I was drafted in March 1968 and went to NAM from August 68 to August 69. I was with the 8th Infantry Charlie CO 4th Infantry. Most of my time was up in the Central Highlands, Plekiu and Dak Toe area. I had over 100 combat flights on choppers and was wounded by shrapnel in an ambush. We were pinned down for 2 weeks somewhere near the Ho Che Min Trail.

When we finally got out, the chopper that I was on took 9 rounds of AK. We had to land at the bottom of the hill and walk back through the jungle to find our company. It was a rough time. I am a proud Nam Vet and to me all Nam Vets are Heroes.

In May of 69, we were involved in a firefight with the VC. We were going through a village just checking to make sure there was no bad guys in the village. Things looked okay, but as we were leaving we began to get sniper rounds all around us. Then all Hell broke loose. We hit the ground and started returning fire. It lasted about 20 minutes or so. We lost 3 men and killed over 25 VC. We went back to the village and rechecked it and found lots of AK47 and B40 Rockets and a storage of rice. It was all buried underneath a manure pile.

I am very proud to be a NAM Vet. I know the stuff that I went through and the things I’ve seen. It is by the hand of the lord that I am here, not because of being RAMBO. There is nothing but killing and suffering in the Nam story. Any Vet will tell you that. I was treated like crap when I came home. My own step father told me to quit feeling sorry for myself and when I went to move in with my favorite uncle, his wife threw me out. I was just a kid who wanted someone to say “welcome home” and “can we help you get started?” But none of that for us NAM Vets. Still we fight and shed a few tears. I’ve been fighting for 48 years, and I am tired…