Battle of Dak To - Hill 875 - Mercer Vandenburg - 173rd Airborne Full Interview
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- Опубліковано 10 лис 2023
- Take Two Salt Tablets and Drive On - Mercer Vandenburg's full interview discussing his early life and combat experience in Vietnam. Mercer is one of many Vietnam veterans with an incredible story to tell, and we are grateful we were able to share his story with the world.
If you are a Vietnam veteran and want to immortalize your story, send us an email at dontmeannothin@protonmail.me. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @dontmeannothin - Rumble at Don't Mean Nothin'. We appreciate your support as we continue to grow a platform dedicated to educating the public about what these men endured fighting for their country.
Thank you for your kind words of support for Lt. Mercer. Meeting with him and conducting this interview was a pleasure. We are looking for more veterans to interview, if you or someone you know has military service and a story to share with the world please reach out to us at dontmeannothin@protonmail.me
Would’ve been awesome if you could’ve got an interview with Gambino associate Dominic Montiglio before he passed away recently. Dominic’s uncle was Nino Gaggi Gambino Captain and Dominic was a bagman and liaison between his uncle and Paul Castallano. He was also 173rd Airborne and a Veteran of Dak-To & hill 875. Really appreciate all of this history & firsthand accounts being documented for all of us to learn from. These 173rd guys were all warriors & MACV-SOG chose their men from the 173rd, green berets & SEALS. That kinda puts them in perspective
I was there at Dak To with the Brigade's Forward Command Post, Command Section. I hold Lt. Mercer, and all the members of the 2nd and 4th Battalions in the highest regard.
I got to go to ft Sherman shortly before is was closed I was there in the dry season the humidity wasn’t quite as bad for JOTC I didn’t think it was that hot the hottest place I’ve been is South Korea like 97 with 98 percent humidity his estimation on the weight carried was way low as a former light infantry soldier probably more like 100 pounds minus rucksack
God bless you Sir for I'm sure that the memories are painful. I just hope money wasn't the reason for you to share your story. God loves you and I love you too Sir with the upt most respect.
I have a copy of My Uncle Wayne Abbey's Silver Star citation for his actions as an FAC (Forward Air Controller- call sign Butterfly) at the battle of Dak To 8 Nov 1967. The citation reads that two companies of US forces were surrounded by a hostile battalion. Captain Abbey directed air support from fighters etc etc despite being under dire3ct enemy fire. Major Abbey went on to fly fac with the Ravens (covert operations in Laos) where Richard Nixon said the US wasn't .
WHAT EXTREME WAR DOES TO A SOLDIER: Vandenberg mentions his company's artillery forward observer near the end of this documentary, LT William Atkins. We first met in Jump School because Atkins and I had volunteered for Special Forces. Atkins showed his colors when during Jump School when Navy Seals hung a bed sheet off one of the 250' jump towers and we wanted to climb the tower and replace their "flag." We were told if we did attempt it, we would be removed from the program. Atkins was livid and we snuck into town and Atkins bought a huge burlap bag of fish. We hid the fish all over the SEALs barracks. The results were spectacular and we became heroes in our jump school class. We became very close friends after that. We went through SF training together and then Artillery OCS. (How two infantry men ended up in artillery cannot be explained. We thought we would go to infantry OCS.) I had orders directly to the 5th SF Group in Vietnam and Bill went to the 173rd. I was shot by an AK-47 through the upper leg. It was like being it with a baseball bat. I requested to stay in Vietnam. I couldn't hump the jungle with SF and instead of ending up at a desk as a first lieutenant, I volunteered for the 173rd thinking I would end up in a FDC in a battery. They made me the battalion S-2. Bill was an FO with A/4/503, I arrived in June 67 at Dak-To the day after A/2/503 had been wiped out during The Battle of the Slopes. 76 KIA and 23 WIA. Another OCS classmate had survived that fight, LT Richard Busenlener, (He was killed at Hill 875). I connected with Bill at FB16 right before the 4th assaulted Hill 875. I was being rotated back to the State and gave Bill my WWII BAR belt that held 20 magazines and my war pistol, he promised to bring back to me in the States. We met again at MACV-SOG CCN and met again at the Officer Career Course, Fort Sill in 1970. Bill had changed drastically. He hung with a very wild crowd and ended up being thrown out of the course and shortly thereafter he was thrown out of the Army. He joined the Rhodesian Sealous Scouts until that country fell to the black communists and then with the South African Scouts until they fell to the black communists. On his way back home, he stopped in England to see his girlfriend and ended up pulling a concealed.38 on an off duty detective. He got 7 years in a British prison where the prison gangs would beat the hell out of him every time he was released from the hospital. We tried getting him extradited back to the States, but the Brits refused. When he did return to the USA, he was a much different man and ended up hustling in Washington DC with the CONTRAs, etc. He died a severe alcoholic living with a rich woman in Marian County, California. Bill was a mighty fine paratrooper and my friend.
