A Minnesota PBS Initiative
A 25th Infantry Division Medic
James Zika was a medic near the Cambodian border. They'd treat troops in the mornings and evenings, but they'd travel to the 14 surrounding villages to treat civilians during the days. As the senior medic, he was responsible for training new medics, since the skills learned stateside were often so different from what was needed in the field.
We did enough good that one fellow... was kind enough to tell us to get out of the village because the North Vietnamese were coming in a few minutes.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: St. Paul, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Biên Hòa, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1969 - 1970
Unit: 25th Infantry Division, 4th BN, 9th Infantry
Specialty: Specialist 6 Medic
James' story was captured with the help of TPT's Minnesota Remembers Vietnam team at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair.
The photos below are from the 25th Infantry Division website.
GIFTS -- A "Manchu" medic from the 25th Division's 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, leans toward understanding as he passes out gifts to the children of Vinh Tanh District School during a recent MEDCAP-ICAP.
Story Themes: 25th Infantry Division, 9th Infantry Division, Bearcat Base, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Medical Personnel, State Fair Interviews, Watch
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