Backblast! Goodnight Saigon. Vietnam War, 50 Years On
AO: Quarantine
Q: Rio (Andrew DiGiovanni)
PAX: Papi (Isaias Brito), Spit Valve (Geoff), Ascot, Boys 2 Men Scott Markel, Deep Dish (Jeff Beryt), Dowry (Derrick Wolfe), F3 Poncharello (Aaron Denn), Green Thumb (Ray Perry), Jay Z – Shawn Carter, Jiffy pop (Prabhu), Kitchen (Joseph Johnson), Menthol (Joel Cade), Money Pit (Blake Anderson), Rio (Andrew DiGiovanni), Pump Action (Kevin Marer), Rosco P (Rich O’Donnell), Sound machine (Brandon), Thingamabob (Ariel), Wicket (Pranav), Thin Crust, Ice Ice, Bownie, Osceola, Don’t Fix It, , So Fine, DiGiorno, Late Fee
FNGs: 3 So Fine, DiGiorno, Late Fee
Count: 27
27 Pax, from well-seasoned to “Green”, FNG were dropped at the LZ typically known as AO Quarantine. The mission was to honor & the brave US Servicemen, medical staff, diplomats, & thousands of others who were air lifted out of the US Embassy in Saigon between 4/29/1975 & 4/30/1975. Fifty years ago today!!
Here is a song by song analysis of the program.
Warm Up-
“For What Its Worth”-(Buffalo Springfield): Zero time to get to know one another. Pax had to bond quickly to a tune which brings focus & awareness to things happening outside of one’s control, & perhaps within one’s own mind.
8 Good Mornings (Vietnan!)- 10 Chinooks- 10 Helicopters- 10 Side Straddle Hops
“Paint it Black” (Rolling Stones): As the famous twang riff faded, the men received their first orders. An urgent call to rush to each parking lot island, do 5 Burpees, then run back to the baseline. Suicide Burpees kickstarted the metabolism, & set the tone that this was not a drill.
“Reflections”-(The Supremes): A quick mosey to escape the compromised LZ found the men partnering up for an AMRAP Partner, Hand Slap Merkin assignment. It was time to evolve from individuals to a team unit. Performing Merkins in front of another Pax in unison created the “Reflection” image of a well organized outfit. Lean & Mean. Ready to soldier on. Eager to take once last look back at who each man once was 5 minutes ago, prior to this journey. Only moments passed before we were on the move again. Running, & fighting an urge to escape & return home…
“We Gotta Get Out of This Place” (The Animals): Sensing pending attack from enemy fire, the platoon scurried behind the dark corners of campus, ascended a flight of stairs which led directly to an ambush. All had to hit their 6 & wait it out. Might as well complete some Core work. 15 Box Cutters-15 Vietnam-Ups- 8 Shakeira’s Left & Right side. Just about that time our air lift orders came over the radio. We had to travel to the lake to be picked up.
“Fortunate Son” (CCR): As we moseyed, we contemplated our lot as ordinary men, gathered together for larger purpose. Only, we were not quite sure the of the point. We only know that some are not called to serve, while the burden of war falls to the common man. We made it to the lake on time, & were ready to be rescued. Instead, what we found were Coupons, & a new set of orders from HQ.
“Goodnight Saigon” (Billy Joel): As we waited hopelessly lakeside, waiting on an evac that never arrived, the 27 of us honored 4/30/75 by doing Four Sets of 30 reps w/75 SSH in the middle. 30 Curls-Crawl Bear down to lake, Bear Crawl up. 30- Overhead Presses- Crawl Bear down to lake, Bear Crawl up. 75 Single Count Side Straddle Hops. 30 Bent Rows- Crawl Bear down to lake, Bear Crawl up, & finally 30 Triceps Extensions, Crawl Bear down to lake, Bear Crawl up.
By now we were resolved to realize there’d be no relief in the field. Morale remained high, while skepticism crept in about why we were even here….Time to run for cover in the parking deck.
“I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die” (Country Joe & the Fish). “1,2,3. What are we Fighting For?”.
As the Pax lined up in the bottom of the parking deck, we took a moment to consider just how young the men who fought in this war truly were. The average age of the US Soldier who served in Vietnam was 19! Makes one wonder if youth had become completely commodified. Not solely to sell products to, but supply the Military Industrial Complex.
“19”-(Paul Hardcastle): A Set of 19’s. 18 LBC’s at the bottom starting line. 1 Lt. Dan at the top.
“Run Through The Jungle” (CCR): Pressure from the enemy pushed us out before we could finish the mission. Not from a lack of trying, I can tell you that. The squad pulled out & moseyed off into the early dawn. It was time to check in on the home front.
“OHIO” (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young): Student protests were met with overwhelming disproportionate backlash on May 4th, 1970 when National Guardsmen open fire on the campus of Kent State. 13 wounded, Four Dead in OHIO!!! Set of Dominican 7’s: 7 Plank Jack at the hilltop. 7 Ranger Merkins at the bottom. Repeat until song ended.
—This concluded our Tour of Duty—
Time to mosey home
“The Unknown Soldier” (The Doors). We many went? How many came back? How many did both but never truly returned? How may were shamefully forgotten? Always remember the sacrifice of those who served.
“Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” (John Prine): “Jesus Don’t Like Killin’. No matter what the reasons for”. No matter how one may go about outwardly showing support. Please remember what is important.
It was an honor to lead you all today.
Please welcome FNG’s, DiGiorno, Late Fee, & So Fine. Also note: “Puff Daddy” is now “Brownie”
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hope & Vine. May 17th. Beer 10+ volunteers & monetary donations. VQ Week approaching. If this applies to you. Sign up.
COT: Prayers for Deep Dish & his continued job search. Pray for Alexandra, Tube Top’s daughter. Pray for clean MRI’s for Boyz II Men & daughter Olivia. Pray for Don Markel, father to Boyz. Take a moment to think of Vietnam veteran today. Maybe even say, “Welcome Back”
