March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day

[Danny G]

I took a bus to Akron, Ohio to sign up for the draft  on March 7, 1965 just 2 days after my 18th birthday and the same day Akron had its first Civil Rights march, a sympathy march to show their indignation over racial injustice in Selma, Alabama. the streets were filled I'd never seen so many people at one time. A few months later on June 7th(my sisters birthday)  I graduated from high school, the following Monday I started work at Babcock & Wilcox Co. TV was full of the Viet Nam war and  they announced we were sending another 22,000 soldiers to help with the war. I thought about enlisting and worried tat my goose was cooked. About that time our local newspaper reported that two of my friends that I graduated with, Okey Phillips and Rusty Collins were victims of the war. I didn't enlist. Then on Sept 30th I was involved in an explosion at work where I got 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns over most of my torso. I got my draft notice while I was recovering in the hospital. After reporting for my physical my draft status went from 1 A to 5 Y which meant I'd go right after pregnant women and children. Every time I'd read about losing another classmate I'd feel guilty. All of these years later part of our class reunions are held at The Ohio Veterans' Memorial Park in Canal Fulton, Ohio, The flag-ship of the park is the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall. The west side of the one hundred and twenty five foot long, polished black granite wall with 3,095 names of Ohioans who lost their lives in Nam. War sucks, God bless our veterans and our soldiers.

[Age]

Amen!

[Lockjaw Larry]

As a youngster I looked forward to serving Uncle Sam after graduation.  The Vietnam war was getting heavy and I didn’t want to go to fight in that war, but was willing to go if called upon.  My classification was 1A and being from a rather small county I kept expecting to get my call.  Fortunately Uncle Sam never called me and I never called him.  Several years into my career I  was fortunate to join the federal workforce, serving my country in a non-lethal way until I retired when Covid shut my department down for several months.   I’m thankful for the path that I eventually travelled.  I’m grateful to those who served and are serving in any capacity.

Free to breathe music daily is a huge blessing.

[Age]

I was 1A too. I got married at 19. I dunno, but maybe that had something to do with it. I was always expecting a "letter," but never got one. Possibly working on a Railroad that handled a lotta military and aircraft stuff might have come into play as well. Who knows??

[brorat]

After graduating from high school in 1965, I worked at the local paper mill for the summer while waiting to head to college in the fall. I use the word “college” very loosely. In August, I matriculated as a “Rat” at the Virginia Military Institute. Four intense years later I graduated and received a commission as a 2LT in the Army with a requirement for a minimum of 2 years active duty. That fall of 1969 the war was still raging. I received orders to go to Ft Knox KY. I spent a year there as a Training Officer for a Basic Training company. With a dire need for junior officers in Viet Nam at the time, I felt certain I’d receive orders to head there soon. I was well trained, and I was
physically and mentally prepared for that. In November of 1970 I got orders to go to South Korea, which surprised me but didn’t break my heart!  I spent 13 interesting months up near the DMZ as a Platoon Leader and XO of an Armored Cavalry troop. Bravo Troop, 4/7 Cav. (Gen Custer’s outfit). Not a Viet Nam vet, but a proud vet nonetheless.

[smojoe]

So, I was working at Isalys making a dollar an hour (22 hrs. avg. $19.oo clear a week). Tried for a better job but my parents wouldn't let me drive. I had a license anyway (thanks Suzie), but couldn't afford a car or insurance anyway. I decided I could get in my military obligation and get that off my mind.

Went away for 3 years as a grunt. Wound up in a training squadron whose job was to train Marines.
Spent my time in the Caribbean back and forth between camp LeJeune and bases in the Carib. My job was 'golden retreiver'. I was to retreive anything that the Marines lost. Like ltvps, landing craft, helicopters, etc. I had training as a hard-hat salvage diver, an anti-aircraft gunner, an assault boat operator, and whatever general quarters required.

