My name is Bob Harper, and I am a Vietnam Veteran and retired U.S.Navy Seabee/Seal /ACB1 after twenty-two 1/2 years of service. I was not a Seal but was attached to them in support.
My dad was in the Army during WWII with General Patton and Battle of the Bulge. He never said much about his time in the war. I’m the same, as I don’t talk about it much either. But for my part in the Vietnam War, that part I will never forget. Dad was along time Jasper County Constable in Brookeland area of Texas and later died in January 1996 on a (BOL), be on look out assignment.
I was in Nam three times 1966 to 1967 CBMU 301, 1967 to 1968 Dong Ha-, and NSF Da Nang, during 1968 to 1969. I enlisted in high school in the kiddie curser program at age 17. I was really to young for it to affect me the way it did the older guys. I guess the TET Offensive of 1968 scared me more than all of the incoming rounds up at the DMZ. Having 12 young airmen up on top of the Da Nang Hotel where the MAC V Hq., I was a little shaky having to teach them how to load ammo in magazines and to be still and ready and continue to stay alert.
The photo in uniform is Jasper Veteran Stephen Jumper (KIA) in Viet Nam. We honored him at the reunion with the photo showing the seated Jasper Veterans. The top right picture is of me in Antarctica and the center photo is of me in Nam after an incoming round hit our shop in Da Nang.
I learned early on to respect all above me and all that was in charge of our details. As a Seabee, we had to adapt to all kind of situations weather in a firefight or hand to hand combat. I had no ill effects of the war when returning to home. I think that was all going on later in the 1969 to 1970 time frame. I was to young to pay attention to it. No, I don’t believe that I have any residue effects from the war.
The best tour ever was my winter over 1979 to 1980 in Antarctica. I’m just so honored that I could even serve my great Country.
We had our 50th reunion for all of our Jasper, Texas veterans in October 2014.
~Bob Harper, Vietnam Veteran
Administrator For Facebook Group, Viet Nam Vets
God Bless all who serve and keep us safe.
Veteran Tributes: www.facebook.com/ComesASoldierswhisper
Vietnam Letters: www.VietnamAndBeyond.com
