Personally Vietnam WAS THE BEST THING That Ever Happened To Me. Let Me Digress.

[TheMastersNemesis]

How could I ever imagined in May 1969 when I was released from the military that I would ever say that "Vietnam was the best thing that ever happened to me". My military service sent me on a life that I could have never imagined in all my 23 years. And I was lucky being assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division Company B 1-5 would start a chain of events that sent me on a course life that was bittersweet and sweet at the same time.
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For one I had Captain Nawrosky as my company commander. And I had First Sergeant Denison as my NCO. Captain Nawrosky was a sure fire 5 star general who always thought of his men and who would go into combat on point. And Sergeant Dennison came back to the company after being severely wounded with a go home wound in July 1967. Both men would change my life and my attitude forever.

They were the true leaders who always tried to limit casualties. Led by leading from the front and not from behind. These were leaders you would follow to hell and back and then repeat the venture. Captain Nawrosky was wounded in the Khe Sahn relief effort. Sadly he died at Walter Reed several months later while being operated on to restore his voice box.

Sergeant Denison appointed me to be a mail clerk and train for company clerk. My much reviled high school typing class being called a sissy actually now saved my live. After two weeks of combat operations and nearly being killed by friendly artillery fire and one cold air assault I had already seen what the future could bring.

The war for me was still an ordeal in certain ways, but not like being in the field. I was shelled a couple of times. I even stupidly ran out during an artillery attack to rescue our "dingo" mascot". A round hit near where I just been. Luckily I got him on the first try and drug him into a bunker. The same day I was to go into a tent with 30 KIA"s in it to ID our own. It was a grisly sighte in March 1967. The true cost of war became so brutally clear. As shaken and angry as I was, what I was going through was nothing compared to my fellow soldiers out in the field.

The final chapter of this story is that I ended up in Denver, Colorado. Would have NEVER ended up here were it not for being sent to Vietnam. And as I turn 73 I am so grateful to have ended up here. As much as I loved my home in Illinois, I could not have had the great life I have had here.

Without going into any more detail, I retired going on 29 years from Department of Labor. And that is another story. Despite losing my foot to staff over 3 years ago, I am doing well in so many ways because going to war changed my life and my direction in so many positive ways.

It all could have ended very differently for me. I feel sad that so many other vets have had such a hard time. But I understand. You cannot be under fire and under threat and not be affected by it.

All I know is that in my time in the military I have met the best and worst. The one thing I am most grateful for is my association with Captain Nawrosky (deceased) and Sergeant Denison whose great personal ethics and courage shaped my attitude and my life. I am sorry that I did not find a way to stay in touch with Sergeant Denison. I owe my life and my good fortune to him.

ADDENDUM - Another one of my company commanders, who ran an injured troop on his back for nearly a mile on booby trapped trails to get to a MEDIVAC actually ended up in Denver and worked for a major corporation. I ran into him in 1974. He retired as a general in the National Guard.


Now I have to look at Trump. What a waste.

[pnwmom]

1. Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story on this Memorial Weekend.

And thank you most of all for your service.

Hugs from all of us.

[Ilsa]

2. I'm glad for you, that you were able to

Make a horrible situation better, and looking back on your life, realize that it helped make you who you are today. Thank you for your service.

[TheMastersNemesis]

4. There Were Horrifying Aspect For Sure. The Challenge Is To Find Ways To Endure It All.

Have an artillery shell hit within 50 yards of you is an eye opening experience. to say the least

[furtheradu]

3. Thank YOU 💖

just thank You.

[democrank]

5. Thank you for your service

and thank you for sharing this important part of your life story.

~PEACE~

[UTUSN]

6. I, also, was changed and improved by my enlistment - in all non-heroic ways (me, not you)

* I knew I had to do something because my minimum wage parents paid for 2 yrs of college & I didn't even know about student loans. 4 yrs of "indentured service" freed the rest of my life, although (never mind)...

* My little, non-heroic medals I'm proud of: 1) Nat'l Defense, for signing my name in. 2) Vietnam Campaign, for setting foot on the land. 3) Combat Action Ribbon, well my ship *did* take rockets a couple or 3 times and of course we shot back. 4) Good Conduct, well it means something not being arrested or other discipline over 4 years. 5) Meritorious UNIT, because our ship participated in maneuvers with other ships. 6) & 7) - don't count because they
were bestowed by the Republic of SOUTH Vietnam, a country that doesn't even EXIST these days. My second ship was just a workhorse supply laboring kind of thing, so no medals there.

* But I learned a CAN-DO spirit, like, no giving up, you can always find a way to make things work.

[heaven05]

7. ++

I served in-country 13 months.....Bear Cat 2 klicks from Long Than....10 klicks from Long Bihn....9th Infantry had their base camp there. The Chech crisis of 68 sent them to Germany...and the Thais moved in. I made many friends with them and went on R&R to Thailand which affected my life to this very day. Glad you made it.....

[mountain grammy]

8. Thank you so much for sharing. Loved your story.

When my son was in 8th grade, I forced him to take the typing class..He was furious. When he joined the Navy and they steamed off to the Persian Gulf for the first Bush war, he was safely below deck, having been assigned payroll clerk, because he could type.

Thanks for your service.

[Denis 11]

9. I find solace in your take on your experience.

I have two sons serving. One in the Coast Guard, the other in the Army. Thank you MastersNemesis.

[Samantha]

10. Thank you so much for sharing your story

I don't know what to say except I am so glad you are still here.

Sam

[flotsam]

11. I was privileged to work for the 1st Air Cav guys at Ft Carson Colorado '72-'73

Out at Butts army airfield turning wrenches on Hueys and Cobras. Those were some fine and shit hot pilots.

[PatrickforO]

12. This was a great post.

Sorry about your foot.