Page 25 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

47th Infantry/VIetnam
army | vietnam

on an APC (Armored Personnel of war protestors.’ I got sent back to
Carrier) M113. I was on top in the Ft. Polk and was finally discharged
machine gunner’s position with the on my birthday, July 10, 1969.
Platoon Sergeant. It was hazardous
duty—we had four commanders “I graduated from East Texas State
in only one year! The infantry was University in 1973 with a BS in
out ahead of us, and we were told History. A guy set me up on a blind
to go pick them up. Company got date with his wife’s sister, Marjorie.
halfway across a rice paddy when We went out to eat and to a movie.
they started getting fire from the The date seemed like a disaster. I
village ahead. I started firing over thought I’d never see her again. I
the heads of the patrol. I got hit two was working at a service station at
times. One bullet came out, but the the time, and she brought her car to
other showed up in an x-ray of my me for a tune-up. That time, we hit
left thigh many years later. it off. We got married September 14,
1973.
“I was sent to Saigon for treatment
of my wounds. A guy with a “Marjorie got a teaching job, and
head wound lay below me on the I worked in the oilfield for three
chopper. I kept saying, ‘You’re years before we moved to Lubbock.
going to make it.’ (I found out at a She taught first at Alderson Junior
reunion 20 years later that he had High, then at
made it.) I spent 20 days in the Cooper until she
hospital in Saigon and a few more retired. I got into
in Cam Ranh Bay for recovery. On HVAC work,
July 10, I got out of the hospital and then plumbing. I
back to my unit. owned my own
a business called
I remember once we tried to take Jet Plumbing,
a hill but were driven off it three Heating & A/C
times. Finally, one of our C-130 until I retired. Proud to Support
gunships drove the Vietcong off
the hill. We found a VC hospital “I enjoyed going Our Veterans
complex of tunnels in that hill on the Texas
several layers deep. Later on, in ’68, South Plains
I was moved back to base camp and Honor Flight in LIFE | HEALTH | IRA’S
got to see Bob Hope’s show in the 2018. The Korean SUPPLEMENT AND ADVANTAGE PLANS
Mekong Delta. War memorial (MAPD)
was my favorite.”
“I left Nam January 2, 1969, out Reflecting on his Office (806) 797-8481
of Tan Son Nhut Air Base to legacy, Mike said, Mobile (806) 535-9828
Anchorage, AK. It was below zero, “I’d just like to be Fax (806) 791-4474
and we had summer uniforms on. remembered for
That was cold! We flew back to being a Christian,
Travis AFB. They told us to ‘Be in a good father, and bigjakeins42@gmail.com | bigjakeinsurance.com
your civilian clothes. There are a lot grandpa.” 3807 24th Street Lubbock, Texas 79410

Lubbock Senior Link 25