Question for the 'nam Vets

[Black Owl]

Just sitting here listening to a call in show on the radio taking calls from in-country 'nam vets. During the calls, a common theme developed which got me curious.

How many of you still carry a P38.

I still do and would really feel naked without it.

[gunboat]

count me in, it's been usefull for a lot of other things than it was built for.

reguards

don c.

[bendtdj]

Black Owl,

 

I am not a Viet Nam Vet, served just afterwards. Active duty 1977-79 USMC, SD Army National Guard 1980-93! I still have a few around yet. I do have one in the tool kit on the bike. A very handy thing to have around.

 

Semper Fi!

 

Dave

[oldgoat]

i went in at the end of 1976 not a nam vet but i got 2 of them best damn openers ya can get.

[Jerry Zimmermann]

YUP, GOT MINE PLUS ONE FROM AUSTRALIA, ENGLAND. The latter are much larger, one has a spoon on the other end!

Cheers

[FutureVentures]

I'm a post 'nam era vet but, I've got one on my keychain right now!

 

Used to eat C rats with my Dad as a kid and thought they were so cool, still do. We always called em John Wayne's though, just learned the P38 nomenclature last year.

[KarlS]

We always called them John Wayne's. Don't carry it on me but keep one in the kitchen drawer. Haven't used it in years, had to go see if it was still there. Of course haven't had c-rations in years either.

[mbrood]

an absolute must for the bike toolkit... small, tough and handy!

[massey130]

i have one, tho not a vet, i am the son of a Korean war vet.

i have to buy them in pairs as i seem to not be able to keep track of them.

they are handy, non users don't understand.

[massey130]

the really big catch is that sardines have pull tabs, so the P38 is less handy.

[Nighthawk II]

Used to have 1 on my key ring, but the darn thing wouldn't stay closed and kept sticking me in the leg. 76-78 Army.

[jonesy]

still have mine in wallet, use it to open beer cans if tab breaks. Army 69-71, Ft. Bliss, TX.

Edited March 24, 2010 by jonesy
missed a word

[Flash41]

:12101:Still have a couple around. Discovered EEEElectricity so they don't get used much any more. All you rookies were after my time in Nam, never had a name for them. Denny, 10,000 advisor thingy, '63-'64.

[frogmaster]

Received mine in 1982 Basic Training with C-Rats = Cans... Still have the same one 28 years later. It has been in three Countries: Korea, Germany, Afghanistan so far...

[Sling]

Yeah funny you should ask just used it today to open a can of peaches!!

[bongobobny]

Lost mine years ago but it did work great!!!

 

Remember eating LRRP's??

 

 

 

US Army '67 - '70, RVN 69-70

[YamaDuck]

I served in the Army during Vietnam. I was stateside the whole time. I was in charge of G3 range control at Ft. Bragg, NC. There we were responsible for the training of artillery, small arms fire, parachute jumping, jet fighter close air support training, helicopter training, etc before they went to Vietnam. The restricted area was R5311 and was the busiest restricted area east of the Mississippi River. During my basic training at Ft. Polk, LA I was issued a P-38. That was 1972 and it has been on my key chain ever since. I also carry my dog tag in my wallet.

[Yammer Dan]

Kept one for a long time but couldn't carry it into Prison. C-Rats Ham& Lima beans. Every body hated them and I loved them. Worked out GREAT!! Steel pot and about three cans of those and I was good to go!!

[aharbi]

I keep one in my tackle box. But good idea, I'll keep one on the bike too. I still have a few around the house, garage or was it the tool shed...

[TopV]

Have had mine on my key ring since 1963 and it still work great.

[First_N_Last]

I wore mine out in the 70's... they work much better than a knife or screw driver!

[Wanderer]

Kept one for a long time but couldn't carry it into Prison. C-Rats Ham& Lima beans. Every body hated them and I loved them. Worked out GREAT!! Steel pot and about three cans of those and I was good to go!!

 

The only C-rat I definitely could not, would not eat, were those eggs. YUK! 73-87RA 89-96ALARNG.

 

[OB-1]

USAF 75-84 + 2 years as a contractor and still have a P-38 on my key ring.

[Kirby]

Never went to Viet Nam, but served 12 years in Ga Army National Guard from 1982-1994. Kept one in my pocket until about 5 years ago. Great tool.

[Aimhigh]

Posilutely!!!!