James Blaschek: Field Hospital Medic Lucky in his Assignment
marc.zarefsky2021-09-12T22:12:12-05:00James T. Blaschek was an only child from Peoria who was pursuing a career in education when his country called.
Richard Bee: Proud Purple Heart and Bronze Star Recipient
marc.zarefsky2021-09-12T22:06:36-05:00Richard was drafted into the Army as a Light Weapons Infantryman (11 Bravo) in August 1967 at the age of nineteen.
Edward Bernius: Thirty-Five Combat Missions Over Japan On A B-29
marc.zarefsky2021-09-11T15:58:34-05:00Mr. Bernius was born in Watertown, CT on October 3, 1924 and is the youngest of three. His older brother also served during WWII in the Army.
Marion J. Buliga: Search and Destroy Missions
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:27:48-05:00Marion was drafted in October of 1968 but decided that the U.S. Army was not for him so instead joined the United States Marine Corps.
James Carson: Following In His Father’s Footsteps
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:26:31-05:00James Carson, known as JC to his friends, decided at 18 to enlist in the Navy. “I wanted to do my part to help fight the Vietnam War.
Paul Crites: Combat Interrogator
marc.zarefsky2021-09-11T15:56:29-05:00When Paul Crites finished Basic Training in 1970, his Major told him something that he hadn’t been aware of.
Ray Genis: Just A Motor Sergeant Leading Convoys Through Vietnam
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:23:53-05:00While in high school, Ray joined the JROTC following the military background of his father, who served in the Army during World War II.
Keith Kolozie: The Way Finder
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:22:22-05:00Keith Kolozie was born in Chicago and grew up in the city’s south side, but he found direction in the jungles of Vietnam.
Donald Lines: Bringing A Little Enjoyment To All With The 76th Army Band
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:20:49-05:00It was only 16 inches in length, but when light would hit it, it shone so brightly a person needed sunglasses to tone down the glare.
Monty Lutz: CID, the Army’s Real Life Version of NCIS
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:19:30-05:00Monty Lutz saw his first U.S. Military Police on the family’s 100-acre sugar beet farm in the San Luis Valley of Colorado in the late 1940’s.
Fred Moffatt III: A Combat Medic Knocks Down Anything In His Way
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:17:59-05:00After high school, Fred worked for an electrical parts manufacturer. When he was drafted at age 19, he did not know where Vietnam was.
Ronald Navickas: Nuclear Weapons Maintenance
marc.zarefsky2021-09-11T15:59:55-05:00Ron joined the Air Force Reserve at 17, when he was assigned to the Military Police with the 439th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
Edward O’Connell: Cushy Job, Not for Long
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:15:42-05:00Faith and Family. No two words better describe what sent Ted O’Connell to Vietnam in 1965, and what brought him home again.
John Charles Stevens: A Proud Member of The 101st Airborne Tradition
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:14:23-05:00When asked about his response to receiving his draft notice at the age of 22, John smiled and said, “I went kicking and screaming.“
Lawrence Vaillancourt: Combat Field Medic
marc.zarefsky2021-09-11T16:00:59-05:00Lawrence Vaillancourt served as a medical records clerk and combat field medic attached to the 503rd Aviation Battalion in Germany.
Jay Warbiany: I Saw A Lot Of Air Force Bases in Four Years
marc.zarefsky2021-09-10T12:11:33-05:00Jay gave up a four-year scholarship to IIT and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the height of the Vietnam War.
Curtis Bentley: A Cook in the Messman/Steward Branch of the Navy
marc.zarefsky2021-08-15T21:16:53-05:00Curtis Bentley grew up 90 miles from Atlanta on his family’s 200 acre farm “growing anything we could eat, except for the cotton.”
Richard J. Aguinaga: A Modest Bronze Star Recipient
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T08:29:48-05:00Richard Aguinaga was drafted at 19, entered the service on June 19, 1969, and served until his honorable discharge on December 31, 1970.
Donald N. Benkowski: Military Intelligence is a Different Kind of War
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T08:24:19-05:00Don wanted to be a military pilot. He took and passed all the qualification examinations with just one exception.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Delaurentis: Mom vs Lieutenant Colonel
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T08:16:35-05:00Family has always been important to Tony Delaurentis. He’s been guided by values taught by his parents, especially to respect everyone.