Army

I joined the U.S. Army at 17, while I was still in high school. It was a way out of West Virginia, and I couldn't afford college. After graduation in June, I left for Ft. Bragg, NC on July 2, 1967, for basic training. It was a lovely place - if you liked pine trees and red clay! Before attending Advanced Individual Training (Infantry), I was selected for Leadership School and discovered that it is much nicer to boss around, than to be bossed around. Both classes were at Ft. Ord, CA (which, I was convinced, was placed on property which no one else wanted - cold/hot, damp/dry, foggy/blazing sun - all on the same day!)

After AIT, I went to The Infantry School at Ft. Benning where I attended Non-Commissioned Officer Candidate School (NCOCS class #11-68) and graduated as a buck sergeant, E-5. One cycle as cadre at Ft. McClelland, AL, was all I got state-side, then a tour in Viet Nam with the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One).

I became the platoon sergeant for the recon platoon of the 2nd Bn, 28th Inf. Bde, the Black Lions, based in Lai Khe, in III Corps. We operated from south of Saigon (the Iron Triangle), north through the Michelin Rubber Plantation, along Highway 1, all the way to the border (the Testicles/Fish hook.) Most often, I was the platoon leader since lieutenants didn't last long in combat (I saw thirteen come and go during my tour.) I was promoted to SSG E-6 as soon as possible and, for a little while, I was the youngest E-6 in the army. For the last few months of my tour, I was used as a replacement... filling in as platoon sergeant/leader for platoons in companies C and D which had lost their own leaders.

When I returned to the states, I was placed as Division Training NCO for the 5th Mechanized Infantry at Ft. Carson, CO. During nearly a year of stateside duty, where I could re-acclimate myself to civilization, I eventually moved off base and met civilians before my discharge. I credit this cooling-down period with keeping me from fitting the 'crazed vet' profile and wonder if anyone has ever studied it. I pity the poor guys who were killing one evening and civilian the next - that would be a very tough change.

You know, until a few years ago, it wasn't "PC" to admit that you were even in Viet Nam. Now it's acceptable... just. That's better, I guess, because I've always been proud that somewhere along the way, I was awarded these medals.