i joined the army when i was 17 i opted at that time for special forces, in 1968.
in jan 69 at age 18 i was at basic and ait ft. polk la. after that i went to jump school and upon completion i was tested for special forces and sent to jfk center for unconventional warfare. i started there at about 18 and a half years old.
after completing phase 1 i donned my beret and was issued the rank of e-5.
when i finished all my training i was issued 11b4s and 11c4s mos's and sent to vietnam macvsog ccn, june 1969 i arrived, i did not volunteer for that unit, i was 19 years old.
i went on several missions as a strap hanger and was sent to long tahn for recon team leader school training, upon completion i was sent back to ccn recon company. after i was wounded i was sent to b-36 mobile strike force (fank) long hai, where i helped train the cambodian army. i cycled through 2 companies that i was responsible for and led them in combat.
in june of 1971 i returned home and was assigned to the 82nd airborne charlie company 2nd of the 508 where i was the morter platoon squad leader, i was 20 and later that year i was discharged before my 21st bday.
i'm a life time member of the special operations association, the special forces association, the dav and the special forces list.
this is as close as i remember the details, its been a loooong time ago.
God bless
bigD
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