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.
Dennis (Denny) Keast: ‘I never thought I’d do what I did’
marc.zarefsky2021-08-15T20:38:56-05:00Dennis was born in southern Minnesota and when he was four his family moved to Flint, MI. As a kid, Denny knew he wanted to fly.
Michael E. Morrell: Family Tradition to Serve our Country
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T07:59:25-05:00Mike Morrell’s grandfather served in the U.S. Armed Forces World War I, and half a dozen uncles and his father served during World War II.
Edmund Rafalski Jr.: Maintaining The OV-10 in Support of the 1st Cavalry
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T07:49:45-05:00Ed Rafalski served in the Air Force from August 1968 to August 1972. He grew up in Calumet City, Illinois with one brother and two sisters.
Ed ‘Turtle’ Gniadek, Jr.: Just a Grunt Who is a Bronze Star Recipient
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T07:43:43-05:00When Turtle Gniadek received his draft notice for the Army, none of his friends were interested in entering the military with him.
Willie E. Reed: Why Not Me?
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T07:37:51-05:00Willie was born at the very end of World War II on June 3, 1946 and grew up with his family on the south side of Chicago.
Charles (Charlie) Solis: Ammunition Containers Make Great Cups
marc.zarefsky2021-08-10T06:21:11-05:00Charles Solis was drafted in 1970 and served from 1970 to 1972 in the Army. He was working in a paper factory at the time.
William F. Sonntag: Army Commendation for Heroism
marc.zarefsky2021-08-09T22:41:34-05:00Upon graduation from Fenger High School in 1966, Bill was obligated to start seeking employment, but employers were hesitant to hire young men of draft age since they could be drafted at any time following hiring.
Jerry Warren: Protecting Building Engineers By Day, Providing Fire Support By Night
marc.zarefsky2021-08-09T22:42:57-05:00Jerry Warren passed up an opportunity to return to the states in 1968 and stuck it out in the Central Highlands of Vietnam until his tour of duty was over.
John Walker: Tunnel Rat Armed With Only a Flashlight and a .45
Doug Meffley2019-10-17T14:17:23-05:00When you meet John Walker, he is a very warm and welcoming person. When he begrudgingly tells you about his time in Vietnam, right away you know he is one of the most courageous people you will ever meet.
Daniel Moffett: A Knack for Morse Code Served Him Well
Doug Meffley2019-10-10T13:56:05-05:00A talented radioman, Daniel Moffett's abilities did not go unnoticed when, in March, 1965, Dan was assigned to the command ship for the Da Nang Mar Offensive.
Tad Dymanus: Long Journey from Germany to Vietnam to Gulf War
Doug Meffley2019-10-10T13:37:47-05:00Tad Dymanus' father was a Polish WWII soldier and German POW, and his mom survived Dachau. After the family emigrated to America, Tad felt he would do "any little thing" to help his new country. The thing is did was serve in two different wars.
Dick Davis: Little Old Ladies in Da Nang Can Be Dangerous
Doug Meffley2019-10-10T13:22:25-05:00One day in Vietnam, Dick Davis volunteered to lead a re-supply convoy out into the field. He ran into trouble from an unexpected source.
Thomas Zilla: Boy Scouts Prepared Him To Be Awarded The Bronze Star
Doug Meffley2019-09-16T12:05:05-05:00During his service in Vietnam early on during the war, Thomas Zilla had occasion to put his Boy Scout first-aid training to use to help treat a fellow soldier following an attack.
William Ziegler: An Alternate Reality
Doug Meffley2019-09-16T11:55:20-05:00Bill Ziegler remembers when he realized that Vietnam would be an “alternate reality.” In May of 1969, Bill arrived in country as an Artillery Section Chief, and he was being shot at before he could even get off the plane.
William Siska: Service in the “Brown Water Navy”
Doug Meffley2019-09-16T11:35:06-05:00“I know what it’s like to be shot at and missed.” That’s how Bill Siska described part of his experience in the U.S. Navy stationed in Nha Be, Vietnam.
Ronald “Buzz” Hunt: Serving with the Popular Forces at Hotel 1
Doug Meffley2019-09-13T11:31:25-05:00When his initial assignment in Vietnam proved to be too slow for his liking, Buzz Hunt volunteered for a company that conducted patrols to safeguard "Hotel 1," a job he did for 10 months.
Esther Gleaton: Be Careful What You Ask For, You Might End Up In Vietnam
Doug Meffley2019-09-13T11:20:29-05:00Esther Gleaton convinced her parents to let her join the Army so she could see the world, ending up with an extended tour of Vietnam.
Phillip Cirullo: Join The Navy, See The World
Doug Meffley2019-09-13T10:00:19-05:00During Phillips Cirullo's time in the Navy, he served aboard three different vessels. The majority of his time came on the brand new USS Enterprise, the first-ever nuclear powered aircraft carrier.