Decoration Day was often used instead of the current term: Memorial Day. This older term has gone out of fashion now. It is a … Continue reading
Posted in American History, American holidays, Combat, NY, NY History, Veterans
Tagged American Civil War, Decoration Day, GAR
1 Comment
Thank you for your Service
“Thank you for your service.” It’s a comment I hear with some frequency these days. When I served from 1966-1989, no one ever said that to me. In fact most of us who served in the Vietnam era were never … Continue reading
The Udorn trots and other quick steps….
Phantom crews during the Vietnam War overseas always had the possibility of contracting local diseases. Its not that we weren’t prepared, before departing CONUS we had shots for almost every possible disease: hepatitis, typhoid, small pox, diptheria, plague, yellow fever, … Continue reading
Freedom Bird
45 years ago, this week in April, I boarded a “Freedom Bird” heading home from Thailand after a year-long remote combat tour. It was a year filled with many things: honing my flying skills as a backseater in the F4, … Continue reading
Christmas in War Time
This was originally posted in 2015, but as many American men and women remain in war zones, I offer it again as I do each year at this time. Christmas is such a family time, its easy to forget that … Continue reading
Little Orphan Annie and the end of the Air War in SEA August 1973
Lest we forget: F-4 Phantom II—445 total lost in the SEA Air War, 382 in combat more than any other fixed wing aircraft First combat loss F-4C 64-0685 (45th TFS, 15th TFW) shot down Ta Chan, NW NVN on 20 June 1965. Final … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, Air Force, American History, Cambodia bombing 1973, Combat, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Family History, Fighter Aircraft, Military history, Norvell Family History, SEA, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans, Vietnam War
Tagged Air War SEA, air war vietnam, Cambodia, Cambodia Bombing, Letters home SEA, Recollections of combat, Vietnam memories
2 Comments
Party suits, Patches, and Jewelry — the well dressed Fighter Jock
As soon as I arrived in the 13 TFS I was taken off the base to meet the Maharajah and order my work suits and a party suit. To go to the Maharajahs to be fitted was a rite of … Continue reading
F4 Graduation Day
45 years ago in April 1973, I left Luke AFB in Arizona en route to South East Asia. As I graduated from F4 upgrade training, I was a very different person than when I began it. Actually, I can say … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, American History, Arizona, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, Fighter Aircraft, Norvell Family History, Thailand, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans, Vietnam War
Tagged 310 TFTS, F4 RTU, Luke AFB
2 Comments