Hey Donald, thank you for your service. We would love to document and immortalize your story. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at dontmeannothin@proton.me if you are interested in doing an interview.
Thank you for your service and that great info. Richard Busenlehners is some of my cousins uncle (one of Richard's brothers married one of my moms sisters)
I remember Lt Atkins. yes a damn fine man and a damn fine paratrooper
Don’t get the fish bit?
@@NoLefTurnUnStoned. If you do not find all the fish, they will quickly rot and the smell is very bad.
Lieutenant, thanks for your brave service. I was 3rd/503rd/173rd Airborne Brigade. 91B4P. Recon. Recently I read that the 173rd was in combat longer than any other unit since the Revolutionary War. While flying in choppers in the Central Highlands, I saw in every direction hills with thick green forest. Not one road, hamlet, rice paddy or antenna. Walking in those forests, following ancient trails, no birds heard or seen, no animals seen but wooly black monkeys that scattered upon seeing us humans. Leeches, cool in the mornings, the forest floor was inches deep in rotting leaves and bark. Nights there was lime green phosphorescence moving from bush to log to branch. Eerie, I thought I was seeing things that were not there. When fogged in, it was one spooky environment. Seeing mature pine forests was a surprise. Pine needles made for a more comfortable sleep. Never ever never ever never ever met one coward or shirker. Airborne!
As a replacement to the 173rd B/4 503 shortly after Hill 875 . I was with the survivors and they got to sharing their experiences of both hills 875 and hill 830. This account from Lt. Mercer Vanderburg jives with what I heard from them without a doubt.. Lt. Larry More, Atwell (Silver Star), "Arnie " Palmer, Sgt Ward, Zip Code, Doug Wayne, Rocky Stone, Ham Hamilton (heavy drop) and others shared the horrors and the valor of those battles. For them, Thanksgiving would never be the same. I am sure that Lt. Vanderburg had so much more he could have shared. He was on hill 875 with two Metal of Honor repentances. Among the losses he referred were other Lieutenants , several of whom were from the Class of 66', memorialized in the book, The Long Gray Line. One can only tell so much in one story. Airborne... All the way Sir..
my brother was a sergeant and he served in the 132nd under Perry. He was in Gang-Bangh Valley
That's what you call a trooper..they don't come any better than him ..this country owes this man..a true hero God bless
It is sad that good soldiers get old and leave us the poorer for their loss.
Much respect...
I'm a Hill 875 survivor.
I'm SO happy he mentioned what we called a medic if we got hit... HOTEL!
My uncle Delbert pinola was there he's native American. Did you know him. He was a machine gunner
If you were 18 years old then, you'd have to be at least 76 years old today. If you were older than that, you're nearly 80 or older today.
My platoon sergeant when I was in the army in the late 70s was in weapons platoon on Hill 875. He would tell us gruesome stories about it. You're both lucky to be alive.
Hey Jim, thank you so much for your service. If you are interested in sharing your story, send us an email at dontmeannothin@proton.me. We would love to document your experience.
I'm 77 as of this year. never thought I'd live past 20 over there.@@lheggestad
The area the 4 th and 173rd operated in was some of the most challenging terrain in US military history
yes it was. hills hills and more hills. steep as much as a 45 degree angle. In the monsoon season you stayed wet in the day and cold at night, in the dry season you stayed hot in the day and definitely cold at night up in the dark triple canopy jungle. I've watched at times giggling to myself seeing bowling for paratroopers trying their best to get up a hill in the monsoon season with an 80# ruck on their backs with mortars, grenades, heavy weapons firing at them and still they go up that damn hill. I fought with heroes that never get mentioned in the press.
