Elsewhere on this reunion website I have posted some of my experiences while in the Army from 1969-1972, so you will have to look at my Profile and the Orrington School Forum to read those.  Here I will recall some of my memories from my Viet Nam experience.

After completing my 47 week Vietnamese language course at the Defense Language Institute's new facilities at Crystal City in Arlington, VA, I received my orders for Viet Nam.  Ninety percent of those in my language class received orders to Viet Nam to be assigned to a rear area Military Intelligence Detachment.  Myself and two others received orders to join the 5th Special Forces Group (Green Berets), headquartered in Nha Trang.

Once the three of us arrived in Nha Trang to report into 5th Group headquarters, we quickly learned that they had just "gotten rid of" their final three 97B's (Military Intelligence Counter-Intelligence Special Agents) the day before, and had no need for any more.  Well, that was great news to me, as I knew with all of the training we had received that we were not to be assigned to a unit that did not have a specific slot for us in their T.O.& E. (Table of Organization & Equipment).  So, I immediately filled out the paperwork to be re-assigned elsewhere - preferably stateside.  It was from that point on that I learned the meaning of the word "Stonewalled," even before I think it  became a word.  Long story, short, as they say, 50 weeks later I received the word - "Brown, you were right, you shouldn't have been assigned here all along."  Needless to say, I was very glad that they had a "warm" body to impart that news to, as I was allowed to return to the states two weeks early.  Since I was within 5 weeks of ending my three year enlistment when I arrived at Ft. Lewis, WA, my active duty service was ended at that point on January 5, 1972.

During my duty with Detachment B-43, 5th Special Forces Group in Chi Lang, (and later Long Hai), I remember a visit from only one "entertainer," as we were pretty far off the beaten path, so there was no Bob Hope Show.  That entertainer was one Martha Rae.  She actually was a Lt. Col. Green Beret.  I thought they were pulling this leg's (non-airborne) leg, but I never knew for sure.  But, boy, could that old broad drink.  She drank everyone under the table, including yours truly, (which was quite a task at the time), and kept the Club open until daybreak.

I have plenty more (fortunately) non-war Viet Nam stories to tell.  So, if anyone is interested in hearing them, see me at the reunion.

Victor, thank you for your service, and thank you for sharing your story.

I know I said I would save the rest of my Viet Nam Non-War Stories until the actual reunion, but I have noticed several posts in this forum talking about the misfortunes of wearing a military uniform in the civilian world.  While I am sure that is true for those who mentioned it in their post, and is genrally known to be true, I can think of one time when I was very lucky to be wearing my uniform.

During my tour in Viet Nam in 1971, the Army started allowing two week stateside R & R for those who had been "in country" for more than 6 months.  That included me by mid-summer, so I flew back to Chicago to spend the two weeks (actually 11 short days to which 3 days travel time was added).  My first wife, Judy, and I spent the entire time at her family's home on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  Just before returning to O'hare we decided to take in a show at The Playboy Club in Lake Geneva.  The star of the show that night was my forever heartthrob, Ann-Margret (Olsson).  Yes, I know she was a New Trier girl, but I was willing to forgive her for that due to her many other wonderful attributes.

At any rate, I did wear my dress uniform to the Club and was surprised when we arrived to be ushered to the front table stageside.  I asked "Why" we had been afforded such an honor and was told that Ann-Margret had said anyone that comes in uniform gets to sit right at the stage.  While I assumed that would be as close to my forever heartthrob I would get, was I in for a surprise when Ann-Margret came out for her first song and came right over and sat on my lap to sing a love song to me.  Wow, what a thrill!!!  Right there I could count all the safety pins holding her dress together in the back because she coudn't zip it due to the 30 pounds she had to gain for the just finished filming of Carnal Knowledge that would come out the next year.  Shhh, I didn't tell you that.

Anyway, Ann-Margret was well known for being a part of the Bob Hope Tour in Viet Nam, that I would never see while I was in Viet Nam, but I had my own special show with Ann-Margret just because I had been wearing my uniform.  So that is at least one time during the Viet Nam era that it turned out great to be in uniform.  And, just a side note to this story, my second wife, Joyce, and I have been married 27 1/2 years, and her birthday and Ann-Margret's are the same day - April 28th, only Joyce is a year younger.  Strange, but true.  So, there is another non-war story.  Hope you enjoyed it - I know I did re-living it while I typed it.

Love the story, Vic.  Though I was never spit on or called a baby killer neither did I experience such special treatment.

Love the Ann-Margret story!!!  Amazing.