18th Bde.

         After graduating high school in 1967, I enlisted in the army for military police on 9 October 1968. I attended basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and MP school at Fort Gordon, Georgia, after which I received orders for Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, for regular MP duty. While there, I went home on leave to get married. One month later, our “honeymoon” was over after receiving orders to Vietnam.

I arrived there 27 July 1969, and was assigned to the 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Company B, nicknamed the “Bushwhackers.” Our job was to ambush, secure, and patrol the villages, waterways, and rice paddies in our 22 square mile, Tactical Area Of Responsibility.         We worked with the 212th MP Company Scout Dog handlers. I started out as a radioman and then the M60 machine gunner.         After five months in ambush, I transferred to the River Patrol Unit worked on the Boston Whalers, and then later to the combined Battalion and 458th Transportation Company PBR’s (Patrol Boat Riverine) as a twin 50 gunner.

        At home I worked at a paper mill for one year and then accepted to serve in a four year apprentice program to become a J.W. Electrician. I now have 27 years with Local Union #176, I.B.E.W. of Joliet, Illinois.

I was contacted by Eric J. Berryman of the Battalion Reunion Association for pictures and a short story for the book, “Soldiers of The Gauntlet,” both were used. I am a life member of the 720th MP Battalion Reunion Association, and have been to three reunions over the years, and have made contact with some of the other “Bushwhackers.”         I have been married for 33 years to my wife, Margie. We have two sons who are now both married. Our oldest has a son and a daughter, and hopefully we’ll have more grandchildren to come!