Hi All,

1^st Battalion 3^rd Marines went to Okinawa in the fall of 1964. I was a rifleman in an infantry unit. Early in 1965 I made the Far East Marine Corps Rifle Team. This meant I no longer had to climb all over the hills and mountains of Okinawa during the week. I was, for a while, living the life. We were preparing to compete with other service branches throughout Asia. One night in early March, the word went out that our unit was to mount up. We were going to a place called Viet Nam for a 30 day show of force. I remember everyone asking the same question – “What is Viet Nam and were the hell is it?” I explained to the officer in charge that surely this mount up thing didn’t apply to me, I’m on the Rifle Team. His response was “You were on the Rifle Team – Mount Up”.

We were the first Battalion strength American unit to land in Viet Nam, flying into Da Nang. The day after, or within a few days, another unit made a beach landing. This is the one many saw on the news. I’m sure it was done for the sake of the cameras. There was no other reason for it.  At first we dug trenches and filled sandbags around the airstrip, for what seemed like forever. In fact, it was probably about a week to 10 days. Then we moved out toward the jungle and set up base camps from which to carry out patrols.

In early July of 65, during a night patrol to set up an ambush, we were ambushed and I got blown up by a remotely detonated mortar (two were killed including my squad leader and my best friend).  It took several hours before a helicopter could land to evacuate the wounded because the Viet Cong would fire at them when they tried to land. Morphine was my best friend that night. I was operated on in the Navy equivalent of a MASH tent/hospital. The road back to Great Lakes Naval Hospital was rather extraordinary. From Da Nang I was flown to the Philippines, then Okinawa, then Japan, then California, then New Jersey. Then I was bused to Philadelphia and back to New Jersey and a last flight to Great Lakes (via Glenview). This grand tour took about three weeks, or so. They had put me on the wrong plane in California which sent me to New Jersey. Because my ear drums had been blown out, I couldn’t hear what was going on so I just went along with the program. Also, Morphine and I were still good friends, which didn’t help.

On August 12, 1965 the Chicago Tribune ran a story about wounded servicemen being treated at Great Lakes. I don’t know if the Tribune still does it, but back then they always had a full page of photos on the back page. Well, they showed a picture of me in my hospital bed and under the photo was my name and my 914 Forest Ave. address. Within days the mail started coming in and my parents saved it for me. There were some nice notes thanking me from serving the country. However, most were of the “Baby Killer” nature. I suppose it goes without saying that these upset me. While I knew the characterizations were wrong, I suppose I was most troubled by having no way to refute them or the other wildly untrue comments that were being thrown around.

I ended up being assigned to the Marine Barracks at Great Lakes after I got out of the hospital in October. My Dad had been diagnosed with cancer and my assignment was humanitarian. I had a great job at the Navy Brig (run by Marines) and worked one day (24 hours) on and two days off. After my Dad passed, I received orders to pack up for a return trip to Nam. While at Camp Pendleton, in California, I explained that I wasn’t supposed to be around loud noises, but that fell on deaf ears (intended). While doing a night fire course, my ears drums got blown out again and I ended up back in the hospital for more surgery. This was not totally unwelcomed because as a Sergeant with experience, I would have been whisked, no doubt, to some bad places in Nam. By the time I finally got out of the hospital I was too close to my discharge date to send me back. My Navy doctor (Hawkeye) made sure I was on a medical hold to remove any chance of going back. I was, and remain, grateful to Hawkeye (he really was a lot like the character, even his appearance and irreverence).

After my discharge, I started school in the Chicago City College system. Of course, they had an SDS chapter. I chose to simply ignore them. That was better than going to jail. They say hindsight is 20/20 and, of course, in hindsight I can’t say I totally disagree with the war protestors. I still disagree with their choice of targets.       

Bill Gelderman

Bill, thank you for your service, I appreciate it greatly.

Thank you Donna

Thank you Donna

Thanks for the post Bill! As I was lucky to not have any close friends at the time go to Nam, Imappreciate your telling your story. It puts a more real perspective to Nam than casually reading the paper or,seeing the tv news and not really being affecte with my student deferment and later as. Member in the USAR, JUST EXPERIENCING TRAINING and marching clerks and cooks to and from classes during my 2 week summer camps at ft Dix, Ft Ord and Ft Polk, La, ( the rectum of the nation)

the  reserves were much different during draft days. Today's reservists due to our foreign policy are more like regular army/service personnel.

again thanks for the post. Say hello to Miskit if you talk to him.I know he doesn't have much interest in this reunion stuff..

Hi Jay,

I was just in California and Reno last month with Gene Miskit and his wife Bernie. We rented a house in Truckee, on the Truckee river and went to "Hot August Nights" (A huge car show/event) in Reno. Among the highlights was a performance by the Rascals. Talk about oldies.....

Bill - I knew your name but don't think I really knew you.  Your story about your military service in Vietnam is amazing.  Thank you for sharing it and thank you for your service.  God Bless you.

Bill, while I've talked to you a couple of times the last few years, I had no idea of the service you gave to our country.  I'm very proud to know you.

My husband Tom went to dental school and then joined the Air Force in 1971.  We went all the way to Wichita Falls, TX for 2 years.  He had his order to report for a tour in Nam in March of 1973 but that's when troops started to be withdrawn.  Instead, he took care of several of the POW's coming home.  That turned out to be a very profound time for all of us who were involved.  I'm proud of every person who served our country back then or now. 

Thanks Alison & Linda

I too would like to thank you for your service and for sharing your story and am glad that one of your doctors was a 'Hawkeye' type of person.