During WWII, Dad served in the Signal Corps.
He used to talk about the Philippines and Japan. But he never saw combat. Dad’s brother and my other two uncles served in the quartermaster and paratroopers, also during WWII. They never talked too much about their wartime experience. My oldest brother who has since passed was in the army drill team and served for three years.
I am proud of leaving high school and going into the Army. It taught me a great deal in coping with life, I got my college degrees while in the service and learned many cultures and languages.
I served with the 175th Infantry, as a door gunner, and then with the 1st Special Forces in South Vietnam Nam from 1968 until 1972. I received the bronze star, combat infantry Badge and the Purple Heart. I retired in 1988 with 22 plus years of service. I am the door gunner in this picture protecting the ground troops. I was 18 years old and very scared.
Later, I was with 11b Infantry, then a 63rd Trac and Wheel, 05b Radio Operator and 72d career counselor. I served at Ft Lewis and trained at Ft Benning Ga for Jump school, and later Engineer school, at Ft. Bel, Virginia, and Ft. Riley, Kansas with the Big red one. Then I was sent off to Vietnam, where I served with the 175 infantry, and the 1st Special Forces Gp Airborne.
I also served in Thailand with the 379th Signal Battalion, then Okinawa with the 1st Special Forces, and then Korea with four tours in the 2nd infantry division as a first sergeant. I later went to Germany as a training NCO, club manager and first sergeant.
I have some bad memories from Nam, but thankful I’m still alive. The one memory that has always stayed with me was when I was driving a jeep 1/4 ton with a major and sergeant major. I hit a claymore mine and flipped the jeep. The jeep caught fire, and I pulled them out. They got bronze stars and I got a letter of commendation. I also remember coming home on a Greyhound Bus. I was hit with eggs and tomatoes in my hometown of Stockton, California. The police stood by and did nothing. I was very hurt by that, but went on.
I am totally disabled now, but earlier I was an Elvis tribute artist and sang in Thailand, Japan and the USA. There was one time that I was called up to sing on stage at a Bob Hope tour. The last picture shows me singing to the elderly Japanese. The manager said, “But they don’t speak English and I said let me try.” I won them over, as they really enjoyed my performance! I continued this back home until my legs kept me from standing for long periods of time. Here is one of my songs performed over many years youtu.be/-1DqPoYf6Do
I never used my real name for copyright purposes and sadly, there were people along the way who stole the songs that I owned the mechanical rights to. I belong to the Reunion of Professional Entertainers in Nashville, Tennessee. I used to do Classic country but an entertainer in Nashville said that I sounded more like Elvis. So Elvis it was!
I also am also a former Karate instructor. I am a life member of the DAV and a master Mason. Recently, I found out that I have the symptoms of Agent Orange, Diabetes, and COPD with Neuropathy in my feet and legs. I receive primary care every three or four months. They have given me a walker to assist while walking.
Today, my family and peers respect me. I’ve never been in trouble with the law or did drugs or smoke. My children have followed that path. I am very proud of what I became because of the service to my country.
I would do it again if could.
~ Elvic Provencio, Vietnam Veteran
We are very thankful to Elvic for sharing his story with Comes A Soldier’s Whisper veteran tribute page and invite you to share your service photos and a memory of your wartime experience.
STORY LINK: medium.com/…/i-hit-a-claymore-mine-and-flipped-the-…
God Bless all who keep us safe.
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