Vern in Vietnam late 1968
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Vern Mock is Hawaiian. Note the slope of his jaw, the Hawaiian hands, his
broad shoulders, and the
way Vern is squatting. Vern's left jaw slopes down sharper than the right.
The thumbs-up gesture is an American sign language and is also only one finger
away from the Hawaiian shaka.
CL Chapman is a black man / round eye from one of the US southern states like Mississippi.
Note the color of the skin on his face and hands. His face is long and narrow and
his nose is narrow but round on the end.
His posture is one of southern American, somewhat slouchy
and relaxed. The personalities of Chapman and Mock
are distinguishable.
There are five Americans in this picture - two teams - Meadows, Chapman, Mock;
Buckley & Dodge.
Buckley and Dodge had just arrived in camp right before this
picture was taken.
Chapman and Mock are younger men around the age of 19 or 20.
Meadows, Buckley, & Dodge are obviously older and more experienced men.
Meadows was about 37 years old when this picture was taken.
Most likely Chapman and Mock were being trained by Meadows.
Buckley & Dodge were a sniper team.
Vern:
1967.............................................1966
C.L. Chapman (1967):
life span circa 1947 - 1968
Vern:
* Began taking martial arts at the age of 5, Kajukenbo Master* Had a photographic memory. could remember a meal 5 years past; what everyone wore, what everyone ate, and what the conversation was
* Took ROTC in high school
* Origins of Chinese, English, Hawaiian
* MOS: 5 languages, explosives
* Vern was short which is most likely why he chose to squat in the front row. Also his chest is very wide for a man of his height. If you notice, his shoulders are nearly as wide as Mike Buckley's shoulders.
* Ambidextrous: shot weapons with his left hand; cut hair with his right hand (Notice Vern's Hawaiian hands in the picture at the top of the page and also that the left hand is over the weapon.)
* Had a peculiar way of sqautting with impeccable balance. Sat by bending both knees at once. One knee is not up or down to try to maintain balance.
Mike Buckley
Clarence Dodge
Dick Meadows
"You don't have to stand tall, but you do have to stand" - Vern Mock