Wolfie the Grunt takes 8mm movies of a Combat Assault in Vietnam
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Published 2014-11-07
The following day after our air mobile assault was Easter Sunday and Chaplain Merle Brown came out to give us Easter Services and he brought some hot food. He asked us if he could join us for lunch, which we gladly said YES. I was blessed to sit next to him and we talked for about an hour. Chaplain Brown was a great man and I felt I had met a New Best Friend.
His helicopter came to pick him up and take him to another company that was very close to us on the top of a hill. We were able to see him land and and when his helicopter came back to pick him up all hell broke loose. The enemy fired rockets hitting the helicopter and it exploded 5 times.
As I watched the explosions and then found out Chaplain Brown and 10 other men died day, I was devastated and a huge trauma to lose my new best friend. I had other traumas in Vietnam, I was an infantry grunt and was in the bush for 11 months. I was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge and an Air Medal. You have to be in combat for over 6 months to get a CIB and many air mobile combat assaults to get an Air Medal.
I have been treated by VA Mental Health Care for PTSD for 8 years and take 4 meds a day. VA Mental Health says I have extreme PTSD and they believe I qualify for 100% comp. I was awarded 70% VA disability, I get 100% health care, but no dental
When I took the camera into the bush I had extra film, but I didn't bring any spare batteries so I was unable to film this event. We did have 35mm cameras so pictures were taken.
I never expected my Nam videos to be seen over 1,002,000+ times. In this version I decided to add personal narration. By the way I have supplied my raw footage to 5 Vietnam documentaries including History Channel, PBS and others. History Channel got the actual 8mm film and then upgraded it to High Definition and that's what I used in this video.
I get great health care from the VA Health Care department and my caregiver in the VA Mental Health department keeps me alive right now. I see her more than once a month. We hug when I leave!
All Comments (21)
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My cousin who died in 1968 in Vietnam had two children with his beautiful German wife but was unable to raise them however they grew up in Texas and have become a great asset to society .
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Thanks for your service, Wolfie. Not only for your service in the name of freedom, but also for your contribution to the historical record. Videos like these, unimpeded by network news and the 5 o'clock follies, are what show today's generations what yesterday's generations went through. Again, thank you.
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That was my war too. I was Navy, 1964 to 1970. I was never in country. I was in submarines but 4 of my High School friends came home in a box . I still visit their graves.
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America should be proud of these young men who served at a time when it wasn’t popular to do so. We were hated as much at home as we were overseas. I know. I was there - 1969. Heroes today are walking our streets among us, silent and unnoticed and not thanked for a job well done given the circumstances we were put in.
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Thanks for posting this. When I rotated back from Iraq (first tour) we flew into Bangor, Maine for refueling. We were in our DCU's, most of us still in "desert mode". Anyway, as we exited the plane, a line of Vietnam veterans (had to have been 20-30) lined the tube thing that connects the plane to the airport. They all thanked us, shook our hands, hugged. One Vietnam guy said, "we're here to welcome you home because we didn't get welcomed home". Thank you...
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Greetings. I was crew chief on UH1C gunship for 135th AHC, RVN 68-69. Welcome home my fellow VN veterans. You are appreciated.
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April 10th 1971, my father died three days later, I was 12.... I will never forget that day.
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My father was an 0311 in Vietnam in 69 in the Arizona territory. When I came home from Iraq also thru Bangor, Maine and Vietnam veteran handed me his phone and told me welcome home brother and let me call my dad to tell him I was finally back home. It was the most warming moment of my life to finally know my boots where back in our beautiful country
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Thank you so much for your service John. I was just a Vietnamese boy aged 4 when you got there in the South. No matter what people said about the war and the American involved in VN. I personally thank you for being there to help the South Vietnamese people and a little boy like me to live in peace until April 1975.
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My oldest brother flew Hueys. Two Tours, shot down both times. He survived Vietnam. Lived out his life in the USA. He's buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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I’m 60 years old. Part of that most unusual and incredibly lucky subset of American males who never had to defend or fight for this country in anyway at anytime ever. Just too young for Vietnam and too old for the Middle East. I don’t think about it everyday but it does cross my mind a couple more than a couple times every year. Any pain I have or do suffer, any scar I carry and any disquiet of any sort that I might carry is ALL, not ALMOST all; ALL of my own making. If there were better words than Thank You I’d use them. Thank You. For doing as you were asked. For doing it as…well hell, I don’t know. For DOING it. You all meaning ALL of you did something I’m sure I could not. You mustered a level of acceptance and fortitude and bravery and discipline that will forever evade me and I’m SO GRATEFUL I’ll never ever have to know if I ever might have. Because you guys did what I’ll never ever be asked too. Thank you very very much My Friend.
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You GUYS, & GALS, ARE SO RESPECTED BY US SLIGHTLY YOUNGER VETS. I WAS ONLY 15, WHEN THE PRISONER EXCHANGES TOOK PLACE. MY.DAD, A KOREAN WAR.VET TOLD ME, ".....SON, THOSE MEN, COMING HOME?? THEY SAVED YOU FROM HAVING TO GO OVER THERE! GOD BLESS VIETNAM VETERANS!!👍
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Welcome home friend, from a Canadian who served 4 tours in the Balkins and in Afghanistan.
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As a kid I remember putting together a care package for my cousin, a Marine in Vietnam (1969). It would have razors, shaving cream, etc. My dad, who was my cousin's godfather, always insisted that he seal up the box before we put it in the mail. After Dad died I learned he threw in a Playboy when Mom wasn't looking.
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The men of WW2 are called the greatest generation. The men In Vietnam are slowly becoming the men of the forgotten generation. My father was one. His mind finally got the best of him 6 years ago. We need to keep these stories alive. Keep these men alive. Some volunteered to go to Vietnam but a lot were told to go. I refuse to let these men and what they did go to the grave with them. I stand sir and salute you.
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Thank you for your service I was drafted Jan 71. Basic at Ft Ord Ca Then was sent to Ft Sill Oklahoma. 226 Maintenance Co. DS I ended up staying there and never went to Nam. I say welcome home to many vets.
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This video was filmed 3 days after my birth. I have grown up holding You guys as my heros. I joined the Marine Corps and later the Army. I served from 89 through 2008 with a short break in service between the Marines and the Army. 18.5 years of service and out due to combat injuries from 2 deployments to Iraq. Gentlemen, Welcome Home! You will always be my heros!
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As a USMC grunt I found your film riveting. A true historic treasure. Thanks for all you have done and continue to do.
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My grandfather died in Vietnam 14 April 1971. When I saw the dates at the beginning I got excited to see how things were while he was there during his last few days. He had 1 or 2 previous tours I believe. He was a Major in the Kontum Province and a part of Mac-V Team 22 when he was KIA. I never met him but I wish I had. Can’t imagine the stories he’d have. Anyways, thank you for this.
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I registered for the draft in 71. Dad was on Luzon in 45 then Korea in 51 52. I grew up with his brokenness. His Dad was a WW1 Army vet. So many of my Uncles and cousins served as well. Just wanted to say ...Welcome home guys. We Love you..
