Vietnam War Interview Forum

Guest

Dave Wright, Army, Sergeant, 1st Divsion, 1/26th Regiment, Co A and Recon, combat infantry.

>Were you drafted or did you volunteer?

I voluneered to be drafted a few months early to get it over with.

>What did you know about the war going into it?

News stories and the fear of Communism we all had from years of the Cold War.

>How hard was the training? Where did you train beforehand and how?

It was hard but not designed to make anyone drop out.  My basic and AIT training was in Ft. Lewis, Wa.

>What was the scariest part of being in the war?

My job was point man.  About every third day I'd lead the company through the jungles and rice paddies.  It terrified me.

>How did the war effect you?

It challanged everthing I grew up with.  Life was not precious, sacred or even fair.  Men could do terrible things to one another and justice disappeared.

>How did you feel when you came home?

I was relieved that no one was shooting at me anymore.  The good things I learned in Vietnam had no use back home.  Suffering together, supporting one another, and self sacrifice had no value in the persuit of the American Dream.  Back home, it was every man for himself.  It was a very confusing and upsetting time.
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>What is your most memorable experience of war?

I lead our company int a terrible ambush which cost the lives of my entire squad plus half our company was medivaced out to the hospital.

>Did you suffer from PTSD? If so what was that like for you?

Yes, flashes of anger that didn't fit the situation, withdrawl from society, problems sleeping, numbed emotions, not feeling part of normal society.

>If you could go back and do it again, would you re-enlist? Why or why not?

I would do it again, if I didn't, someone else would have to go in my place.

>What did you expect going into the war?

I couldn't count on anything because they couldn't make us face death while trianing.  I wasn't sure how I would react, be a coward or a hero.  It turned out that I survived and couldn't even take credit for that - God had to intervien several times to keep me alive.

>Do you still see the people you served with? If yes, how often?

Some, once a year.  Getting together is a joy and painful at the same time.

>What was the worst experience in the war?

The loss of freinds that never made it home.