My dad was a Vietnam veteran 68-69, 1st Air Cav. and the best soldier I ever knew.
My father’s full name was Thomas Edison Armstrong. This is a picture of my father. He was in Vietnam at An Khe where he was with the 1st Air Cav as Battalion Reenlistment NCO. Dad held quite a few positions during his 21 years in the Army. His last MOS was an Army Recruiter. My father joined the Air Force in 1948, stationed in the occupation of Japan then transitioned into the Army in 1949. In the mid 1950’s he was stationed in Germany at Armstrong Barracks in Budingen, Germany as an MP then later in the Armor.
My father recruited both of my mother’s brothers one who served on a Nike missile silo in the US and the other uncle was a hospital corpsman and served in Germany. I have a great uncle who fought in WWI and my great, great maybe another great grandfather who fought in the Civil War with the 1st Berdan Sharpshoote. My brother, who was one year younger than me served in the post-Vietnam Army. My father’s brother served in the Special Forces but I don’t know his dates of service.
Dad was my recruiter when I joined the Army in January 1970. I also served in Vietnam, 70-71. My MOS in Vietnam was 36C20, Field Communications Crewman and when I returned to the States I was a hospital corpsman in the old hospital at Ft. Polk, LA.
I have few pictures of me in Vietnam. The one with a t-shirt was taken at Bien Hoa replacement center in September 1970 right after I arrived ‘In-Country’. My pictures and souvenirs were stolen out of my hold baggage that went ahead of me from Vietnam to Ft. Polk, LA. I’m on the left in the group picture, father in the middle and younger brother on the right. My father was still in the Army and I was just about to go in.
When my mother wrote my commanding officer complaining that I wasn’t writing enough. I was called into his office and made to write a letter in his presence. He then fixed me up with a MARS call to my folks. It wasn’t so funny at the time but in retrospect this was mom’s second tour of duty. My dad made it through Vietnam only to be brought down by cancer in 1997.
I’m still missing you Dad. That will never go away.
~ Thomas Armstrong, Vietnam Vet
God Bless all who serve and keep us safe.
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