I was born in 1949 and raised on a farm in Western Iowa.
After graduating from Schleswig High School in 1967, I was drafted into the US Army in 1969 and did a thirteen month tour in Vietnam. While in Nam, I served with C Troop 1/9, 1st Air Cav Division, which was a recon unit for the 1st Cav.
I was discharged from the Army in April of 1971. I landed a job as an electrician shortly after in Denison, Iowa and in 1976, I started Struck Electric in Carroll, Iowa. We were a small electrical contracting company which specialized in residential and small commercial wiring. In 1992 I closed my business down and moved to Kennewick, WA where I currently work for an electrical contractor as a project manager/estimator.
I married my high school sweetheart (Rebecca) in 2004, and together we have seven children and twelve granddaughters…
Great idea. We all need to do this! I guess our C Troop tours pretty much overlapped, but had different jobs.
I had all these Nam pictures sitting around in boxes for the last thirty-nine years. I wanted to preserve them, so I fired up my scanner and went to work.
My daughter suggested writing a Nam blog, so I did…
Great job. I honor your service. And I enjoyed seeing my picture on your blog
Did I send you access to my Vietnam Flickr set that includes some of your photos?
Thanks Walker!
No, I don’t have access to your Vietnam Flicker site and would love having it…
I accidently came upon your blog after trying to start one myself on wordpress.
I was with the Cav back in 65-66 and I enjoy your posts and photos. I was an 11b2p and was in both A co as an infantryman and the delta recon as a senior scout.
My photos on my website @
http:www.dukesbrokendreams.com
reflect the difference between the instamatic camera I used versus your photos. You win , hands down.
Welcome home.
Duke
Dude,
I took a peek at your website and was quite impressed by segments of your book. It will be my next read for sure.
All the photos I took out in the ‘bush’ were taken with an Instamatic. I doctored most of them up on Flickr.
http://usastruck.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/combat-tested-camera/
I welcome you home as well…
Rob
Thanks Rob,
Duke
Great site,Iwas in Ctroop maint.platoon from sept 69 to sept 70.Have some pictures you could use if you want.I live in yakima.Jordan Green.509-823-4118.
Glad you found us and welcome home.
Would love to see your pics and perhaps use on my blog…
Rob
My brother was in Nam – I forget the years – but I remember the time and the feeling. Our father had been an Army test pilot during WWII and had tested the P40 series the Flying Tigers flew and we knew some of them.
Sandy now lives in Iowa – eastern Iowa – with his second wife who is from Cedar Rapids. I am so sorry you are no longer in the state. Here is his website
http://wolftoe.com/
I did a blog post on the end of the Huey – it is searchable on my blog.
Glad to know where you are. Thank you for visiting my blog.
SH
Sam, sorry about the late reply to your comment.
I checked out your blog and enjoy reading your entries. Writing at it’s best!
Even though I now live in WA State, I will always call Iowa home. I am a huge Hawkeye fan, so yesterdays three point loss to Ohio State has still got me rattled…
Wow! what an eye opener your blog is. It’s amazing to see shots from the 70′s.
if you are in Sioux City – We just located your blog. John Hlavacek is in Sioux City today until 4 at the Wilbur Aalfs Library. If you would like to talk to him, call 402-301-4767.
No, I’m not in Sioux City. In fact, I’m 1500 miles west of you in Kennewick, WA. I wonder if he remembers his stop in Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam in 1970, and of course the interview, which I will never forget…
http://usastruck.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/john-hlavacek/
Rob
I’ve finally gotten some photos of old PV 1969 – 1970 at: http://spec5.wordpress.com
I was in PV with HHC 1st Cav Division, assigned to G3 section, moved from Camp Evans in 68. I don’t spend much time thinking about it, proud to have served, but still have bad memories, mortar & 122 attacks, satchel charges, etc. no regrets, get emotional when I spend time researching. Lost and made some good friends there. I haven’t shared much with wife and family, everything in box in attic; maybe some day my grandchildren will find it and care enough to research and learn what we did and why. Any old comrades out there; feel free to contact me. Thanks to everyone for your service and WELCOME HOME!
Welcome Home David! I have found that it’s best to share your Vietnam memories, both good & bad, rather than keep them bottled up inside. That’s why my blog…
I was in PV with HHC 1st Cav Division, assigned to G3 section, moved from Camp Evans in 68. I don’t spend much time thinking about it, proud to have served, but still have bad memories, mortar & 122 attacks, satchel charges, etc. no regrets, get emotional when I spend time researching. Lost and made some good friends there. I haven’t shared much with wife and family, everything in box in attic; maybe some day my grandchildren will find it and care enough to research and learn what we did and why. Any old comrades out there; feel free to contact me. Thanks to everyone for your service and WELCOME HOME!
+1
I was in Kennewick exactly a year ago to visit an uncle who was an instructor pilot in the Army Air Corp with my father. I joined the Army after graduating from high school in Texas in 1970, went to Fort Bragg after basic and A.I.T. got bored and asked my boss (CSM Roy Marvin Batton) if I could get a transfer to Vietnam. Two weeks later the paperwork came in and off to Long Bihn…
Some of my stories about Vietnam are found on my Flickr site, and this link shows my Cessna I flew from Texas to Kennewick at Vista Field.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/southwestusa/4936232980/
Great flickr site you have. I enjoyed viewing all your photos.
Welcome Home Sterling…
Great site you have put together!
I would like your permission to link your site on the Bullwhip Squadron.org site.
V/R
Joe Bowen
Thanks! It would be an honor if you did so.
I will also include your Bullwhip site in my blogroll…
Rob
Nice site was 1/9 A troop cav 69-70 from 31st eng co.C 68 worked on the airfiled
Thanks Gene, and Welcome Home…
Great idea!
Rob could I please share a war story I have? My Grandad fought in the battle of the Somme and Ypres. He fought in others but the two I mentioned clearly stood out to me as I studied those wars in history in school. My Gran had honour scrolls (not sure what they`re called) and medals that he received. Back then when my Gran showed me I really didnt have much interest, as you do as a child I suppose, but now I`m kinda kicking myself. I so loved history back then and more so now. Sadly my Grandad passed before I was born as he was a good 20 year older than my Gran. Anyway I have a wallet which my Grandad had with him during the wars. It has a bullet hole in it. It was this very wallet that saved his life. It contains very old photos which as you will know were made of thick card back then and the bullet pierced each photo but eventually stopped. Very lucky!
Thank you for your amazing story…