Would have stayed in the navy but they were going to snd our outfit to Viet Nam. And I wasn't keen on that. So I left the service. Got married in 9/9/66. On 9/19/66 got my discharge papers for 6 years service, 9/25/66 I got my draft notice. Reported to the federal bldg. in Pgh. to clear things up. There was a long line in the hall. Some 'one rocker' jarhead grabbed by the elbow and tried to push me across to the other sde of the hall.

I pulled away and asked what he thought he was doing. He said: "every other man goes to the Marines". I told him: "I already served dip-sh*t". So a 'two rocker' comes over, takes me into the front of the line and tells the receptionist: "Clear this man's name off the list, he's already a vet". Whew, close call.

Conclusion? I am what's known as: an ERA vet. But I still think of all the Marines we trained and wonder how many never made it home. Our little mill town lost a lot of boys. What a trajedy.

J. Leone/2nd. class petty officer/

[Grizzly]

I was 1A too. I got married at 19. I dunno, but maybe that had something to do with it. I was always expecting a "letter," but never got one. Possibly working on a Railroad that handled a lotta military and aircraft stuff might have come into play as well. Who knows??

I registered for the draft, went through two pre-induction physicals, got a 3A deferment for (in order) being in college, being married, being a teacher, being a father. My lottery number was 16, I aged out at 26.

I have deep respect for vets, but didn't regret my circumstances.

Tom

[John Broecker]

I enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard,
the day before receiving a regular US Army draft
notice. I didn't serve anywhere outside of Wisconsin.

I was playing in a youth drum & bugle corps and
attending college at that time. The corps director
used his influence, to get me into the WANG. He
was a Veteran of WW2 & Korea.

I'm proud to say that no North Vietnamese aircraft
ever crossed the state's borders while I was serving.

I was trained to fire short range nuclear missiles.
Our training sergeant stated that with our training,
we could defend Wisconsin from any & all Canadian
attacks, and from any & all marshmallow salesmen.

I'm not sure if I qualified as a veteran. They told us
that we would be serving 2 days per month, and a
training camp in August of each year; in a 6-year
enlistment. The rest of the time we were civilians.

They also said that since I didn't serve active duty
other than basic training and the summer camp,
I was not an active duty Veteran.

My lottery number was 94, but it was not used.
My older brother also served in the WANG, and
enlisted, with an unused lottery number of 150.
My younger brother wasn't called to serve, with
a lottery number of 364.

We were very lucky,  not being shipped overseas
in the Viet Nam era. Whenever I see a person
wearing a Viet Nam baseball cap or coat (in any
branch of service), in grocery or other stores or
restaurants, I pay their bill, out of respect for
their sacrifices on and off the field of combat.

Salute Our Military Veterans.
They've earned our respect.

JB

[smojoe]

This is a wonderful attitude that you have John, and even I have covered vets at times. However, 'I' (as an island, lol), wouldn't be able to accept your most generous offer. The reason? While an ERA vet, I was in rather early, never was in combat, and consider myself a punk. I was never in a situation where I 'wet' my pants, no terror, no crying, no agony. 

For a true vet, I can look up to Scotty's husband Fred. A decorated combat vet who had really 'seen it all'. We once took a ride for 1900km (1200 mi) from SW Fla. to the wilds of outer Long Island, and we got to know each other. What a man.

BTW, our area has a veritible plethora of vets. You could go broke. lolol.
Joey the dog faced boy. 

[John Broecker]

Hello, Smojoe.

Sussex, Wisconsin is a small village
of circa 10,000 people. I've met or
seen less than 10 Viet Nam era
military Veterans here.

I don't get to larger communities,
because I have no car. Banks,
grocery stores, library, clothing
stores, restaurants are within the
village's 1-mile walking radius.

For a while, when seeing Vets
and Salvation Army members
outside of grocery stores, with
a handbell or selling stuff, I'd
go inside of the store, buy a
cup of coffee or soup for them.
I did that in the colder fall and
winter months.

I always feel good when I help
somebody. That's the reward.

Best Regards, Stay Healthy

JB, Procastanetter