Vietnam and the President

[hsfrank]

In 1965 I was sent to Vietnam with my Military Police Battalion. While there I would often visit the PX. One day there was a reverse auction on a Rolex President Day Date. THe auction started at $1000 although it might have been more) and dropped by $50 a day until purchased. as a comparison as a Second Lt. I was making $212 a MONTH. Movies were 25 cents and my food allowance was $47 a month. I was determined to get that watch but could not afford more than a few hundred . Although I was not hopeful, I checked in every day. Alas I did not get it. But, now Rolex became my brand and I wanted one. Along came a wife 4 kids and I had to wait until they left the nest (the kids not the wife {although the first did but not the second}). Then I bought the first Rolex I could afford, my Cellini. For a while I experimented with other brands but none gave me the satisfaction I felt with Rolex. I was able to purchase two other Rolexes. I still had a hankering for that President.Skip to present, I figured out that I could trade my two other Rolexes and some cash and get my grail watch. Thanks to Patrick (OCROLEXGUY), it happened. I now wear it proudly.