USA 1968-1970, USAR 1987-1990, USAFR 1990-current

After volunteering for the draft so my parents and loved ones would not know. I went to basic training at Ft. Campbell, KY and on to Military Police School at Ft. Gordon, GA graduating in April of 1969. I was stationed in Bayonne, NJ with the 63rd Military Police platoon, just outside of New York City. I could even see the statue of liberty from my barracks window. I volunteered for Vietnam duty the 12th of June and still have the paper work. Again I didn't tell my parents or anyone else what I had done. In October I was on my way after an emotional send off from friends at Chicago O'Hare's airport a quick trip to Oakland, CA about 24 hours later we landed at Bien Hoa Air Base. The radical change in 24 hours will always stay with me. The buses we road to the replacement depot had screens on the windows to prevent grenades from being thrown in, the smell of the rice paddies the heat and humidity, welcome to the Nam. After a short stay at the replacement depot were they were kind enough to instruct us on how to fill sandbags, I was sent up North to the Americal Division were I reported as all replacements (known affectionately as FNG's) to the Americal Combat center for training an orientation which lasted for I believe two weeks. Then I was assigned to the 3rd platoon 23rd Military Police Company. Finding out that the 3rd plt was attached to the 198th light Infantry Brigade. At first I was given advanced training on how to fill sandbags, I quickly realized it takes thousands of sandbags to make a good bunker. Finally us FNG's where sent out on patrol with senior MP's I remember Sgt.'s Larry Hall and Ed Costello showing me the ropes and how not to get yourself killed. I remember that I couldn't wait for my jungle fatigues to wear so I wouldn't look so new. Patrol work on QL1 (Highway 1) could be very exciting and one never knew what was going to happen. 50 Kilometers North and 50 Kilometers south was the patrol route with 3 jeeps one would go the entire route of 100K the other two would go half way. If you got into trouble you may be on your own. Two MP's to a jeep with sometimes a Vietnamese National Policeman and or a Quan Cahn (Vietnamese MP). In this way we had jurisdiction over almost anyone. There are way too many tales that I could tell so I won't, it was an interesting and at times extremely exciting. I did this in all sort of weather including the monsoon season. In late winter I became friends with some of our pilots and crewmen whom offered to take me up as a door gunner on their LOH6's (small choppers). Since I was working at that time mostly at night I used to go up on missions with these guys. Talk about excitement I should have been put in for section eight, eventually I received and Air Medal, thanks to my platoon mates and other 198th members. The only Problem is Capt. Stiles our platoon leader did not know I was doing this. He found out to his surprise years later and has almost forgiven me.. From time to time LZ Bayonet would get hit; it seemed always when you would least expect it. Most of the time not much harm was done, April 1st was different and anyone in the platoon will remember it, we lost Rich Dell"Arena a very popular MP and everyone's pal. I continued on road patrol until June or so and for some reason transfered me in for what I considered a rest at "the cage" the 198th Brigade POW (prisoner of war) collection point. The best job I ever had in the Army. When working days I flew PYSOP missions (Psychological warfare) at night over enemy positions. We would fly over them with loud speakers and throw out pamphlets, they in turn would shoot at us at times being they did not like their sleepy time taken away. We would even play Led Zeppelin tapes over the load speakers, until we got too near one of our higher brass one night. The great job ended in late July they decided to tear the cage down I helped the 26th engineers tear this place down. We worked like a dogs and had a new respect for the engineers, low paid slave labor is how best to describe this. After this I was tasked for road patrol until the end of my tour in October 1970. It's probably good that I keep most of the stories to myself. In retrospect it was an adventure that I have not been able to come close to duplicating even after almost 20 years of military service. Just happy and lucky to come home safe.