SAMUEL K. BEAMON

Jim Boyce USMC - HMM-164

Review date: 03/13/2009

   I got my copy of your book on Wednesday, and finished reading it yesterday. I could not put it down!!! It brought back a lot of things I have not thought about in 40 years. 164 was a very special squadron and as you said the crews shared a bond that most people will never understand. Even though I was not on flight status my entire time in the Nam, the months I did fly left their mark on me. The time aboard ship as well as the stay at Phu Bai shaped my life or really made me grow up.

   I sincerely hope that in the not to distant future we can get together and talk. There are a lot of things that can only be shared with someone who has been part of a Combat Air Crew on a 46. I have a very vivid memory of you and some events that took place aboard ship. As I have replayed these events and the effect they had on me I realize that you becoming a Police Officer and reaching the rank of Lieutenant fit the man I knew in 164. I guess the only surprise is that you did not become chief.
   I will close with this thought. As Mike Botch implied, I never knew your were black, I just knew you were Sam.

Semper Fi