IRAN JULY 1978-APRIL 1979
Working for Bell Helicopter when the revolution started, thousands of anti- Shah rioter in the streets, the military machine gunning them down, every second building in Tehran (Banks, movie theaters, liqour shops, restaurants serving beer) torched and burnt to the ground, 90% of foreigners cars and homes firebombed, (no physical casulties, just property damage, the revolutionaries were careful about that). revolutionaries firing off the roofs all night, while government tanks cruise the streets randomly loosing the 30 cal. and 50 cal machine guns in every direction. Sleeping in the cellar to avoid the random fire. Living on a barter system of Vodka, opium, coffee, sugar, rice, tabacco, gold coins, kerosene, and gasoline (pay attention, these are the things you need to have stockpiled), Driving around the streets of Esfahan with a picture of the Shah on one side and a picture of the Ayatollah on the other side and every time we came to a crowd of demonstrators, determining whose side they were on and switching the picture to accomodate them.
THE DHOFAR REGION OF OMAN. 1975-77.
Flying in the Shah's helicopters in support of and with British SAS'ers putting down the Communist back Southern Yemen insurgents stirring up trouble in the area. Lots of small arms fire around there.
Afghanistan `1980-89
In and out of the "stan" with the Royal Saudi Air force supplying the mujahedeen rebels in their resistence to the Soviet occupation. Had to smoke snake heads and scorpians tails with the guys, they also liked to apply red hot iron to your forearms to prove resistence to torture. Saw a few poor soviet soldiers hung on meathooks in the butchers Bazaar (market)Remember what Kipling said: " If you're wounded on the Afghan plains, roll over on your rifle and blow out your brains" you don't want to be captured alive by these guys, fortunately we were allies at the time. Brought back lots of camels in trade for ordinance.
Morocco 1970. got caught up in an attempted overthrow of the, King Hassan II. Layed face down in a swimming pool for what seemed like an eternity while rebels did a lot a shooting at the Kings birthday party guests, lucked out on that one.
India 1971
During the war with Pakistan, helped the Goans build bonfires on the beaches to attract Pakistani submarines to liberate them, it didn't work.
Nepal-Tibet 1970-1971
Made some forays into Chinese occupied Tibet under the auspices of Nepals "Chini" Lama with the Dali Lama's guerilla fighters (Tsampa's) to steal temple relics to finance their anti Chinese activities, eating Yak milk that's put in goat skins with the hair on the inside and put under the saddle of your Tibetan pony to churn it into butter that's mixed with millet to make breakfast, lunch and dinner, yum yum yum. Lots of small arms fire in that arena.
Bolivia late 1960's
Seemed to be in the neighborhood when Che Gueverra was captured and assassinated, lots of "security" activity in the area. "nuf said"
SE Asia 1972ish
doing a little kicking for an unknown airline, oh what fun that was, but it paid pretty well at the time, lot's of small arms fire in that area.
Dahman, Saudi Arabia 1991
Sitting on the roof of my villa with a bunch of the "guys" drinking "Siddeeki"
(home made moonshine) watching Scuds drop into the neighborhood. Finally got the word to move north and then the Turkey shoot began. RSAF's AC130's about 6000 rounds a minute, with 10 tons of ammo in the shute, that'll sure get your attention.
Shoot, can't wait to get back to Arizona and settle down once and for all among the cool pines of the northern high country.
BTW TABing is SAS slang for Tactically Avoiding Bullets/Blades ing
and said they'd go clear them out.
