The Vietnam War

My Graduating Class

The Vietnam War

I got my draft notice and immediately went and interviewed recruiting offices in my town. I talked first to the Army. Then the Marines. The Marine recruiter explained that the Army always prepares a plan of escape, but the Marines never do. The Marines always try to develop a plan when it is needed. Well, it seemed the best way to survive would be to have a plan of escape (or retreat.) A no brainer to me.

If you allowed yourself to be drafted, you would only need to serve for three years. But if you joined you would be required to serve four years. So, to make a long story short, I went and joined the Army. If one joined one could choose an MOS (job.) I was told there were openings in Infantry, Gunnery and Finance. I chose Finance (another no brainer to me.) I would wear the diamond shaped lapel pins of a Finance specialist.

Finance Pins, MOS 73C

Finance Specialist

It was not too long, and I was on my way to processing in Miami. We got some shots there and I watched as some of the biggest and "toughest" guys were kneeling and sitting on the floor, holding their foreheads, propped up by the wall looking like they were about to pass out.

Well, I made it through that with flying colors. No sweat.

During basic training I qualified for officer candidate school and turned it down. I had no thoughts of making the military a career.

When I was about to board the plane to Vietnam, I remember thinking "maybe I will discover what this is all about." Well after almost a year there I still had not figured it out. 

After many years I met a Filipina online and flew to Manila to meet her in person. We met at a shopping mall and hit it off very well. In a short time, against the advice of her friends and family, we were on a plane headed to Mindanao. I was seeking some adventure and she was happy to travel along. The U.S. State Department advised "use extreme caution" while on Mindanao. 

We stayed at hotels there for weeks. 

The Philippines seemed a lot like Vietnam.

We married and had three children. My wife and children are now U.S. citizens and we have flown back and forth between the Philippines and the U.S.A. several times. 

Jet lag is always a problem. But we overcome it by sleeping at weird hours until it is gone.

The guy in this video will shed some light on the situation in the Nam. In the city where I was the people were friendlier. Probably because it was known as The French Riviera of the Far East, a rest area for us and the "enemy." 

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about a former Vietnam veteran in the Philippines. Updated July 31, 2022.

Scams In Philippines

Don't get scammed

Scams

Don't Get Scammed in the Philippines

There are many scammers in the world. Study at these links to avoid becoming a victim of scams. Number one is NEVER send money to someone you met online! Number two is NEVER give money to someone you met in person if you have not gotten to know them in person over a few weeks or months. 

There are all kinds of scams you could easily fall victim to.

"I need capitol for my business." 

"I lost my money in a taxi." 

"I lost my money to buy my school books."

"I love you so much. Can you help me?"

"My relative (grandma, grandpa, Mom, Dad or baby) is sick." 

"Can you lend me some money for food?"

If you ever give or lend money you must assume you will never see it again. It is GONE. So, unless you are a very rich philanthropist don't even think about it. You might as well gamble away your nest egg before you rent or buy a nest for you and your future sweetheart. Then where is the money to court the lady or girl of your dreams? You will need money for dinner dates, movies, game rooms, 

fast food lunches,

the zoo, 

taxi rides, 

train rides, 

tricycles, 

jeepneys, 

buses and

trains.

Have fun with her!

I'm sure there are many honest and lovely Filipinas (like the one I met in the Philippines.) They will be faithful and will stick with you through thick and thin. You take care of them and they will take care of you. Filipinas make the best wives and mothers on earth.

Save your money to build a life with your new love.

Read more about meeting ladies and how to

avoid scams in the Philippines.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about avoiding scams in the Philippines. Uploaded July 29, 2022.

Tired Bus Drivers Taxi Drivers

Don't ride with tired drivers in buses or taxis.

Tired Bus Drivers and Taxi Drivers

Some of the scariest times are when your driver is obviously fatigued. On two occasions I have ridden with drivers who were trying to stay awake. One time was in a bus operated by Victory Lines. About half way through our trip on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Angeles City to Manila I noticed the driver repeatedly nodding, slapping his cheeks, rubbing his head and slapping his forehead. All this time he was driving about sixty miles per hour with a bus full of hapless passengers. 

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)

Another time I was riding in a taxi from the airport in Manila. We were again on the NLEX, this time going to Angeles City. I went to meet my Mom who had flown in to see us and our first child, who she had never gotten to meet yet. We were renting an apartment in Magalang, a small farming town near Angeles City. The driver was showing signs of fatigue. He began taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes and his head. I asked him to turn on the radio and play some music. I think that did the trick and we arrived alive at the Angeles City exit.

