Vietnam Vets Shooting Pool in Vietnam During The War

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Racky BallBoa

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I was just wondering if there are any Vietnam Vets here that had an opportunity to shoot some pool while stationed in Vietnam during the war. I was fortunate to be stationed in Long Binh Post in 1970 - 1971, a relatively safe area, that had a social activities building that had 4 pool tables and some ping pong tables. I think they named the building the "Pacesetter", but I could be mistaken. Anyways it was nice to take a break from our duties and shoot some 9 ball; a ring game of 9 ball with a small wager was the most popular game at the time.
 
I can tell you I was making a living in Honolulu in 1970 playing pool in strip joints on Shit Street. Guys coming in on R&R from Nam wanted nothing more than to have a good time. Playing 8 ball on barboxes for $5.00 a game was easy money and tons of fun. They could not beat a skinny hippie kid and it was ridiculously funny and easy money. The best part was they never got mad at me but used to give each other crap endlessly.

Told Rodney Morris this one night ( he was even born then) and he bought me drink for it. BTW Shit Street was actually North Hotel Street but in those days it had a reputation for strip clubs, fights and a place where you watched your back. I had a deal with the house and split with them. They never knew what went into my shoe in the men's room and I was very careful to go easy on dipping into the pot.

Used to survive on the all you can eat buffets at the hotels down by Waikiki Beach. The Outrigger was $3.00 all you could eat and hide in your pockets! LOL
 
It was 1968 at a base called Chu Lai on the coast(great beach and the South China sea was as warm as bath water) just 30 clics or so south of Danang.
There were two pool tables and they played terrible because of all the humidity but better than nothing.
Special services held a straight pool tournament that I won with a high run of 21 that was nothing for me at that time but the tables were awful.
I got a little 8 inch trophy that I still have.
 
Quesports said:
I can tell you I was making a living in Honolulu in 1970 playing pool in strip joints on Shit Street. Guys coming in on R&R from Nam wanted nothing more than to have a good time. Playing 8 ball on barboxes for $5.00 a game was easy money and tons of fun. They could not beat a skinny hippie kid and it was ridiculously funny and easy money. The best part was they never got mad at me but used to give each other crap endlessly.

Told Rodney Morris this one night ( he was even born then) and he bought me drink for it. BTW Shit Street was actually North Hotel Street but in those days it had a reputation for strip clubs, fights and a place where you watched your back. I had a deal with the house and split with them. They never knew what went into my shoe in the men's room and I was very careful to go easy on dipping into the pot.

Used to survive on the all you can eat buffets at the hotels down by Waikiki Beach. The Outrigger was $3.00 all you could eat and hide in your pockets! LOL
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I took my R & R in Honolulu in 1970 and met up with my Jersey girlfriend. I didn't shoot any pool while I was there, just relaxed and did some touristy stuff like go to a Hawaiian Luau, view Diamond Head, go to Waikiki Beach, and go to the mall and look at those colorful Koi fish along the thoroughfare.
 
Racky BallBoa said:
I took my R & R in Honolulu in 1970 and met up with my Jersey girlfriend. I didn't shoot any pool while I was there, just relaxed and did some touristy stuff like go to a Hawaiian Luau, view Diamond Head, go to Waikiki Beach, and go to the mall and look at those colorful Koi fish along the thoroughfare.
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First & Foremost, Thank You. Apologies to you and all the vets that were treated so badly after returning home…

If you had been there around the beginning of June, you could have attended Crater Fest. At the time it was a one day rock & roll concert inside Diamond Head crater. Bands were brought in by helicopter. In 70 Big Brother and The Holding Company, Steve Miller, Linda Rondstat, The Beach Boys and a couple others I can’t remember played.

Very cool stuff; later it became a two day show and was locally known as the Hawaiian Woodstock. Which I went to in 69 for five days!!

Good times!
 
I was in the first draft lottery. I drew #314. My senior year in college. Only lottery I ever played or won. Johnson and McNamara lied through their teeth about that mess. Here was a popular 1968 bumper sticker referring to Johnson.
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Common joke circulating in ‘65:
MACV soldier med-evacted from jungle fire fight explaining his injuries:
Heard cong voice from the bush: “Long live Ho Chi Minh”. I responded: “F__k Ho Chi Minh”. He answered: “F__k. LBJ”. As we were shaking hands in the middle of the road, a truck ran us over!
 
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My high school pool shooting sparring partner was in the army in Vietnam. When he was in the Philippines the locals brought in a 13-year-old Efren to try and rob him. He went to some tournament a few years ago (in Las Vegas?) that was in honor of Efren's retirement or some such thing. He wanted to play him again in order to say he beat him twice. Not so.
 
We had a badass roller coaster but all we ever wanted was a log ride. We waited and we waited but they never built us one. I think Danforth wanted a log ride more than anybody but he had to settle for that lame dinosaur water adventure ride.
 
Stationed at Camp Tien Sha, Da Nang in 69 - 70. Naval Support Facility, I worked in payroll. Our gym there had 4 4X8s. Pretty well
taken care of, if I remember correctly.
 
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