Porter, John, MSG

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY?
MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD US THE STORIES OF HOW MY DAD WANTED TO JOIN THE ARMY DURING THE 2nd WORLD WAR. BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE OF AN EYE INJURY. HE DIED WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG AND SHE RAISED ME AND MY BROTHER., AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE I JOINED THE ARMY TO SERVE WERE HE COULDN'T.

MY MOM IN PIC AFTER A LONG DAY!

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO FOR BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
I ENLISTED FOR AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE, AND STAYED IN MECHANICS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER.

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
YES, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, I SERVED WITH THE 359th TRANSPORTATION COMPANY PRIOR TO AND THROUGH THE TET OFFENSIVE IN 1968, THEN WITH THE 1 BN 14th INF 4th ID. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS THE 359th TRANS CO, I SAW MORE COMBAT WITH IT THAN WITH THE INF. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE PROBLEM'S THEY HAD. THERE WERE DAY'S OUR CONVOY WAS AMBUSHED 3 AND 4 TIMES. WE HAULED FUEL ( GAS, DIESEL, AVIATION, & JP-4 ). IT WAS A PROUD COMPANY AND ALWAYS SOME HOW MANAGED TO GET THE FUEL TO WERE IT WAS NEEDED. AND MOST DAY'S THAT WASN'T AS EASY AS PEOPLE THINK. IT'S HARD TO KEEP GOING WHEN YOUR TRUCKS ARE SHOT UP, OR DESTROYED ( SEE PICTURE ).

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
MY FINEST DUTY ASSIGNMENT WAS THE 3rd ARMORED DIV CMMI/AGI TEAM AFTER OVER 50 YEARS ALL OF THE ONE'S I WAS IN CONTACT WITH HAVE PASSED AWAY, THEY WERE A GREAT BUNCH OF NCO'S, HARD BUT FAIR.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
MY TIME WITH THE 359th TRANSPORTATION COMPANY IN VIETNAM. IT WAS A HARD TIME, BUT THE MEN ALWAYS PULLED TOGETHER AND GOT MISSION DONE.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
NONE FOR VALOR, BUT THE ARMY COMMENDATION I GOT IN VIETNAM. HAS THE MOST MEANING. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE HIGHEST AWARD I EVER GOT.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
ONCE AGAIN THE ARMY COMMENDATION I GOT IN VIETNAM.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
SSG GORDAN MY DRILL SGT FROM BASIC TRAINING. HE WAS HARD AND FAIR. BUT HIS TRAINING SAVED MY LIFE MORE THAN ONCE. IT'S HIS PICTURE.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE RECOUNT THE NAMES OF FRIENDS HE/SHE SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATION, AND WHAT WAS REMEMBERED MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE HE/SHE REMAINED IN TOUCH WITH.
THIS LIST WOULD BE TO LONG TO TRY TO POST HERE, I AM CUREENTLY IN CONTACT WITH OVER 400 GUY'S I SERVED WITH IN THE MILITARY. AND AM TRYING TO LOCATE ANOTHER 4 TO 5 HUNDRED THAT I SERVED WITH.
21 YEARS IN THE ARMY YOU MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS!!!

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
IN GERMANY ONE OF MY MEN HAD A DOG IN HIS ROOM PRIOR TO AN IG INSPECTION. THE CO WAS DOING A PRE INSPECTION. HE WOULDN'T LET HIM IN THE ROOM. OUR LT GAVE HIM AN ORDER TO GET RID OF IT.

THE NEXT DAY THE LT CAME IN AND ASKED HIM IF HE'D GOTTEN IT OUT OF HIS ROOM. HE SAID YES. THEN THE LT WENT TO GO IN HIS OFFICE. THE GUY HOLLERED DON'T THE DOG IS IN THERE. THE LT GOT MAD AS HECK, SLAMMED THE DOOR OPEN! THERE WAS THE DOG CHANGED TO THE LT'S DESK. IT WAS A STUFFED DOG!

THERE'S MORE TO THIS STORY, BUT DON'T THINK THE EXACT WORD'S AND ACTION'S WOULD LIKED ON HERE.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
I STAYED WITH CIVIL SERVICE, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY AT WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE. NOW I'M CURRENTLY RETIRED.

IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
I AM MOST ACTIVE WITH THE 359th TRANSPORTATION COMPANY VIETNAM ASSOCIATION.
WE RECEIVE NO BENEFITS.
ALL WE WANT IS TO GET TOGETHER, REMEMBER, TALK ABOUT NAM BETWEEN OURSELVES OF THINGS MOST WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WEREN'T THERE.
THE PICTURE BELOW IS OF ONE OF OUR FLOAT BANNERS LAS VEGAS NV VETERANS DAY PARADE.

I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE VFW, AND VVA.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
THE MILITARY WAS MY LIFE AND STILL IS! I STAY IN CONTACT WITH OVER 300 MEN I SERVED WITH IN DIFFERENT UNIT'S. I'M PROUD OF SERVICE, THE MEN I SERVED WITH, AND THE MEN & WOMEN CURRENTLY SERVING.

PIC IS 359th TRANS CO TODAY WITH SOME OF 359th TRANS CO VIETNAM.

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
KEEP YOUR CHIN UP, AND YOUR BUTT DOWN! STAND PROUD, IT'S NOT AN EASY LIFE, BUT IT' A EXPERIENCE YOU CAN'T FORGET.

HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
IT'S HELPED ME LOCATE SOME OF THE MEN I LOST TRACK OF. BUT MOST OF ALL IT'S GIVEN ME AND THOSE I SERVED WITH A PLACE TO HONOR THE MEN WE LOST IN COMBAT.

*