Cheers from an Afghanistan USMC Infantry Vet. I know our wars were different but I can't convey enough respect for you and your brothers and in turn the fathers that you were to us. Semper Fi and I am grateful and proud of you.
Thank You for your service Marine, you are appreciated.
dude you went through hell thanks for your service
My father served with the 173 Airborne Brigade in Vietnam 1969 to 1970.
Thanks for your service! Everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home! I spent all of 67 there but didn’t have it that bad!
"he was calling mummy, mummy, mummy"
Of course he was, he must have been an 18/19 yrs old kid, like most of you were back then.
Truly heartbreaking...
Mercer is one bad ass sob. I was a Infantryman and knew a lot of hard men but the 173rd guys i knew were all bad asses. Cheers
Dak To was THE heaviest concentrated fighting in the entire war. I was in the HERD a while after Dak To. At our reunions the men who fought there are held in highest regard. The HERD was the best! AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY! JOE RYAN A/3/503 PIR 173 AIRBORNE BRIGADE
We took 340+ KIA and over 1000 wounded. The Brigade was declared unfit for combat and stood down to rebuild. ALL the Infantry Companies were unfit for combat.
Hey Joe, thank you so much for your service. If you are interested in sharing your story, send us an email at dontmeannothin@proton.me. We would love to document your experience.
Sounds like a loss to me huh? Or do we pull a McArthur and something like- ohh we took that hill! Duhhh
@@ericgibson2079,, no sir,,173rd won that one,,in fact,,the NVA respect the 173rd so much for taking the hill,,,that they had a memorial statue made Honoring the 173rd
It strikes me that learning real history on this platform is so ironic, given the censorship (often demanded by the government) here. Hardly the Democracy, Constitutionalism and American traditional values these brave men fought for. God bless him and the content creator for preserving this for us all.
Thank you for these kind words.
What the fuck are you talking about
The Constituition does not apply to private parties. The government does not require censorship on UA-cam. Wake up.
Sir i have nothing but respect for you !!! Thank you for your service and sacrifice!
Its wild my grandfather did 4 tours as a Green Beret and I never got to meet him before he died... I've been looking high and low for people that might have known him and I haven't been able to find anyone... God bless man this a damn good interview
Contact / google the Special Forces Association . Someone will help you there.
The 173rd Airborne 3rd battalion at Bien Hoa in 1965 was the First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Wow ! I know exactly where he’s from . I live 50 miles west in Washington Mo. Clayton a very nice community . It’s a privilege to her this man’s. Story . God Bless the Vietnam Veteran .
What a brave man to open up in his dealing with his experience of his life. I see his haunted look as he recollects these memories. What a brave man. God Bless him. Would like to meet and spend time with him.
What you are witnessing is severe PTSD 50+ years after.
Boys, boys or young men that had to learn real fast! My un was 101. Screaming Eagles. Dad as well. RIP Agent Orange took him.
my brother was a sergeant and he served in the 132nd under Perry. He was in Gang-Bangh Valley
Thank you soldier! Welcome home! Marine ‘66-‘67 Chu Lai.
Navy Corpsmam 1/1 1st. Med. & CAP Delta 3. WIA 100% 1967 .
my brother was a sergeant and he served in the 132nd under Perry. He was in Gang-Bangh Valley
What an effin awesome story!!
The battle of hill 875 is really well and emotionally, movingly described in the book "Westpoints class of 66" by Rick Atkinson.
I was stationed in Plekiu, Camp Holloway. From July 1967 to July 1968. I'm very familiar with that area. Khontom, Dak To
Would you be open to talking with us about your experience? If so, please email us at dontmeannothin@proton.me
Mercer is my uncle. My mother's brother. She told me when I was a kid that Uncle Nicky (what our family calls Mercer) had served and was wounded, but that he never spoke of it. After she passed, I slowly lost touch with her side of the family. I really wish I had known the extent of all this when I was younger. My gratitude to him is immense, and I now consider him an arch hero of our family. I have since thanked him for what he went through, and hope to get to know him better after all this time. Thank you for recording and sharing this.
We are proud to share Mercer's story with the world and your family. Your uncle is an amazing person.
