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Title: Operation Golden Flow
Source:
362nd AVIATION COMPANY
URL Source: http://www.362avnco.com/2touraugsep2.html
Published: Jun 18, 2007
Author: ?
Post Date: 2007-06-18 21:14:51 by Dakmar
Keywords: None
Views: 154
Comments: 11
Drugs were cheap and easy to get. The price for almost pure heroin was $5 a vial. This container was about the size of a small thimble and easy to conceal. The estimated street price for this amount, in the US, was $150. That's in 1972 dollars which would be about $450 today. Sources were plentiful. At Bear Cat, intelligence reports identified individuals in the Thai Division as bulk dealers. They moved freely to Viet Nam from nearby Thailand without any checks. They sold to local nationals and US troops who sold to users. The major suppliers were seldom users. Plus, Thai commanders were reluctant to cooperate. This made getting evidence difficult. Getting evidence to identify users was relatively easy. A mobile urinalysis unit was available upon request. I would make random requests without notice. There was a special code I used on the phone which meant arrive tomorrow morning. The phone lines were not secure. The team arrived by helicopter to obtain urine samples. They had received special training and had equipment to assure samples did not become mixed. Everyone provided a sample. To obtain it required a person strip to the waist. This was to keep individuals from having a plastic bag, with "straight" urine in it, hidden from view. Users would purchase urine from non-users. During a test, they would put a bag under their arm. From the bag, a small tube would extend into the groin area. Instead of their urine going into the sample container, it would be urine from another person. The medics had to see the urine come from a person's body and enter the test container. I always went first. However, I was never the first to submit a sample. There was something about standing in front of 500 troops and trying to urinate. They would yell and laugh which invariably caused me to "lock up." I wasn't alone. Nevertheless, no one left without giving a sample. Often it took coffee, cokes, beer and other beverages, but there was a 100 percent submission rate. Those testing positive went to a detoxification center. If an individual tested positive twice in a row, they were processed for discharge. Unfortunately, this did not get the dealers. This task was a personal one and I took it serious. The dealers also took it serious. There would be close calls because of it. Eventually, they lost. First Lieutenant Nelson (rear) oversees installation of communications system for defense bunkers at Bear Cat. WO 1 Longman (second from rear), WO1 Meeds (center) and unknown United trooper help establish secure communications from the command bunker to every United bunker in our defense sector. My first unannounced inspection found four men in a bunker sleeping. I was able to disarm each person without awakening him. One had a syringe in his arm from a recent heroin injection. Their defensive sector was open to attack. I relieved them of duty and recommended each for a General Court Martial. Sleeping on guard, particularly in a combat zone, was a serious offense. They had put the entire base at risk. Such was the way of "Demon Heroin." face="Arial" size="+1">Marijuana was second to heroin for users. However, smoking "pot" was not a serious threat. It did not totally incapacitate an individual to the point of unconsciousness. However, the urinalysis would detect its use. Individuals sent to the detoxification center usually returned to duty within a week. LSD was seldom found. I personally only had two cases in the 362nd. One was a transfer from another unit. We never determined who he was. The flight surgeon said he would likely be a "vegetable" for the remainder of his life. The other case I firmly believe was a test error. This person was a straight trooper and a valuable asset to our unit. He never tested positive again for over 10 months. Poster Comment: Now that's the way to retain troops!
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#1. To: Dakmar (#0)
If I was drafted and knew I had this "easy out", I'd be shooting up at morning formation.
No, no, no, no, no... My understanding is that one would be kept "in country" failing a piss test. Sounds capricicioius and venal, sure, but... uh...
I'll take a week in a nice bed in detox over one in the bush getting my ass shot at, thankyouverymuch.
#4. To: Indrid Cold (#3)
Fine, not really my call though. :)
sorry for getting snippy I saw something earlier today that suggested OGF was a scheme to keep "boots on the ground" in vietnam.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThose testing positive went to a detoxification center. If an individual tested positive twice in a row, they were processed for discharge.
#2. To: Indrid Cold (#1)
#3. To: Dakmar (#2)
My understanding is that one would be kept "in country" failing a piss test.
Replies to Comment # 3.
#5. To: Indrid Cold (#3)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 3.