I found some advice online,

This one from Ireland,

"Driving when you are tired can be very dangerous, and it may cause you to micro-sleep (or nod off momentarily). At 100 km/h you travel at 28 metres a second, so if you micro-sleep for just 4 seconds you would travel over 100 metres without being in control of the vehicle. Never drive if you are fighting sleep."

and this (from a NOSH article),

"Time of day: Your body has a sleep/wake cycle that tells you when to be alert and when it’s time to sleep. The urge to sleep is the most intense in the early morning hours."

Advice

Humans have a natural urge to sleep at night.

Daytime is the best time to ride in buses and taxis (without a doubt.) 

I remember news stories where buses have crashed down off mountain roads and people died.

So, to be safe, I think is always a good idea to briefly interview the driver. Looking straight in his or her face ask "How much sleep did you get last night" and "do you feel wide awake now?" If the driver shows signs of lying (averting his eyes while answering you or reaching to his mouth, nose or face while answering) then you may assume he is tired or fatigued. Don't ride in his bus or taxi! Better to suffer a delay than possibly get into a wreck. There is always another bus or taxi.

Carry Some Canned Coffee

Maybe one should carry some canned coffee and offer an obviously tired driver a can or two, or three! Or, if in a taxi on an expressway, offer to buy him some hot coffee at a rest area.

Here is a complete list of places to stop along highways.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about tired and sleepy drivers in the Philippines. Uploaded July 8, 2022.

Pay Your Income Tax

Don't forget your taxes.

Pay Your Income Taxes

 A tax filing service for American expats

HR Block Tax Preparation

No matter what is happening in your life or the lives of loved ones and friends you must always make time to take care of your taxes.

After all, taxes are what make your country the great country it is.

Do yo have a bookkeeper or CPA you can call on to assist you in preparing your tax returns? Or, do you know how to file online? If you qualify you may be able to E File your own taxes online.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about pay your income tax in the Philippines. Uploaded July 7, 2022.

Cheapest Cars to Maintain

Maintain Your Car

 

X Tool OBD2 Code Reader

Maintaining Your Car in the Philippines

Best Easy to Maintain cars to buy in the Philippines.

See the article at Philkotse dot com

From the article

"A well-looked after car tends to be more cost-efficient in terms of maintenance."

Should you have it serviced by the dealership? "There are some drawbacks to this, however, chief of which is the dealership’s tendency to prevent owners from actually witnessing the maintenance work being done to their cars; there have been horror stories of unscrupulous mechanics surreptitiously taking random working parts from cars and replacing them with faulty ones, or of letting the car be touched by interns instead of trained mechanics.

Outside shops are an increasingly popular option for car owners who are looking to save some dough without compromising car maintenance, although you would need to exercise due diligence and scout around for such shops that have positive feedback from satisfied customers. Otherwise, you might actually end up paying more when worse problems arise."

"Toyota certainly enjoys a certain status in the Philippine market; older drivers especially harbor fond memories of Toyota vehicles that are robust and run trouble-free, cementing its reputation for reliability. Just one look at Toyota’s sales numbers (45.26% market share as of November 2018) and you’ll know it’s true."

"While Honda maintenance isn’t exactly known for being cheap, it’s somewhat offset by the fact that they have longer maintenance intervals than other brands "

I pay a lot of attention to  Scotty Kilmer of Youtube fame. 

Scotty advises to stay away from all but Toyotas and Hondas. Those made in Japan are best. He says, from his experience, Toyotas and Hondas which are made in Japan need only oil changes and air filters for the first 100,000 miles. And if maintained according to the owner's manual schedule it is not uncommon for them to last for a LONG time, even up to 500,000 miles or more!

Use a OBD 2, car computer reader to check its condition before buying any used car or nearly new car. It must be specific to the car you are thinking about buying. Call the manufacturer of the car code reader to be sure the car is included in the list of cars the reader is set up to diagnose.

My favorite cars to own are Toyota and Honda. The reason there are so many of these in the Philippines and all over the earth is summed up in one word "QUALITY."

Auto repair shop in Angeles City, Philippines.

Where to eat in the Philippines.

Where to meet girls in the Philippines.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read the comments about this blog about Cheapest Cars to Maintain Toyota and Honda, car maintenance in the Philippines. Uploaded July 3, 2022. Updated March 30, 2024.