A Minnesota PBS Initiative
Dear John Letters
I enlisted in the US Army in the Fall of 1967 with a delayed enlistment date of sometime in March 1968. I did my Basic Training at Fort Lewis, Washington and my Advanced Individual Training at Fort Ord, California.
I came home on leave and got married to my High School Sweetheart on August 3, 1968. My first Duty Station was Fort Hood, Texas where I was assigned to HHC 2nd Armored Division and worked in the G3 Operations Section. Being I was married, I lived off post in Killeen, Texas with my wife in a one bedroom apartment.
I told him not to talk like that about my wife and almost got in a fight with him. Little did I know how true his statement was.
I am not real sure when I got my orders, but was told by one of the guys in my unit, well you will find out if your wife truly loves you. I told him not to talk like that about my wife and almost got in a fight with him. Little did I know how true his statement was.
I received my orders to go to Vietnam and after a leave in Minnesota, where I left my bride of about 14 months, I reported to a base in California to be shipped to Vietnam arriving in Vietnam on November 3, 1969. I was assigned to HHC 101st Airborne Division, Camp Eagle and was assigned to the Company Headquarters as the Company Clerk.
Over the months the mail would arrive which was such a wonderful feeling to hear from home from my wife and other family members. In March 1970, I eagerly opened up a letter from my wife and all I really remember is that she thought it was time for us to split up.
I can only relate what happened from what I was told by my friend James Childers who had come into the Orderly Room as I was reading my letter. I said he talked to me but I was in a daze and nearly walked over him ass I exited the Orderly Room and walked back to my Hooch. He knew something was wrong so he followed me, watched me sit down on my bed and reach for my M-16 Rifle.
That is when I heard him say, Bruno what the hell are you doing?
I told him about the letter I had received and his words were, Don't give her the satisfaction of knowing you couldn't live without you. We proceeded to find a bottle of liquor and got plenty drunk.
I came home on leave for 30 days to try and save my marriage but was unsuccessful so I returned to Vietnam to finish my tour. I came home from Vietnam on October 25, 1970 and by February 1971, I was a divorced man at the ripe age of 24.
I have struggled with relationships since that first divorce getting married 4 more time and divorced but the Lord has blessed me with 3 fantastic children and now I have 4 beautiful Grandchildren, so who am I to complain.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Fargo, ND
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1968 - 1970
Veteran Organization: Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion and VFW
Unit: HHC 101st Airborne Division, Camp Eagle
Specialty: 71H20 Personnel Specialist
Story Themes: American Legion, Correspondence, Dear John, Family, HHC 2nd Armored Division, Marriage, Read, Relationships, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Vietnam Veterans of America, VVA
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