Oral History

Mike was only 20 years old when he left his small home town to fight for his country in the Vietnam War. In 1968 Mike decided to join the Army so he would be able to further his education. Having enlisted during the heat of the war, he was sent to Vietnam two years after he enlisted. In 1970, Mike left his wife and new born son and headed to a camp in California for training. Since Mike was going to work as a Medic while in Vietnam he had to learn two years worth of medical education in six months. After six months of intense medical schooling at the San Diego Core School, he was then sent to a Fleet Marine School, where he was prepared for the challenges that awaited him in Vietnam. At this camp Mike learned how to fight in the jungle, and what to do if he was attacked.

Once in Vietnam, Mike served as a medic for the Marine Core. Mike treated soldiers who had minor illnesses and injuries. Although he never cared for soldiers with major injuries, he did see soldiers that had their arms or legs blown off. Mike was also responsible for going on missions to fire air support to the Marines. These missions usually occurred at night and lasted for about thirty minutes. Fortunately, Mike never had to go into the jungles and fight in combat. However, he was still very scared while being in Vietnam. Mike did experience being under fire a couple of times, but he never had to decide if he should kill someone or not. Mike survived his tour of duty in Vietnam. However, he knew many people from his home town that died in the war. Mike also had friends that he trained with in camp that died in Vietnam. In 1971 Mike’s term was up and he was able to return home.

Mike was treated with respect and honor when he returned home. Although it was hard to adjust to life in a normal surrounding, Mike didn’t experience any psychiatric effects from being in Vietnam. Because Mike left a year before the war had ended he avoided watching it on the news because they showed the war for what it truly was and he didn’t want to see those horrific images again. Having been against the war himself, Mike didn’t take offense from protestors. Mike didn’t take part in any protest, but he did see the Vietnam War as a senseless war and he believed that there was no reason for the U.S. to be a part of it.

During the war the U.S. government sprayed Agent Orange all over Vietnam. The chemicals in the Agent Orange caused many medical problems for a number of soldiers, including Mike. In 1973 Mike was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. Although Mike has had many medical issues as a result of being in Vietnam, he does not regret fighting for his country. During the time the war was going on, some of Mike’s friends ran away to Canada. Mike knew that he could do this, but he didn’t. Instead, Mike left his family, lived in Vietnam for a year where he lived in fear that he might die, saw things that many people never want to see, and developed a number of illnesses. However, amidst all the fear and hardships that Mike encountered in and after Vietnam, if he had to do it all over again he would still go. Fleeing to Canada was and still wouldn’t be an option for Mike. Like all men and women that fight for our country, Mike is a true hero.