Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington   Greg Boyington (white shirt) visiting VMA-214's Blacksheep at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. Pappy showed up in Chu Lai from Danang one day, unannounced, having bummed a ride on a C-124 (sometime around September 1965). His appearance was not an official visit. Some of the higher-ups were a little "mortified" and not sure what to do. The 214 Blacksheep were quite thrilled to meet Pappy and hear a few tales. It was also about the same time that the O-Club opened and there was a directive from above that no one was allowed to have any liquor in their tent area. Pappy's arrival was a good excuse to get rid of all that privately owned booze. An interesting evening! Blacksheep in the picture starting from the upper left: "Slats" Combs, unknown, unknown, Bill Bartlett, unknown, Pappy, Pete Wyrick (later CO 214), Russell Williams, CO Keith O'Keefe, Larson, Rooke, Major ? (O-3). Starting from lower left: Moore, Lee Burns, Bill Fitts, Frank Bryant, WO unknown, unknown. The sign that Pappy and Col. O'Keefe are holding is for the "LPA" (Lieutenant's Protective Association) - for protection against - guess who. Photograph courtesy of Russell Williams.  |