My brother Vernon was in the 173rd Brigade 503rd think it was B company 2nd Battalion worked with Aussie Tunnel Rats was in country March 1967🎉1966-67@Dak To Hill 873 KIA November 13th 1967. Well done Lt Mercer Thanks for your service.. So Glad you did this interview.
Thank you for the support Walter. Is your brother still with us? We'd love to document his story.
@@DontMeanNothin"KIA" stands for "killed in action"
I was in B company 2nd Battalion November 13. Because of high casualty rate we were pulled back to our fire support base.The other 3 company's moved on to Hill 875. I am sorry I did not know your brother Vernon.
Lt. Vandenburg..... you are a great great great American.
Welcome home,thank you so much for your service.👊🏻🇺🇸 Northeast Missouri
Vandenberg AFB My Dad was there a few years, I never knew anything about the name of the Base,Thank you and God Bless all those Individuals who have Protected Our Country
Thanks for your service, Mercer.
My buddy Mike Harden served with the 173rd in Vietnam. Lives in Albuquerque. Great guy.
my brother was a sergeant and he served in the 132nd under Perry. He was in Gang-Bangh Valley
God blesse my fiends that serverd in with the 173rd air borne see you in haven
You mentioned FT Sill Oklahoma, and I always say this. My aunt- (Betty Anne Powell) whom im very proud of God rest her soul, founded the ft sill newspaper ( The Cannoneer ). She served in the womans army corps as my mother did. And went to college getting degrees in journalism, business and more. Became attached to us army journalism pool ( news pool) stars and stripes. Then after the war she got a post in Washington DC and served several years there. After that she became a civillian contractor for the DOD public relations Dept. When she retired, because she had a way of handling certain etiquette problems and such, they added to the Annapolis school of public relations teachings based on her skill and tacit understanding of public relations and methods to turn bad press around to favor! God bless you Aunt Anne!!!🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 But i also say God bless you Sir.
I can tell this is painful for Mercer to discuss this. I love his story about the hospital experience. Love this guy.
Thank you for watching, Mercer is an incredible person. It was an honor just to spend the day with him.
Much Respect
I salute you LT welcome home. - I served Dakto June -
Nov 67
My uncle Martin Johnson was attached to the 173rd as a sapper but served as a machine gunner I think but am not sure that he served in Viet Nam possibly 66-67. He served most of a tour but was pulled out of combat with his friend’s blood on his uniform and sent home to Colorado because his brother another uncle was in combat at the same time. His friends thought he was related to Lyndon Johnson and got pulled out for that reason. I know I am casting a huge net and am wondering if any former 173rd soldiers served with him and remember him. He died a few years ago due to agent orange exposure.
Hello from a Dutch Afghanistan Veteran. Thank you for the upload.
Australian veterans have suffered similarly...
To what end?
😔
🙏 Pray for peace.
Excellent interview. Thanks guys
This is one of the most important interviews I've heard as far as real warfare goes. This man is the real deal. Serious yet humble . Thank you Lt. Mercer
Mercer a prayer for your service to our country 3 tours is above and beyond
Mercer was wounded on his first combat tour. I found Mercer through trying to find information about my uncle Myron, who was killed on his 3rd tour. He was in Mercer's unit and did 1 tour in Korea and 3 in Vietnam.
Kyle
Thank you sir for your service and sharing your stories. It had to be difficult to go back in that period of your life.
Thank You SIR.....for everything......WELCOM HOME !!
WELCOME
Great man
A true warrior and hero
That is a mind numbing story
Thank you sir🇺🇸
You are all warriors ,thanks for defending freedom in south vn !!
Definitely one of the best interviews, and stories given by a soldier of his time in combat. Thank you both for sharing.
I'm gonna need a word much stronger than respect for this fellow. God bless him and all of those men.
My uncle was killed by the friendly fire bomb dropped thanks for sharing this PFC DeHerrera
Excellent interview, Thank you for your service !!!
Amazing the details and everyone’s name he served with. Memory as sharp as a tack.
Thank you for your service to our country.
Precious information, thank you. I am humbled by these good men.
Thanks for letting us know your thoughts and experiences over there, you are all brave men with convictions to one another, thanks again for sharing this 😊
I think this is the most gripping video I've ever watched on UA-cam. This man redefines toughness, bravery and dedication. This video should be shown unedited to high school social studies classes to demonstrate to kids today what these heroes of ours went through both on the field of battle, but also once they got home dealing with their injuries & disabilities.
