Gender

Male

Birth date

1946-9-17

Place of birth

Ogden UT, U.S.A.

Inducted

, Los Angeles CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat,sup

Units served

82nd Airborne and 198th Infantry Brigade
Battery E, 3rd Training Battalion, USATC-FA, Ft. Sill
C Battery, 2/321 Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Div., Vietnam
HHC, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Vietnam

Military specialty

Cook, Baker

Stationed

USA: Ft. Bliss, Ft. Huachuca, Ft. Sill
Other Countries: Vietnam

Separated

Ft. Lewis WA

Unit responsibility

Field Artillery

Personal responsibility

First Cook, Baker

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Luckily, none

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

I personally received just the routine medals (Vietnam, Good Conduct, etc.) I do not know if the units I served in received any special awards.

Living conditions

Vietnam: Bunkers - Depressions in ground covered by steel sheets and sandbags. Left 5-gallon can of water out in sun during day, then used the warm water to shower using shower bag hanging on a pole. Two hot meals a day, C-rations for 3rd meal, usually dinner. Stationed usually on landing zones with an artillery unit.
Stateside: Normal barracks, 3 hots a day, etc.

Most vivid memory of military experience

First, while on leave prior to shipping out to Vietnam, I learned my best friend had been killed in Vietnam. I was still home on leave when his body was brought home and the service was held. Shortly thereafter, I left for 'Nam.

Second, after transferring within Nam to a new unit, I was working one of my first nights as a night baker. After closing up for the night, I was walking back to my hooch (in the dark). All of a sudden, a flashlight shined in my face, then rounds were chambered, and all I remember doing is yelling, 'I'm an American' over and over again as I hit the ground. The roving patrol had just seen my slanted eyes and thought I was Viet Cong. After that incident, I made sure all the roving night patrols got to know me by serving them baked snacks while I worked at night.

Missed most whilst in the military

Friends, family and being home

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

I think my military service matured me and helped me 'clean up my act.' It gave me a sense of responsibility and stability, and I think helped me settle down and get on with my life when I returned home. It helped me in setting a direction for my life. I was just lucky that I didn't get killed.