An interview from a highschool student with an 11th Armored Cavalry's Veteran of Vietnam and Cambodia

I arrived in South Vietnam in August 1966. I was 19 and turned 20 in September 1966. I left Vietnam in August of 1967 at 20. I was not of legal age to drink upon returning home yet I had just served twelve months in combat! My rank was a SP4-E-4 and classified as a recon-scout and spent most of my tour as a side gunner on a "ACAV" vehicle. The outfit I was in: 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment the "Blackhorse" 

What was your opinion about whether the United States should enter the war and why? 

At the time I thought maybe it was justified-the North Vietnamese had fired on one of our ships in the bay of Tonkin in neutral waters, off the coast of North Vietnam.

What was the your most memorable moment about the Vietnam War?  

Good memory: returning from the "bush", "mission", "field" to base camp after being away 4 to 6 weeks. Sleeping on the ground or in the ACAV. Upon our return we would have a steak fry, beer etc. and were able to just let down for a few days before out on another mission. Bad memory friends killed or injured.

What were your feelings towards the Vietnamese fighters and why?  

My feelings towards the enemy were mixed`-hated them-also had some respect for them. They were good fighters and how could they live off the land like they did and survive.

What was a normal day in Vietnam like? 

When we were in base camp life was pretty good. You pulled guard duty around the base perimeter at times, but you had a beer hall and a mess tent and a cot to sleep on. Life was good! In the twelve months I was in So Vietnam I probably spent two or three months in base camp, plus another couple weeks in a field hospital from wounds. 

Out in the field was a different story ... life wasn't so good. We ate C-rations most of the time, but would get a hot meal from base camp for dinner if we had time to set up and secure perimeter. So helicopter could bring it in. I was dirty, hot and cold during monsoon season plus fearful at times. Our job was to search and destroy, look for the enemy and engage. During the day we had foot patrol in the jungle looking for the enemies base camps, etc. At night we set up perimeters with vehicles etc every night. One man from each vehicle would go outside of perimeter and pull guard duty -usually 6 to 10 people we would go bring a couple machine guns from vehicles clay more mines, radio, night scope, personal weapons etc. we were either a L-P or A-P If you were either  on vehicle you pulled guard duty awake 2 hours. sleep 2 hours you did this routinely for four to six weeks straight.

How were you treated when you returned to the United States? 

When I returned in 1967 the war was somewhat positive, yet it wasn't until 1968 that offensive Jane Fonda etc that the war was becoming unpopular. For me personally I didn't talk about my experiences for a few years.

How did you feel about participating in the war when many Americans were not supportive of it? 

I took it personal with the protest-draft dodgers etc. I still feel today that the draft dodgers that went to Canada etc. should not have been pardoned, even though some of their thoughts about the war had meaning. If you live in this country why should one person have to die while the others (dodgers) leave the country and return with no repercussions.