Sexo

Male

Birth date

1946-9-17

Local de nascimento

Ogden UT, U.S.A.

Inducted

, Los Angeles CA

Tipo de alistamento

Draftee

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat,sup

Unidades onde serviu

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.