In August 1968, I turned 22 years old, and for the first time in my life I was eligible to vote in a presidential election. The only problem was that I was in Vietnam and when I suggested to my boss that I be given some time off to return to New York to cast […]
Ed Meagher
Edward Meagher is a Vietnam service-disabled veteran who retired after 24 years in government, 26 years in the private sector, and four years in the U.S. Air Force. He served for seven years as the deputy assistant secretary and deputy CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He lives in Great Falls, Virginia.
Posted inReflections
On a Remote Military Base During the Vietnam War, Books Offered an Escape
During the Vietnam War, an Air Force radio operator becomes the librarian of a remote base in the Philippines.
Posted inReflections
Lessons from the Air Force Kitchen Police: Volunteer for Everything. Even Pots and Pans
Air Force veteran talks about lessons he learned while volunteering to clean pots and pans in basic training alongside a recycled trainee.
Posted inReflections
We Were at DefCon 2–One Step From Nuclear War–and I Was Checking My Work
The 104th Tactical Fighter Wing provided an air defense system that could scramble against any unknown aircraft that might pose a threat.
Posted inReflections
Mac Was My Hero. I Never Told Him. I’m Sure He Never Knew.
William (Mac) McKissick was a technical sergeant responsible for the security of the northern perimeter of Tan Son Nhut Air Base north of Saigon, Vietnam.
Posted inReflections
A Chunk of My Life Was Taken From Me. You Could Say I Had a Bad Attitude.
Dealing with still-drunk combatants who often outranked me and wanted a second round with the bouncer was never easy.
Posted inReflections
Two Guys to a Bag, One Bag at a Time. We Each Became Experts in a Macabre Parade.
I wondered whether the lighter bags held small soldiers or only body parts. I kept no count of the work. I still don’t know how many we carried.
