biography

I was commissioned a 2LT upon graduation from the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, August 4, 1967. On October 1, 1967 I left for Military Police Officers Basic School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Our class was the first specifically cross trained as officers for Military Police and Infantry for Vietnam. After completion, I was assigned to the 518th MP Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. The 518th was activated after the 720th MP Battalion was deployed to Vietnam.

On October 1, 1968 I landed in Vietnam and was assigned to Company C, 720th MP Battalion. Approximately one week later I took command of the 1st. Platoon assigned to Phu Loi in support of the 1st. Infantry Division. By November 1, 1968 the platoon was moved to Di An, and assigned to convoy security to Phuoc Vinh, Lai Khe, and Quan Loi, which involved moving the 1st Air Cavalry Division in place for protection of routes to Saigon prior to the Post Tet Offensive of 1969 .

When Tet II hit on February 23, 1969 I was returning from R&R in Hawaii and stayed at Long Binh Post with C Company, providing security as Post Reaction Force with Armored Personnel Carrier’s, V100 Armored Cars, and gun jeeps.

We provided the first training for US troops with the V100’s at the Dong Nai River, and in convoy escorts.

My platoon moved to Cu Chi with SFC Thomas as NCOIC. CPT Don Kerchoffner was my original Commanding Officer (CO), followed by 1LT Earl Walling for two days, then 1LT Robert Simes for two months. The CO for the last five months was CPT Richard Shuman.

The last two months I was selected to provide security for COL Robert Rheault, the Commanding Officer of the 5th Special Forces Group, and six of his officers who where charged with murdering a Vietnamese double agent.

I left Vietnam on September 13, 1969 and returned to Yuba City, California. I became a Yuba County Probation Officer for seven years then quit to go into real estate. I was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for 15 years at the same time. I have been a real estate broker for twenty five years and owner of Coldwell Banker Tri Valley Associates for five years.