My last fire fight was on January 1, 1969, in Song be Vietnam.  We were in the Jungle next to the river.  We had movement around our perimeter all night and everyone was put on 100% alert.  Nothing happened until we went to pull out our Trip Flares and Claymores.  Somebody saw an unusual looking Bobbie Trap and the Captain sent a squad to check it out.  An explosion went off and NVA attacked with small Arm Fire and I put 60mm Mortar fire at the edge of perimeter.  After the firing stopped, we had 3 KIA and 4WIA of our own on the ground and we counted 9 KIA of the Enemy and several got away wounded.  I received a 9 day drop from my tour in Vietnam and came to home on U.S. Soil on February 1, 1969. 

        After the tour in Vietnam, I was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  My life was in turmoil with life in general.  I met a young 18-year-old woman that was graduating from High School.  We began dating in March 1969, and we married on November 7, 1969.  We have one son, a daughter-in-law, two grand children and three great-grandchildren.  God has never left my side and He has blessed me in so many ways. 

        In 1999, my mother pulled me back into the Church to reunite me with my Lord Jesus!

        I thank my mother for her prayers for me.  She told me when I came home from Vietnam, that she woke up in the middle of the night from a dream about me when I was wounded.  After my mother passed away in 2011, I found all my letters in a plastic sack, I wrote her from Vietnam.  That is what I call a mother’s love for her child.

AWARDS:

Presidential Unit Citation / 1968

The Blue Infantry Rope (worn on right shoulder)

Combat Infantry Badge / March, 1968

Purple Heart Medal / August 29, 1968

Air Medal with Cluster / December 20, 1968

Bronze Star / February 1968—February 1969

Combat Air Assault Badge / given by the 101st Air Borne, June 24, 2021

National Defense Service  / 1967—1994

Vietnam Service Medal / 1968-1969

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

Served in Oklahoma Army National Guard 1976-1994, two years inactive,

                total 20 years service.  Retired Master Sergeant E-8

Awards to follow:

Army Accommodation medal

2– rm Achievement Medal’s

Army Components Achievement Medal

Army Armed Forces Reserve

Oklahoma Commendation Medal

Oklahoma Long Service