Page 123 - Anthology

When the Vietnam War was getting started, I was assigned to the Army’s Surgeon General’s Office in
Washington D.C. and was in charge of the Army’s Medical Service Corps Helicopter Ambulance Program.
I was there for three years; I was called into the office one day and I was told it was my time to go to
Vietnam. I went to Vietnam and reported to the Surgeon General’s Office in Long Binh. I was a
Lieutenant Colonel and had problems with a full Colonel that was in charge of me. This guy and I had
followed each other for years in the Army – going way back to when we were both Privates. We had old
problems. I was given an “opportunity” to serve with a medical group up in Qui Nhon, in the central
highlands of Vietnam. I took the assignment and that ended the problem with the Colonel. It was a great
job for my career, but it was not a flying job. I reported to the doctor in charge of the unit. He was a full
Colonel (dermatologist) he had never been in a field unit before. He immediately told me: “I have no idea
how to run an army outfit like this and I need you to do what you need to do and I’ll sign the papers, just
don’t get me into trouble.” It was during this assignment that I was awarded the Legion of Merit and the
Air Medal.

After my tour of duty in Vietnam, I returned to Washington D.C. and was assigned to the Combat
Development Division at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. My wife had remained in Washington while I was in
Vietnam; we had boys in school in Virginia. My father was elderly and living by himself in Paris,
Kentucky. So, I retired and returned home to Paris to help care for my father. I got a job teaching school
at Bourbon County High School. I was teaching physics and freshman science at Paris High School.

By the time I turned sixty years old, my health had deteriorated to the point that I could no longer climb
the stairs to the second floor of the school. The school building did not have elevators and I simply could
no longer climb. It was 1984 and I fully retired. I had twenty-six years military time and twenty-four years
teaching time.

We built a special house in Paris, Kentucky. It was a handicap accessible house that met my needs. I’ve
been here at Thomson-Hood Veterans Center for about ten months. I was no longer able to get around
by myself and needed assistance.

I had an interesting career both in the military and as a teacher. I do not have any life-threatening
problems, but I have problems getting around. I’m ninety and expect to be around another two or three
years. I have two boys, some grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Throughout my military career and especially during some of my harrowing combat and flying
experiences, my faith in my God helped me endure and survive all hardships.

So that’s about my full story.

NOTES

1 Photos courtesy Cecil H. Grimes from: My Story: An Autobiography by Cecil Herrin Grimes.