Amazing interview. The way you guide the interview but also keep it wide open is truly a talent.
I can't wait to see the next one. Subscribed.
Thank you for sharing parts of your life with us. And thanks to the cameraman for preserving our nation's history. Every one of these soldiers are Real heros! Thanks for serving our nation.
Your friends and family will be waiting for you when you go. Thank you you’re a good man. thanks again for your service. California 🏄♂️
Extremely well done on this interview. Fascinating man
Great interview
I was an F-4 fathom jet mechanic at mcdonnell aircraft. in st.louis in 1965....lived in illinois and drove 50 miles to MAC to build jets....Boring job....Loved hanging out in st.louis...after Illinois cornfields. lot more women in st.louis... would go to a nightclub on the rock road....there are people here will know what im talking about....got drafted and hated the army ...got out and went back to st.louis....lived in every suburb of st.louis....washington university in stlouis opened my mind to the real world..very smart people there... still have a couple of friends in st.louis....married a girl in springfield, illinois....back and forth to st.louis to make money...St.louis was a unique city. at one time only new york was bigger than st.louis....lots of old money..clayton, Missouri had a french restaurant on marland avenue...when this guy said clayton , Missouri ...memories .
Thanks for sharing. All he best. Go Cardinals!
Mercer Vandenburg, what a great story teller. Very descriptive, feels like you are there. Thank you sir. Well done.
Jesus... This mans a warrior. Please don't stop getting us these Videos for UA-cam and history purposes. I need to go to my local VFW and get some GoPro stories while they are still around and have the memories
God bless you Lt. For your service and your honesty.
I have talked to Aligood, Denny and Col. Phillips. This is the last Lt. on Hill 830. This really fills in the story. Incredible interview with a true hero. After 57 years, I still get emails from Col. Phillips and David Aligood every July 10th.
Disguise, a hero, amazing. Amazing story the best I’ve ever seen the best I ever listened to and watching UA-cam 10 years he he’s the best. God bless him.
You can see as the interview continues he's back there god bless them all never to be forgotten total respect
Thank you sir..for your service..
Welcome home Brother. 2/503rd. 173rd Airborne Brigade VN 65-66
Draftee here who ended up with a fairly safe job at USARV Hqs 68/69. You and your men were always greatly respected. May God bless you sir.
Max Clevland became Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the entire United States.
Thank you for your service sir.
Thank You Lt. Vandenburg.
Great video
Proud to say my mother was a nurse at Walter Reed from 68 to 72.
SKY SOLDIERS
2-503 173rd
OEF 8
OEF 10
Hey Buck, thank you for your service. If you are interested in sharing your story, send us an email at dontmeannothin@proton.me. We would love to document your experience.
Man i reac a book on the battle of Dak To. That was bad business. So much respect for you sir.
Thank you for your service 🙏
Thank you Lt. Mercer and may God Bless You.
Welcome home brother, you done good...72 yo Navy Veteran
I grew up with family friends in my hometown of scituate ma. The dads name was Jake Duffy. He was with 173rd as artillery observer and i think he was in this big hill battle thats discussed. Mr duffy just passed away a couple years ago.
What a great interview. I'm Airborne qualified Army Vet from 1970 to 1973. Assigned to Germany. This is the best interview I've seen among so many Great Vietnam vets. Respect upon respect.
Tom, I served in Freidberg, FRG from 71-74. Great duty station, HHC 3Bde, 3rd Armored Division. Bad Nauhiem was a popular place to relax and enjoy its spring water wheel.
Welcome Home Brother 👍💪🇺🇸
God bless you 🙏🏼
As Hack would say, "You're either a stud or a dud."
This man is a stud!
How many studs they got on that wall,,and for what..?
For what? For the vatican to further their counter reformation and power.
Read...Vietnam, Why Did We Go by Avro Manhatten
It's insane these people actually lived this story. God bless this guy
God Bless you and your Family Sir! Thank you with all my heart and soul for your service to the United States 🇺🇸.
I was in 173rd from may 65 to august 65 at Bien HOA. We had it easy compared to later years. Remember the sky soldiers!!!!
