My tour of duty in Vietnam was from March 1970 - March 1971 in Long Binh. I was a Staff Sgt in the Class I yard and in charge of the NAF Section. During my tour at Long Binh it was a fairly safe area, just a few alerts of incoming now and then but luckily it never came, and for that I am grateful. The whole of Vietnam was considered a war zone but I was never in a battle, again grateful. I had a supply MOS and therefore I was classified as a non-combatant. I was a support troop. I believe that technically we were all prepared to be combatants should the need arrive, after all we were all basically trained for defense of our country. We swore an oath. Supply, Transportation, Communications, Medical, Mess, Administrative Personnel, and all support troops are ready to take up arms when called upon in defense of our country as was the case in Vietnam and past wars.
I went to Vietnam to support ALL of our troops, and that, I did to the best of my ability. I have nothing to be ashamed of. Had I been called upon for combat duty I would have been extremely proud to serve. I wouldn't have been too unfamiliar with the duties of a combat soldier although it had been a few years since I was a grunt.
I served as an 0311 with Marine Regiments and Fleet Marine Force Pacific Divisions during my tour with the Marine Corps from 1954 - 1958. (Peace time but nevertheless excellent training). As it turned out I later joined the Army in 1958 and was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division for a while. I then transfered to the Quartermaster Corp and went to Vietnam and was assigned to the 506th S&S Company.
I am very proud and thankful to ALL of our Vietnam Vets combat and support troops for there service and sacrifices. They let it be known that the United States Armed Forces are Forces to be reckoned with. Again, I am proud of my service in Vietnam.
U.S. Marine Corps. 1954 - 1958
U.S. Army 1958 - 1975