For many, Vietnam was unknown before war

I was at Ft. Riley, Kan., 1965. That is where Col. George Armstrong. Custer was from and left from there to the battle of the Bighorn where he was killed.

Anyway, interesting, in his former house, after being remodeled, it was made into a duplex and two Army warrant officers lived in it. 

So, on with the story. I was in the First Infantry Division, which has three brigades of soldiers, support, etc. One of our brigades was sent to South Vietnam in late spring. At that time, most soldiers had never heard of Vietnam and didn't even know where it was. However, I had known of it as I had married a French gal and her Uncle Guy had served in Vietnam with the French Army. The French were at a disadvantage as they didn't have the helicopters that we had, and in fact, I don't think we would have lasted a year there without helicopters, that is just my opinion.

Anyway the French had suffered through some terrible battles, and eventually were beaten and left the country. Uncle Guy had it bad, began drinking, and died at just 38 years old. It was sad. 

Prior, Vietnam was called Indochina, then French Indochina. I think they were there because of the French rubber plantations. Incidentally, they harvest the rubber from the trees, just like they harvest syrup from trees back east.

So our brigade went to Vietnam, around 5,000 and then shortly after we got notice that the rest of the division was going. We had a couple months to prepare.

(To be continued.)

Roger Gregory served as a captain in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a native of Sandpoint. He now is a business owner in Priest River.