Gender

Male

Birth date

1942-6-26

Place of birth

Honolulu HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

1967-9-6, Honolulu HI

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Navy

Service type

War,peacetime

Unit type

Support

Units served

Detatchment A, 11th Dental Company, First Marine Aircraft Wing

Military specialty

Dentist

Stationed

USA: Camp Pendleton, CA
Other Countries: Da Nang, Vietnam; Futema, Okinawa; Chu Lai, Vietnam

Separated

Camp Pendleton CA

Unit responsibility

Our responsibility was treating the marines at the dental facility.

Personal responsibility

My responsibility was being a dental officer

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

I served in the Tet Offensive and to be present for support and to treat dental needs.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
S.E. Asia Campaign Medal
Navy Commendation Medal w/Combat Distinguishing Device

Citation reads as follows:
''For meritorious service while serving as Officer in Charge of Detachment A, Eleventh Dental Company, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 6 October 1967 to 21 June 1968. Throughout this period, Lt. MAEDA performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Demonstrating superior leadership and managerial ability, he skillfully instructed and supervised his personnel while expeditiously accomplishing all assigned tasks, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of his section. Displaying resolute determination and superb technical ability, he ably provided outstanding dental care for numerous personnel with Marine Aircraft Group Eleven. Working tirelessly and with meticulous attention to detail, he vluntarily participated in his unit's Dental Civic Action Program and, largely due to his exceptional resourcefulness and diligent efforts, contributed immeasurably to the friendly relationships betweeen Marines and Vietnamese civilians. His tireless initiative and superior technical proficiency were an inspiration to all who served with him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission. By his professionalism, inspiring leadership and loyal devotion to duty throughout, Lt. MAEDA upheld the finest tradition of the Marine Corps and of the US Naval Service.''
Lt. MAEDA is authorized to wear the the Combat ''V''.
(possibly Presidential Unit Citation for service during the 1968 Tet Offensive)

Living conditions

We lived in wood huts with screen walls, corrugated galvanized roof, plywood floors and military bunk beds.
We had enclosed communal showers, 'out houses' and camp style mess hall.
'O' club entertainment and movies

Most vivid memory of military experience

Viet Cong rocket attacks, gas attacks, Tet Offensive.
Artillery fired into our compound overlooking Route One on the Hai Van Pass, also overlooking the Da Nang harbor.

Missed most whilst in the military

I missed the freedom.

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

I feel what a waste of time, technology and effort we need to protect ourselves against man's greed and inability to get along. Our drill sargeant at field medical service school said that there were two times that you learn the most--the first is when you are born and the doctor slaps your rear and to get you to take your first breath. The second is when you hear a bullet just missing your head and realize that someone out there is trying to kill you. We possibly do not appreciate what our combat troops went through.

Additional information

My paternal grandfather went from an estate in Hiroshima to become a Christian minister in Ewa Sugar Plantation in Hawaii. Then mom was three months pregnant with me when Pearl Harbor was bombed. My 10th birthday was celebrated on the USS O'Bannon in Pearl Harbor with six other kids born on the day that USS O'Bannon was christened (launched?). My uncle, Wallace Maeda, served in the U.S. Army in Italy in World War II. Granddad was interned as a community leader. My brother served in the Army at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in 1972 and 1973.

Ronald Maeda joined the Naval Reserve in 1966.