Vietnam War Interview Forum

Guest

>Where were you stationed during the war?

Ft. Lewis, Wa., Lai Khe, Vietnam, Ft. Hood, Tx.
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>When were you in Vietnam?

11/68 - 11/9
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>What was your job during the war?

I was assigned to a combat infantry unit and walked point about every third day when we were out in the jungle.
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>What objects did you carry during the war?

M-16, ammo, claymore mine, grenades, C rations, water and a light poncho liner.
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>What types of things did you do in your spare time?

Eat, sleep, try to forget about the last mission, prepare mentally for the next, play cards, read/write letters, smoke and joke.  There were no night clubs, movies, PX or girls in the small fire bases we spent time in.
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>What was a typical day like in Vietnam?

Wake up before sunrise and watch the trail we were ambushing.  Eat C's for breakfast.  Bring in our claymores, saddle up for a day of manuovering through the jungle looking for the enemy, have C's for lunch, set up our night defensive positions before dark, eat C's for dinner, send out ambush patrols, try to sleep without making any noise (no snoring or rustling the dry leaves), pull one or two hours of guard duty, wake up before dawn and do it all over again.
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>What was your opinion on the war?

There was enough right and wrong for everyone to take a side, we were merely trying to survive long enough to get back to the "world".
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>What was your opinion on the draft?

It was as fair as any other idea for building up troop levels quickly.
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>What did you think about the draft?

It was an obligation that had to be dealt with.
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>What did you think about the Vietnamese people and the Vietcong?

They had their own 2000 year old culture that we didn't understand.  They were willing to accept tremendous losses for what they felt was right, yet they had families, sons, daughters, and parents who loved them just like us.
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>What were some of your worst experiences during the war?

I lead our compamy into an ambush that took the lives of my entire squad plus 50% of our company was medivaced to the hospital.  My squad was wipped out again while I was in the hospital with a foot infection.  Five other point men and numerous other individuals became casualties during my 365 day tour.
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>What were some of your best experiences during the war?

Leaving Vietnam was a highlight.  Two friends I'd gone through basic and AIT with came home with me on the same plane.
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>How did you feel without the suupport of most people in the USA?

I was too busy trying to stay alive to worry about support from people 10,000 miles away.  They could not change a thing in my immediate surroundings.
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>What went through your head when you came home?

How am I going to live a "normal" life carrying the memories of death and terror from the last year?  

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