I did my tour in Vietnam during 1968 to 1969 with the 1st AIR CAV., B-5-7 Infantry as a PLT. Sgt.
I was the only one in my family who served in the military. I always wanted to be a soldier and at the age of 17, I joined the U.S. Army at Ft. Jackson, SC in 1961.
After basic and AIT training in 1962, I went to Ft. Bragg, NC to Jump School with the 82nd Airborne. Later in 1962, I went to Ft. Benning with the 2nd Infantry Division and was at Kelly Hill and then Sand Hill. While at Sand Hill, I was later picked up to make up the 1st Air Cav. I was 24 by this time and went to NCO Infantry School and then sent off to Vietnam in 1968.
The one memory that stands out was when I was the PLT SGT. We moved into an area and set up for the night. We were telling the troops to set up the perimeter. My close friend and I were talking when mortars started coming in with one landing at Smitty’s fee behind him and blew out his back. It killed him and wounded me. I began getting the wounded and dead on the chopper. After that was done, I had to go to the field hospital and stayed for eight days or so and then returned to the unit. When I got home, I looked for Smitty’s family but could only find a cousin. He told me that his mother and sister had died and his dad had killed himself. I often think of Smitty being between the mortar and me. He saved my life. Smitty, Noah Smith is picture here in the center. The fellow on the left was a 60 Gunner. I am on the far right. The single picture is also of Smitty. He was only 26 years old.
I was placed with the B-5-7 CAV as a PLT SGT, and was wounded on November 23, 1968. I was in the 36th EVAC Hospital for two weeks and sent back to my unit to finish my tour. After Nam, my last duty was DS at Ft. Jackson, SC from 1969 to 1970. I served a total of 9 years. I think the government should have let us finish the war and let us fight it our way. I had no welcome home except for my Mom and Dad.
At first I had bad dreams, but having a good family and being a believer in Jesus, I soon overcame them.
~ Troy Hucks, Vietnam Veteran
STORY LINK: https://medium.com/@Soldiers…/he-saved-my-life-b55dbb803093…
Special thanks goes to Troy for sharing his story with us. We welcome you to share your family photos of those who served both past and present, so we may feature and honor them on our COMES A Soldier’s Whisper Veteran tribute page www.facebook.com/ComesASoldiersWhisper/
God Bless all who serve and keep us safe.
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