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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Army Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
SP 4 Joe Rutolo U.S. Army (1970-1971)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY?
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| Ready for the Bush |
It was 1969, I had recently graduated from college and had begun graduate school. I no longer had a college deferment and, although my draft lottery number was 326, it did not count because I had received a letter of intent from the draft board two months before the lottery, invalidating my lottery number. In January 1970 I withdrew from school and in very short order received a draft notice. I visited my recruiter to look into all my options. I ended up enlisting for two years because the recruiter told me I might get a better job. I guess that all depends on what you consider a better job. I did basic training at Ft. Dix, NJ in February 1970 and Infantry AIT at Ft. Lewis, WA. On July 20 I flew from Philadelphia to San Francisco and then to Bien Hoa, Viet Nam where the adventure began. In the attached photo I am shown as an FNG, getting ready to leave Firebase Jeanne and fly out to the bush for the first time.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Since I entered the service only because of the draft I had no intention of making it a career. As the end of my tour in Nam drew near I had gotten a "strap" job as a clerk typist with the 1st Aviation Brigade in DaNang. It was a safe
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| Home at Last |
area and afforded me the opportunity to extend my tour by two months so that I had less than 150 days remaining in my two year commitment when I returned home. That, in turn, allowed me to receive an honorable discharge immediately upon returning to the States in September 1971.
The following year my experience in the Army and my college degree enabled me to secure a job as a Parole Agent with the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole from where I retired in 2004 with 32 years service. Although I never wanted to join the military the experience was a life changer and provided me with a new attitude and a new career. In the attached photo I had just returned to the airport in Philadelphia where I was greeted by my dad, a WWII Navy vet and my grandfather, a WWI Army vet.
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
As an infantryman in the 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 2nd Battalion, 12th Brigade, Delta Company, I spent about eight months in the bush, followed by several weeks in a special platoon training ARVN troops in preparation for the US Army's withdrawal from Viet Nam. My last few months were in DaNang with the 1st Aviation Brigade. Life in the bush was, at times, a terrifying experience, never knowing if any day might be your last. On one occasion one of my company's platoons was ambushed and we lost their machine gunner and assistant gunner.
My platoon took chase after the Viet Cong who attacked us and then we were ambushed. One of our guys who was very short, having less than 30 days left in country, threw down his pack and rifle and ran screaming through the jungle. Some other guys ran after him and brought him back. He was medevac'd to the rear. By the time my tour ended I was so happy to be going home, alive and well, that I promised myself I would never complain about life again. The attached photo shows a typical day in the bush with my squad. I am seated on the left.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
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| Bullitt and Me |
I had only one duty station and that was Viet Nam, however I had several assignments in Nam. My least favorite, for obvious reasons, was Infantry duty in the bush. My favorite was working as clerk typist in DaNang. For the first time while in country I slept in a wooden hooch with a tin roof and a real bed with a cloth mattress. I had three hot meals a day and got to go to the beach after work. In the photo below I am seen with my "battle buddy" Tom "Bullitt" Paoli who I recently found after 44 years though this website. Tom was point man in our platoon while in the bush and we remained together for a while in DaNang.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
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| Fire Base Blue |
One of the most intense experiences I recall was the night we had a sapper attack on Fire Base Blue, about one click from the Cambodian border. I was awakened around 2 AM by the sound of mortars that were being "walked" into our perimeter. Soon the Viet Cong were coming through the wire with weapons and satchel charges. They threw one inside one of our tanks and killed the guys inside. Someone opened up with a .50 cal machine gun and inadvertently blew up our fuel dump which had much of the fire base in flames.
We killed several enemy in the wire with Claymore Mines and also called in an air strike with our jets pounding the rice paddies 360 degrees around us. In the morning a General came to the fire base and all the guys in my unit were awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor. The attached photo was taken from the observation tower on Fire Base Blue. You can see our perimeter and some of our artillery pieces.
WHAT ACHIEVEMENT(S) ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER? IF YOU RECEIVED ANY MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS OR QUALIFICATION BADGES FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT OR VALOR, PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW THESE WERE EARNED.
