Sgt
Sid Soloman was a good friend of mine at Bình Thủy AB
while I was in the 632nd SPS, Devil Flight, in 1970. My 22nd
birthday was May 16th,1970 and Sid took my place on a gun-jeep
for the night shift on the perimiter so I could party hard
with my good bud TSgt Gray.
I
was told about the accident just after it happened, and
went to the hospital to see if everyone was okay. As you
know, everyone was not okay.
SSgt Soloman was dead and three others were FUBAR. Looking
at them, I had no idea who was whom. It was
the first time I ever saw dead and injured men in that condition,
but that didn't last very long.
After discharge, I
went on the Norfolk Virginia Police Department when I got home from
Nam in 1970, and retired after 30 years in law enforcement. During
that time, I saw more dead and injured humans than I care to think
about.
I also went into the
Army Reserves as an Infantry Drill Sgt, and retired from that after
27 years. I turned 55 on May 16th, 2003 and did not know about VSPA's
WebPage or the fact that another Security Policeman was also killed
in that crash.
I met a guy named Louis
Kidd, a 632nd K-9 Sky Cop at Bình Thủy in 1969, who is now a manager
of the DMV in Norfolk, and he told me about VSPA's site. WOW, talk
about memories and forgotten good and bad times. Had I worked on
my birthday that night in 1970, I would not be here today enjoying
my grandbaby and my retirement. By the way, to this day, I take
my birthday off and have a few drinks for the one (now ones) who
didn't make it and will always remember Sid Soloman who was
killed on my 22nd birthday in 1970.
Stan Levinson,
Norfolk Virginia
Photos
were taken in 1970. This was for Sid Soloman... I guess 33 years
diden't dull my memory that much. The picture [left] is of three
guys I knew then, but have no Idea who there are now. Maybe you
do.
The last picture is a group of us guarding
USO entertainers. As you look at the picture, I am on the right.
Official
Information
