I Did Not Volunteer For Vietnam BUT I WENT ANYWAY.

[TheMastersNemesis]

50 years ago this summer I was at Fort Polk, Louisiana (lousiana) at Tiger Land training for duty in Vietnam. My 81mm mortar training and advanced infantry training was just another 6 -8 weeks of basic training on steroids. Learned to fire every infantry weapon 50 cal machine gun, M60 machine gun, grenade launcher, 45 cal hand gun, 81mm mortar, & m-16.

Up every morning at 430am and 6 miles running in combat boots before breakfast. Was never in better shape in my life after that.
Running around the Louisiana forests in the dark was sure fun too.

Anyway being a draftee was no fun. And the fear of the future was palpable. Yet you moved forward anyway. Had a trick shoulder so could not do overhead bars. Passing the PT test was a real bear with one event totally out.

Yet looking back a half century it turned out to be really one of the greatest experiences of my life. And I was very lucky in Vietnam. Never had to fire my weapons once except practice. After two weeks of combat operations luckily got a job a mail clerk and then company clerk. My "pussy" typing classes in high school ended up saving my life and my sanity.

There were times that we really sad and scary. But met a lot really great and brave people. MY captain (now deceased). Cant Nawrosky was a West Pointer and sure 4 star general at least. SGT Denison was the bravest and fairest human being I have ever met. And I can say that with full confidence. Of course there were duds along the way.

Ironically I value my experiences with the 1st Cavalry Division as the greatest and in some way most thrilling ever looking back.
IT REALLY WAS LIKE IN THE MOVIES.

I have had a great life so far. Except for losing my foot to staph 3 1/2 years ago I have done really ok.

Never in my life could I have ever believed that I would value what I went through so damned much. Yet I feel sad for the friends and associates I lost.

[orangecrush]

1. Thank you

For your service, and for sharing your story.

[oneshooter]

2. It gets to be a habit after a year or so.

USMC E5 1970-78 2 in RVN

[pbmus]

3. Yeppers, I feel lucky I am still alive...

Phu Bai, 68-69, USARMY, HQ 24th Corps

[Miles Archer]

4. I was on vacation in Anaheim with my family when it hit me, hard, that I was "draft age"

The Viet Nam war still was five years away from ending. And all of a sudden, as I sat there with my draft card in my wallet, the full force of my potentially being called up for duty hit me like a freight train.

I would have gone. It's how I was raised, it's who I am.

It would have terrified me.

But I would have gone.

The war came to an end without my being called up for duty.

But because of the "what if" anxiety I went through, I have had a life-long respect for the men and women who did serve.

The "girl next door" from my old hometown...actually one house over from next door...enlisted, and had a long and distinguished career in the Army. She also came home with PTSD and just had a double knee replacement. She has chronic pain in her back as well that might one day require surgery. We are Facebook friends. I have thanked her for her service and have also told her what I just told you.

I also recently shared on DU about the recent death of another friend, from cancer. He was in the Marines. He didn't serve in combat but the experience scarred him permanently as well. But...he served.

Thank you for your service, MN.