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| Machine Gun Crew |
Although I am proud to have earned the Bronze Star for combat operations over a several month period of time, the Air Medal for 25 Combat Assaults via helicopter, and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and Oak Leaf Cluster for second award, the award I am most proud of is the CIB, Combat Infantry Badge. Given to those who served at least 30 days in a combat zone or who had experienced at least one firefight, this award symbolized for me the cumulative combat experience of those soldiers who put their lives on the line day after day in of the most hostile environments we would ever live through. In this photo I am seen working as Assistant Machine Gunner with Rick "The Rock" Phillips, our Gunner from Dallas-Fort Worth.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR ANY OTHER MEMORABILIA, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The photographs I took, some of which are posted on this page, are my most treasured memorabilia. They bring to life, more than anything else, the real Viet Nam experience for me. They also enable me to share my experience with others. The attached photo shows our gunner's M-60 at the ready as we Charlie Alpha to the bush.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
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| Lt. Bob Kaptain |
Our Platoon Leader, Lt. Robert Kaptain, aka 3-6, is a man I have the utmost respect for. He led us into battle numerous times and brought everyone in our platoon back alive. He was an excellent leader who cared as much about us as he did himself. I recently spoke with him on the phone after having found him living in Virginia via this website and "battle buddy" Tom Paoli who had his phone number. I plan to visit with him this Fall.
PLEASE RECOUNT THE NAMES OF FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATION, AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
In July I met with John Payne, Fred Wilson, Jim Amicone, and Bob Kaptain at a reunion in Virginia. Since then I have also spoken with Tom Paoli, Jim Symonds, and Charlie "Brown" Wilson. I also have contact information for Mike "Buffalo" Cody, Pete Sanchez, and Rick "Sundance" Wiens. All these guys were in the 3rd Platoon, Delta Company with me in the 1st Cav's 2nd of the 12th in Viet Nam.
The guys we are sill looking for are Bill Strong, Jim 'Hot Rod" Gatlin, and John "Wayne" LaMarsh. We'd also like to find Lopez and Gomez from our platoon, but don't know their first names.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
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| Party Time |
I had completely forgotten this story until Sgt. Paoli recalled it during our first phone call in 44 years last month. He told me that one night while sleeping in the bush I had a nightmare. As I started yelling in my sleep Tom scrambled to silence me before Charlie heard me. As he entered my hooch, consisting of two ponchos snapped together over a bamboo pole he encountered my mandatory mosquito net that he got tangled up in trying to quiet me. We laughed out loud as I imagined what he was going through to keep me from getting us all killed. Here is a photo of Tom taken upon our return from a long stay in the bush. We are celebrating our safe return. Tom is third from the right.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
As I mentioned before, I was hired as a State Parole Agent in Pennsylvania the year after I returned from Viet Nam. I retired from there in 2004 and then worked part time for three years as a housing coordinator, arranging installation of accommodation devices for people with disabilities. After that I drove bloodmobiles for our local blood center for six years. I am now fully retired and loving it. As you can see my life was much about serving others, a value that began in the Army.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
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| Rice Paddies |
As a member of Together We Served I enjoyed not only being able to find several buddies I served with in Viet Nam, but also have an opportunity to preserve and share the memories of my military experience with friends, family, and the military community.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
Before the Army I was quiet, shy, and lacking confidence. Accepting a job as Parole Agent was a huge challenge for me, however my experience in the Army helped me to gain the confidence to pursue a career that might not otherwise have been possible for me. It also helped to instill in me a sense of responsibility, service to others, and self discipline, all very valuable assets to a successful life.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
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| Mortar Team |
Take advantage of any training opportunities you may have, travel as much as you can, and keep your head down. It's also a good idea to push yourself when situations challenge you, and to always try your hardest to be the best at whatever you do. One of my point men was a guy from California who stole his father's car, money, and ran off to Minnesota. When he was caught he was brought before a judge who gave him a choice: jail or the Army. He chose the Army and it was a life changing experience for him. He was an excellent point man who saved our tails more than once with his sharp eye and excellent rifleman-ship. He became someone who could be trusted and I believe his life took a much better path after the Army.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
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| John Payne |
Through this website I was able to contact my 'battle buddy" Tom Paoli who then provided me with contact information for three other guys from my same company in Viet Nam. I spoke with all of them on the phone recently and hope to see them all again one day soon. Some of the guys are having a reunion in Branson, MO this September. It has been wonderful to be in touch with these guys after 44 long years. This photo of John Payne, one of the guys from my platoon who I have spoken with several times over the past few weeks was taken on Christmas Day 1970, one of the few times we had a chance to swim and bathe in one of Viet Nam's many rivers.
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TWS VOICES
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