A Minnesota PBS Initiative
Two Wars Simultaneously
Dan Johnson knew the draft was imminent, so he enlisted in the Marines on April Fools Day, 1969. He says he participated in two different wars: one in the rear and one in the bush. Dan preferred being in the bush because it was "calculable" and it was beautiful. He came back relatively unscathed and is an advocate of using the VA and its services.
The Marines seemed to be the best way to stay alive because I knew there wasn't a way to buy myself out of doing a stint.
Dan's story was captured with the help of TPT's Minnesota Remembers Vietnam team.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Stillwater, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Da Nang, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Story Themes: 1969, April Fools Day, Da Nang, Dan Johnson, Death and Loss, Demilitarized Zone, DMZ, Draft, Enlisting, Family, I Corps, John Wayne, PTSD, Sniper, Stillwater Screening, Terrain, The VA, Watch, World War II, WWII