Red,
Great post!
Having a taste of flying in hostile air in DS I think the feelings must be the
same across time. Combat was a defining point in my life. very glad I did it
but not something I want to do again. I didn't quite understand the quote below
are you saying they left for the political disagreements with the US policy in
SEA or to save their skin.?

The accounts I got from friends about wings being turned in, was that it
definitely wasn't because he was scared or a coward. This was not the case
of several others (none in VF-162) that managed to leave the Navy, "because
they owed it to their families, to have a career with the airlines".

I was told that one CO from another squadron on another boat stood up on the
eve of DS and said that he was destined to lead men into combat! I would have
slugged him if I had been there. Knowing the guy I can belive he said it.

Sparky