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HONORING OUR VIETNAM WARTIME VETERANS

VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Jack Hardin Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 2 Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: Sergeant, US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers; Thundering Herd) Where were you deployed: II Corps - Central Highlands ! Pleiku ! An Khe ! Tuy Hoa ! Buon Me Thuot What caused you to join the military: Lost my student deferment during transition from Humboldt State to Sacramento State and decided to volunteer for the draft. Since I grew up in the military (US Marine Corps) I was used to taking orders and the disciplinary lifestyle. What was the transition like when you returned home? Relatively smooth, since I met my soon to be wife shortly after returning from Vietnam while stationed at Fort Ord, and I was focused on completing my service so I could pursue a B.S. degree in Geology at San Jose State. Most significant memory: ! Uncovering a sophisticated Viet Cong infantry training facility hidden from aerial view by a natural, thick triple canopy ! Inserting myself into a tunnel (tunnel rat) and discovering a subterranean Viet Cong field hospital ! Being caught up in a friendly fire situation ! While awaiting medivac transport from the field due to pungi stick wounds, discovered a Viet Cong encampment that was used to make and distribute pungi sticks. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? It requires you to grow up quickly, understand the benefits of discipline, and putting your comrades lives above your own.

VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Mark Buxton Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 6/74 – 12/78 >>> NOTE: not actually in Vietnam theater of operations; do not have the ribbon Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: US Navy, LT (SS) [O-3] various assignments as Submarine Line Officer on two submarines, including Missile Officer on an SSBN boat. Where were you deployed: Pacific (Pearl Harbor, HI & Agana, Guam) What caused you to join the military: NROTC full scholarship to USC, and a family history with the U.S. Navy What was the transition like when you returned home? Pretty easy, actually. Welcomed by family, started interviewing for jobs with Texaco, Lockheed Space & Missile and AT&T. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? I would hope that they understand that being in the military is a life of service, duty and responsibility - where we each willingly and knowingly, in effect, write a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including our life. It is regimented, full of hardships and often stressful. It deserves honor, respect and dignity... and appreciation and support by those we defend.

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VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE James R. (Jim) Free Advisory Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: Three and one/half years. Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: I served aboard the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Goldsborough DDG20. This was a Guided Missile Destroyer that was based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It performed several reconnaissance and combat missions off the coast of Viet Nam. I served in the Tartar Surface to Air Missile Fire Control system, designated as an FTM in that missile and gun Fire Control Division. In that division, I was involved with the Target Selection and Tracking system, as we tracked incoming enemy planes to determine their level of threat. If they were considered a serious threat, we would then assign a Tartar Surface to Air Missile and/or a Gun Fire Control System to deflect or shoot down the incoming threat. Where were you deployed: I was one of the first enlisted men to be assigned to the U.S.S. Goldsborough as it was being constructed in Seattle Washington in an area called Woodward Island. As a result, I became known as a “Plank Owner” of that ship. After being commissioned, we were ultimately based in Pearl Harbor Hawaii, where we were designated as the Command Ship of the “Pineapple Fleet” during that time. What caused you to join the military: I joined the U.S. Navy about two years out of high school and as the Viet Nam War was then becoming a reality. After some testing and extensive training in Navy for several months, I was assigned to the U.S.S. Goldsborough in the Missile Fire Control Division. As noted above and I was quite happy and proud to serve in that capacity. It was, however, quite challenging and rewarding at the same time to work with such a talented group of enlisted men and officers and to have the comradery and support that we developed while working together during that time.

What was the transition like when you returned home? It was somewhat difficult as I was enrolled full time in my college curriculum and working part time. I didn’t seem to have too much difficulty in the transition to civilian life as I was primarily concentrating on my college education. That was a time however, when much of the country was reacting in opposition to the Vietnam War. After some extensive time and thought, I became partially involved in that effort myself. Most significant memory: Serving onboard the U.S.S. Goldsborough. Shortly after I served on that ship, it took a direct hit from an offshore missile that landed on the rear (Fantail), and right over the Chief’s berthing area. As a result, It killed three of the Chief Petty Officers in that division. They were militarily ranked (E-7 to E-9.) I had worked under two of those men that were KIA (Killed in Action) during that unfortunate event. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? Going clear back to the Civil War, all of us Veterans raised our right hand and swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. And in that regard, we “wrote a check” to our Government and the American People for an amount up to and including our lives. In the recent past, General Colin Powell stated at the Memorial Day Service on the Grounds of the Capital Building in Washington D.C., “That approximately 1.6 million men and women have given their lives in the fulfillment of that pledge upon entry into the U.S. Military and in the defense of our Country.”

VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Michael Frangadakis Advisory Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 3 years Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: Medic Technician-US Army Where were you deployed: Phu Bai I Corp.-Nah Trang(II Corp) South Vietnam What caused you to join the military: Called to service. Doing my part to support freedom and liberty in the world. What was the transition like when you returned home? Unfriendly. After returning in November of 1969, friends and some relatives became distant or disappeared from my life. As I was passing near an antiwar rally in downtown San Jose, about twenty protesters attacked me because they said I was a baby killer. Most significant memory: Landing at San Francisco Airport and kissing the tarmac. I couldn't believe how good it felt to come back to The States and see my family. It was Halloween night and I trick and treated my mom, dad, sister, and dog with a surprise we all never forgot. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? When our military enters a warzone there is more to what goes on than killing and fighting. On average only about 10 percent of deployed troops ever see combat. The rest support the mission and nation build the third world country in which we are fighting.

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VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Duino Franco Giordano Advisory Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 1966 to 1975 Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: Outside Wire, Antenna Maintenance Specialist 216th Engineering Installation Squadron, 162 Combat Group, California Air National Guard, United Sates Air Force Where were you deployed: Completed communication installation and maintenance assignment throught0ut the United States from Alaska to Northern Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado all the way to Ascension Island, UK. What caused you to join the military: Provided me an education and an opportunity to serve my community and USA What was the transition like when you returned home? I was on active duty for only 6 months. No real issue. Main issue was dealing with antiwar demonstration and being deployed to demonstration for riot control as Air National Guard troop and as a public safety officer. Most significant memory: Being deployed to Ascension Island, UK to construct and install new tracking antennas for NSA What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? What an honor it was to serve with so many dedicated individuals, from all walks of life, from all over the world who chose to defend our nation and the people who live here.

VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Wayne Heimsoth Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 1966-1968 Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: Specialist E4 Army Where were you deployed: 8th Infantry Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany What caused you to join the military: Drafted What was the transition like when you returned home? Not an issue, went to Junior College Most significant memory: How my grandfather who served in World War I, thought I was going in harm’s way. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? How much it causes them to appreciate the free society in the USA.

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VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Clyde R Horn Ph.D. Purple Heart & Combat Infantry Medal Recipient Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 1967-1969 Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: SGT E5, Infantry, 199TH Light Infantry Brigade, Army Where were you deployed: Long Binh, Vietnam What caused you to join the military: As a child and adult, I grew up as a patriot who supports America’s country and allies. I am prepared to defend it against enemies who want to remove our freedom, the greatest gift any country in the world has achieved. What was the transition like when you returned home? Brutal. War trauma (PTSD,) a country in turmoil and a lack of understanding and ignorance of the impact of war on those who defend their country. PTSD was not recognized until the 1980’s. Most significant memory: The impact of not knowing whether I would live or die every day for a year in Vietnam in combat. The impact of experiencing war with all the death and pain of that of a young soldier. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? How valuable our freedom as a nation is to be able to be who we want to be, say what we want to say, worship if we choose to or not, and have access to justice to defend our God-given rights as a free citizen.

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VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army & USMC Colonel William “Bill” E. Peacock Advisory Board Member, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: 1968-1969 Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: Captain, United States Marine Corps, Company Commander and Chief Trial Counsel, First Marine Air Wing, and 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Where were you deployed: I Corps and III Corps – RVN and on board several aircraft carriers. What caused you to join the military? With four (4) uncles who served in the US Army in WWII (one, a Major General, two Colonels and one Captain,) I was “branded early on” and never thought about not serving. Joined the US Marine Platoon Leaders Class program as a Junior at Princeton in 1962 and went onto Harvard Law School, then attended Basic School at Quantico in 1967. What was the transition like when you returned home? Went to work as an associate in the oldest law firm in California, Chickering & Gregory in San Francisco, stayed in the Marine Reserve, and tried, mostly but not totally successfully, to ignore all the trouble in the surroundings. Most significant memory during the Vietnam War? Experiencing the feelings of terrible loss at reports of so many friends being KIA or badly wounded. Our 5-67 Basic School Class had one of the highest percentage of lieutenants killed in action. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? I think a great many Veterans are proud of their service regardless of their personal views of what they did in uniform. Many from Vietnam were treated terribly poorly by some when they returned for which there is no excuse – I do not remember too many tomatoes or rocks being thrown at Members of Congress. From the evidence, I guess it must be damned easy to vote for sending somebody else’s son or daughter into combat.

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VIETNAM WAR – A VETERAN’S PERSPECTIVE Major General Kent Hillhouse, U.S. Army (Ret.) President, Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Years of Service during the Vietnam War: August 1967 – July 1968 Position and Branch of Service during the Vietnam War: LT Platoon Leader 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Army Where were you deployed: I Corps and III Corps What caused you to join the military: Join ROTC to avoid draft so that I could graduate from San Jose State prior to entry into the Army. What was the transition like when you returned home? No one wanted to talk about Vietnam. People avoided you if they knew you were a Vietnam vet. Most significant memory: I felt guilty leaving my unit it in Vietnam and my friends had to stay and continue fighting. Strong bonds are created across fellow soldiers while serving in a “point of the spear” unit. Evidence of that is the fact that those strong bonds have continued to last decades later and continue to exist today. What do you wish that civilians would understand about military service? It was an honor for me to serve my country. Soldiers are proud of their service.

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