blanket from Vietnam

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: My Dad is so cute. He still has his "army blanket" from Vietnam. It's what we call it. That blanket has been on every family picnic, beach outing, and camping trip I know. It's older than I am, which is getting ehem, old! DH and I are taking the boys camping tomorrow for the first time, so we called my Dad and asked to borrow some of my parents' gear. We asked for sleeping bags, lantern, chairs, cooler. Well as I'm pulling out the sleeping bags to wash this evening (I don't think the sleeping bags had been washed since I was 10), there is good ol' "army blanket". We didn't ask for it, but Dad put it in there because to him, it's a necessity. DH totally doesn't get it, asking "what do we need this old thing for?", but I do. It always has that smell that reminds me of my childhood...Like campfire or sandy beaches.

Anyone else's father/grandfather/uncle own one of these blankets? It's camo, made of the same material that's on the outer shell of a sleeping bag. There are ties on each corner so that you can use it as a canopy, tent, whatever really. I can't believe it has survived this long. And sweet Dad trusts me with it. Cute.

Sorry, just had to share my little moment thinking of the past.....

luvmykids replied: That is one of the sweetest things I've ever heard

doublebubble replied: That is really cool & sweet!

grapfruit replied: Tim's dad went to Vietnam, but it wasn't by choice. He was pretty bitter about it. A little broken from what he saw over there.

He was in the long range recon group (think VERY dangerous, hiding in the bushes inches from the enemy). Tim said growing up his dad always said he never killed anybody. But recently admitted he had, more then a few.... It really bothers him, this many years later....he's VERY anti war b/c of what he saw, and did. There's not a lot left from those years, just a few scattered pictures

BAC'sMom replied: What a awesome story

bawoodsmall replied: I think it is cool to have the blanket. It was such a part of his and your life. Thing family heirloom.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I do have my dad old army blanket but not like the one you have, the one I have is plain green and is thin but it does keep me warm, I recently found it again. I dont think I can ever part with it and its really old, way older than me. I used to sleep with it everynight when I was a teen. I hope one day Kaitlin will want to use it.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: That actually brought tears to my eyes. I think you have a wonderful dad, Rae....from the things you have shared here about him. He seems sentimental.

A&A'smommy replied: how incredibly sweet!!!

mckayleesmom replied: My dad wasn't in Vietnam long before being discharged...he has a heart condition.


Leithan was Infantry before we got married...He still has all his gear and Russell loves to play with it....Canteen holder, gas mask...all of it. Sometimes after we put Russell to bed we can hear him throwing a fit over something...we always know its because he can't get his canteen holster on...

bawoodsmall replied:
oh brianne....you so make me laugh. That would so happen in our house.

Calimama replied: That's a neat story.

We have the gear too, although for us it means that DH is leaving again so it doesn't make for such happy memories.

grapfruit replied:
I hope his gear stays packed up for a long long time....

seeingblue2 replied: Aww that is neat!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: Awwww that's so sweet!

HuskerMom replied: That is so sweet.