Make that aug 66
1st plt, C co, 2nd 503rd,
Being at the age that was in the first year of the lottery and ending up with a high number I knew so many friends and two family members who went there. Some of them didn't make it back. My heart breaks listening to this. I won't even mention the politics. Muscle cars, cheap gas, Walter Cronkite every night... and the war... sums up the times...
Damn straight, Sir. NCO’s Backbone of the Army.
Top man.
Friendly fire? No matter who fires it, if it’s going to maim or kill you, it ain’t friendly! That really do need to give it a different name.
Welcome hom3 my brother, you served with honor, Sir...72 yo Navy Veteran
I was in Vietnam for 4 yet offensives. The biggest one was January 1st, 1968
Thank you for sharing your story, for I know that it's something that wasn't ever talked about in my home and that was respect for my grandfather was was in the Air Force. Because of his height he was perfect for the gunner at the tail end of the plane. It was like a half glass cage he shot from. He was a POW and I can't say much more, but he was very high upper who wanted to be caught in order to get messages to the POW camps. Wish I could say more like I said but he took many top secrets to his grave and he was a jolly fellow nothing bothered him. He loved his family and he taught me the proper way to pick up your date. He was a lady's gentleman always made sure he wear a suit a box of chocolates and a flower when he went to pick up his lady friends. I'd love to have been able to be half the man he was. I. Know this story is about Vietnam and I had a Uncle who served 66-68. He did say only one time that he felt like he should have stayed longer to help you the new young man because he said it was leaving your child to defend for himself and took the one's he could under his wing. Barry was his name from Tucson AZ.
Good job at listening and not interru.pting. Cannot even imagine the hell these guys went thru. They are just words coming from his mouth, yet your mind cannot even comprehend the onslaught.This guy was eviscerated. How did he make it thru?
LT. You are a total F**KING BADASS!!!! Thank you, sir, for your sacrifice 🙏you and all vets especially Vietnam Vets deserved total respect for doing exactly what the dumbass politicians had you men doing. Sir you are what I picture a true American hero is in my eyes.
I understand this story in full. I was involved in the "battle of the slopes" rescue, though not much to rescue. I had one of my closest calls there because the helicopter I was on received "Incoming" and I jumped on the low ground side at 12 to 15 feet, steeply down hill- with a 75 pound pack. Crash. But no injuries. On hill 875, my company was the first up the ridgeline. We lost 25 KIA and 25 WIA in an afternoon, in a somewhat reinforced company with an extra platoon. I fired "micro" mortar through the night - an M79 grenade launcher on high angle fire --- I only got too close to our company perimeter one time- not to injure our people, but scared them a bit. Tiny little quirks seemed to separate those that were killed and maimed from those, like me, who didn't get a scratch. Of course, people like me believe there is a God and that he is in control. I had been in Viet Nam only a week or two when I come to the conclusion that what we were doing there would never work- history seems to verify that I was right, and that the political and military leaders were wrong-- and many other descriptive works might fit. I rate my life as quite successful--- with Viet Nam as only an unpleasant backdrop to better things afterward. I do still feel the loss of three people important to me in Viet Nam- otherwise, I hardly ever give it a thought.
We'd love to talk to you someday. If you ever decide you'd like to immortalize your story, please feel free to reach out.
@@DontMeanNothin Others have better stories, no doubt. I only had a few close calls. If you are interested I might be willing to submit a written version of my story - perhaps that might evolve into a video. I might tell a better story than some because I remember things with considerable detail. I was not a "Rambo" type, or "Gung-Ho". I was Airborne only because of the extra money.
"Your AIRBORNE, you're good!
You can tell he’s very affected by his service, or he’s got Parkinson’s or both. It’s funny how easy it was to get an active duty slot in 1966 vs. when I was training. I was commissioned in 1990 after having gotten a 4/5 at ROTC advance camp. I got decent grades and got orders to Artillery Officer Basic @ Ft. Sill. Did great there graduated right after the Gulf War ended, and was immediately given orders to the National Guard. They cut the size of the active duty army by 40% and nobody could get an active duty slot. I was a volunteer ROTC student, no scholarship, so I stuck with the guard for exactly a year and got a transfer to IRR. It wasn’t worth my time to just do it one weekend a month.