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The Short-Timer History
During World Wars One and Two as well as the Korean War,
troops were rotated in and out of combat areas as a unit.
They would be pulled back to get replacements, rearm, and
retrain.
Vietnam however, was different because after the initial
deployment. The units stayed in country and replacements
would be sent individually to them.
Once in country, the individual was left to their own
means to find their unit. Replacements that arrived in
country were lucky if someone was sent to pick them up and
get them to the unit.
During the ten plus years that the U.S. was involved in
Vietnam. Personnel scheduled to return to the United States
would be removed from the field (if lucky)" when they had
only 100 days left in their tour and sent to the rear for
processing out..
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Someone with a sense of humor designed the first SHORT
TIMER CALENDER. The Short-Timer Calendar in the center of
this page is typical of most that were used. Each day was
colored in until 100 were reached.
Some troops painted zero on the toe of each boot on that
final day they were to get on board that beautiful:
"FREEDOM BIRD"
The "Short Timer" is dedicated to all of the men and
women of all branches of service who served in Vietnam.
Copyright Four Lakes Detachment Inc 2008
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