Page 99 - Firehouse Pond

TWENTY-SIX YOUNG MEN - ALL UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY

Getting back to the twenty-six; all but one member (me) of the twenty-six
served in Vietnam; “In-Country” in a combat service support role; in direct

support of a Combat unit and therefore by definition, not wounded in combat
and not eligible for the Purple Heart.

I never served directly in combat; I was an ordinary Combat Service Support

Soldier – just to be clear.

I trained for service in Vietnam. I served with soldiers returning after one or

more tours in Vietnam. I provided services and support for those “In-Country
soldiers”. I handled the weapons and the chemicals used during the Vietnam
war. I remained physically and as best I could mentally and emotionally fit

for war.

The returning warriors talked; we listened. They had nightmares; we heard.

We supported our fellow soldiers as best as we knew how. We received no
training on how to cope and help.

The U.S. Army Creed: “I will never leave a fallen comrade” had and

continues to have significance. We witnessed their continued use of illegal
drugs and alcohol. We lived through the human devastation of the war first-
hand, vicariously through them.

We became anxiety stricken; worried when our name would be called,
knowing we could become what we were seeing in them or worse.

Being a young soldier during the Vietnam War era was traumatic. It was
unnerving, simply by the constant knowledge that we could be called into
action at any moment.

Witnessing, daily, the carnage inflicted on those returning from their first,
second, third and in too many cases, fourth tour “In-Country” weighed heavy

on our minds, hearts, and souls.