Aaron in Mohnton Pa Posted August 29, 2022 Report Share Posted August 29, 2022 (edited) What a weekend ...... I am not much of a reader, but the best book I have read in my life is the 1981 book GUNS UP! by Johnnie M. Clark... It details his time in Vietnam as a Marine Corps. Machine Gunner along with the importance of the Machine Gun Team in combat..... Johnnie flew to Pennsylvania this week to shoot some of our M60s along with some other Vietnam Vets.... It would be the first time in 54 years that Johnnie ran one...... It was magical to see him reunite with the gun he fought and almost died with in Vietnam.... I was fortunate enough to be able to get in the dirt with him and do some "Talking Guns"... Not everyday one gets to shoot with a true blue war hero. He was on a 60 when he earned his Silver Star in Vietnam. Some photos and video below. Aaron Edited August 29, 2022 by Aaron in Mohnton Pa 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bd_p98 Posted August 29, 2022 Report Share Posted August 29, 2022 Aaron - this is awesome! Thank you for doing this and sharing the pictures. I'm sure it was a very special day for all! I had just finished his book last month and it is among the best. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron in Mohnton Pa Posted August 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2022 @Bd_p98 thanks Tim…. Business from guys like you is what paid for this event. So thank you man… it was a blast. I got a copy of Gunners Glory from him this past weekend. I am really looking forward to it. I couldn’t put GUNS UP down. Aaron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiking44 Posted September 1, 2022 Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 That's awesome man! The M60 is part of the reason for my hearing loss, but it sure was a blast to shoot. I'm not a Viet Nam vet, but I think it's great to see them get a chance to shoot again. Wonder if he remembers the three rates of fire of the M60? Sustained, Rapid, and Cyclic - iirc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron in Mohnton Pa Posted September 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 (edited) @Wiking44 It came back to him pretty fast. He was still familiar with the weapon. From the first round of shooting he was throwing good controlled bursts down.... He was familiar still with the various rates of fire. He did tell me that he fired from the hip in many engagement's and that ammo conservation had to always be on the mind of the M60 gunner... being resupply was not gonna happen depending on the location / duration of the mission etc. Edited September 1, 2022 by Aaron in Mohnton Pa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiking44 Posted September 3, 2022 Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 Very cool. Thank you for sharing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
har1690 Posted September 3, 2022 Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 God Bless our VETS! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DINK Posted September 4, 2022 Report Share Posted September 4, 2022 I read "Guns Up" many years ago and enjoyed it a lot. I am delighted to hear that Mr. Clark is still around and able to pull the trigger on a "pig" as well as he used to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattnh Posted October 16, 2022 Report Share Posted October 16, 2022 I’ve got a used paperback copy of “Guns up” I’ll pass along for free to anybody interested in reading it… just post here & send me a PM and it is yours… — Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reichstall Posted October 16, 2022 Report Share Posted October 16, 2022 that is awsome wish we could do this for all vets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattnh Posted October 17, 2022 Report Share Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) Free Guns Up copy is going to gunner11 - congrats - I’m sure you will enjoy it… — Matt Edited October 17, 2022 by mattnh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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