I was jumping from college to college trying to stay on a deferment from 64-66 and living in Michigan. I finally got sick of this, dropped out of school, got a job driving hi-lo in a warehouse and bought a used Corvette. Party time! My girlfriend at the time hung out with another gal who worked at the local draft board (no. 283). I did something to piss her off and she told me that "You are being drafted". About 6 weeks later I got my notice and shipped out to Ft Knox for basic. I ended up in the infantry and went to Vietnam in Oct of 67. Fortunately I knew how to type and ended up being fairly safe. Welcome home brother!
Great story. One of the last and oldest draftee and to be 11B10 with a college diploma in Vietnam,is almost unique. I went in July of 70 and went to 3 different units because units going home and me not having enough time incountry. 11B2P 25th Inf.11th ACR Black Virgin Mountain, Tay Ninh,etc.
Ronald, what was it like going there at that point? I mean by mid ‘71, a lot of units were withdrawing or withdrawn…how did it feel knowing that the thing was scaling down, that the US wasn’t hanging around, but it was still presumably, just as dangerous? Were you aware of the whole drug and heroin thing sweeping through American cities at the time…I imagine it was a pretty jaded time all around!!
@TommyTwobats Yeah,tuff time all aound. I was in 82nd at Ft.Bragg for almost 2 yrs.befoe going to Nam. I went to the 3/4 cav.25th Inf. 60 miles northwest of Saigon. The first day,arriving to my unit at firebase Grant,there were 2 smoldering armored vehicles,blown up. Lots of mines ,snipers and small unit ambushes. I didnt see the heroin with the combat units in the jungle. We were very dependent on each other. Most always in the jungle,guard duty every nite on the M113s. The heroin was surely in the big basecamps,I can attest to that. Yes,there's a story about the China White. They started testing GIs leaving,with piss tests in June 71. A GI was tasked in a latrine. He sat on a chair,above where guys pissed in a container,hahahaha,he looked at dick all day, to be sure nobody tried to scam.
I served in the 1st Cavalry 1967-68 … 11B and/or 11C … it takes me about one minute to see through these posts … I’d like to shake this guys hand … he lived thru the shit us grunts had to endure …
What a good interview and amazing guy. He just glows with life. Thanks for sharing your story. I found it fascinating. I’d have loved to have him as a teacher in school.
Good interview. Intelligent and interesting man. Ernest Hemingway look alike with a touch less hair. Northern New Hampshire loves and respects all our vets.
Thank you for your input. I'm just a regular person trying to share these stories and doing the best I can. It can be difficult at times to share knowing that some may point out my mistakes later but I'm going to keep going for the sake of the veterans.
I`m in love with the interviewer;what an amazing talent--I`ve heard so many of these interviews where the person hosting the whole thing will be so disinterested halfway through or not have any idea of what he/she is doing.....Anyway,great job and,of course, thank you and blessings to Mr. Kint for his service,especially during that time.......
Thank you so much for your kind words. It can be very difficult to be vulnerable and post these interviews. I want to share these stories so others can learn.
I can’t imagine being thrown out on point th first day must have been scary when I was there in 1968 they had me following our point man for a week or so to learn as much as I could….long story short the guy that was training me on point step on a booby trap about a month later and was medically evacuated to Japan….this was in the 25th infantry division…
Dude has a nice voice, and accepted his balding ….or so it seems. Damn, whats he on? I want some. I could do neither…and I would have been doing every damn thing not to go that nightmare.. The way he came back and chilled, or rather, burned around on trail bikes in the bush and “de-compressed” …nice. I guess he’s right to add, it might not work for everyone. Think he would have been a great counsellor, but sometimes, hearing the voice of reason, especially when it’s calm and cool, is no remedy…it makes you go more nuts because you get frustrated that you can’t do it yourself.
I really had trouble following him. He had a soft voice and it just seemed like it was one of the tougher ones I’ve watched. Probably 50 of them I watched.
Interviewers ... please get two mikes. Go through all this work and time and have crappy audio is so disappointing. At least you put the one mike on the right person. I've seen the opposite occur.
I wish he’d mentioned his R & R, where he had gone and what he did, since he was older and acted like an adult, whereas 20 yr olds will get drunk and seek out adult entertainment.
What is wrong with a human being who wants to penalize another human who is drafted into the hellhole that was Vietnam and has managed to make it back? What could possibly be the depraved motivation???
@@MattMonk I don’t think so I’ve watched 50 of these try to be positive. Interviewer did a good job but he’s just I don’t know it was difficult very difficult to listen to. Partly because he had a soft soft voice
I didn't watch this video. Did the man mentioned he allowed himself to be in an illegal war where the US had NO right or reason to be in? He was essentially an invader and aggressor in someone else's country across the Pacific Ocean....a country that did nothing to the US or Americans. Did he mention that he felt he was nothing more than a "hired gun" or a pawn of his Government? He was willing to throw away his one and only life for a war that had absolutely NO effect on American safety, security or freedom. It was an asshole's war.
@Benedict Hampus Truth can be a bitch. Life and death is serious. War is serious. I address them as such. The reason they are "disrespectful" is b/c you're soft.
@Tony I actually had a laugh reading your comment. I didn't just get off the "banana boat" regarding Vietnam. I am a Vietnam/Draft resistor. I spent 2-3 years of my teens studying Vietnam every day b/c my ass was going to be put on the "alter of sacrifice'". Those conclusions gave me the commitment of avoiding Vietnam at all cost. I am more resolved about my choice today than even back then. Nevertheless, I got the big picture at 18 years old. It wasn't rocket science to figure out what was going on. You guys absolutely got to quit portraying yourselves as "victims" or ignorant of what you were getting into. Likewise, the Draft was NO excuse for anyone. So yea, I know a little bit about the Cold War....I'm a damn product of it. :-))
Welcome home Mr. Kint and thank you for your service. I hope the school board member was truly distressed for a longtime!! Hope sees this and puts shame on him.
