| Photo In Uniform |
Service Details |
|
|
|
Current Service Status
USA Veteran
|
Current/Last Rank
Sergeant
|
Current/Last Service Branch
Field Artillery
|
Current/Last Primary MOS
141.67-Assistant Gunner 105-mm Howitzer (Airborne)
|
Current/Last MOS Group
Field Artillery
|
Primary Unit
1967-1968, 13B40, D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery
|
Previously Held MOS
13B40-Cannon Crewmember
|
Service Years
1966 - 1968
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
1975, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 3106, Old Stage Post (Life Member) (Leesville, Louisiana)
- Chap. Page
|
| |
1990, American Legion, Post 145 (Member) (Leesville, Louisiana)
- Chap. Page
|
| |
2011, National Rifle Association (NRA)
|
| |
2013, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 20 (Life Member) (Leesville, Louisiana)
- Chap. Page
|
|
|
What are you doing now:
( RETIRED)
 MASONIC ORGANIZATION
LORENZO DE ZAVALA LODGE-#-1397
Houston, Texas
Endowed Member
Rosepine Lodge #-290
Perpetual Member
PICKERING LODGE-#-477
PICKERING,LOUISIANA
PERPETUAL MEMBER
SCOTTISH RITE AND YORK RITE
OF
FREEMASONRY
|
| |
|
|
|
Reflections on SGT Fletcher's
US Army Service
|
| |
|
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
The military " DRAFT. " I wasn't going to college, I wasn't married and I was healthy. The local selective service board #69 in Leesville, Louisiana selected me to be a selectee in 1966. I was inducted into "MILITARY SERVICE", Monday, 17 May 1966, in Shreveport, Louisiana and sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana the same day.
|
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Two years in the service, not sure you would call that a "CAREER PATH."Basic training and AIT at Fort Riley Kansas, both on Custer Hill. After Basic and AIT, a trip to Vietnam in 1967 that lasted one year-one month and eight days and out of the Army. I came home and put myself back together and moved to Houston, Texas in 1968.
|
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I participated in some combat operation in Vietnam in 1967, in the Mekong Delta, this is an area of rice paddies and is still owned by the VC today. I was in B Battery,, 2nd Battalion, 4TH Artillery, 9th Infantry Division and was at a base camp in the Mekong Delta, at Binh Phuoc Vietnam. B Battery 2nd Battalion 4th Artillery 9TH Infantry Division was in support of the 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry Mechanized. They were at Binh Phuoc. All of our operations were around Binh Phuoc, the Plain of Reeds at My Tho and Can Tho.
I was transferred to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery in October 1967. Our base camp was at Tan An. D-Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division was the first Battery deployed with the Airmobile Firing Platform in Vietnam. All of our preparations were around Tan An, the Plain of Reeds and Cai Lay. It wasn't a good place to be. The year 1967 was a tough year for me, not knowing if you would live or die from day to day. One combat operation, I will never forget it was at fire support base CUDGEL in November 1967 at Cai Lay.
|
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Only two duty stations, Fort Riley Kansas, basic and A.I.T. training on Custer Hill with SGT. Rexash and then off to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. My memories are leaving Oakland California, January 1967 on the USNS General John Pope on our way to Vietnam. The most outstanding memory, without question, "the year 1967 and two months of 1968", I was in "Vietnam"
Fondest memories, "TWO", My week of R&R in Hawaii, September 1967 and February 16, 1968 leaving Long Binh to board the airplane which was often called a "freedom bird" to go home. I was delighted to being getting out of this nightmare and the Mekong Delta "rice paddies." After boarding the airplane on our way to Japan and then back to Oakland California by February 18, 1968 and a discharge from the Army.
|
FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The most outstanding memory, without question, the year I was in Vietnam "1967."
|
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Rifle Badge for the M-14. They were earned with duty, fear and dedication.
|
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
It was First Sergeant Rice who had 20 or more years in service. In basic training he called me to his office and told me that talking and grab assin' on guard duty had to stop. He pointed out to me that guard duty was not a game. It was training and training was about to end and the real deal was imminent. He got my attention; he further pointed out that I was destined for the most profound experience in my life and that was "combat." I remember that talk he gave me to this day.
|
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?
A Colonel at Fort Polk Louisiana, I don't remember his name but, he knew me very well. Before I was inducted into the military service, I worked for the Coca-Cola company and would fill the coke machine in his office. He told me that I live too close to Fort Polk to be there. I think he set me up. On the second day at Fort Polk, which was a Tuesday, a sergeant I knew who lived off post next to me came by and ask me if I wanted to go home, I said yes, and went home to see my girl friend. I didn't know I was on fire watch at 10:00 PM that night, I wasn't there.
I was reported missing. Well the Colonel was waiting on me on the top step of the barrack's when I came in. He told me to go and see the Mess Sergeant, and I was on KP for the next 24 hours. On Thursday morning, Sergeant Rexash and the Colonel came to the mess hall and took me off KP, my duffelbag was packed. I was in the ARMY at Fort Polk Louisiana for only four days. The Colonel told Sergeant Rexash I belong to him. I went to Fort Riley Kansas on a troop train for Basic, AIT and to Vietnam with Sergeant Rexash. Sergeant Rexash took that order to" Heart".
|
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?
After getting out of the service in 1968, I moved to Houston Texas where I joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker's, Local union # 716. I attended school, got my Master Electrical License and worked for Electrical Contractor's all over the USA. I am now a Pension (retired) Member of Local Union # 716.
|
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a Life Member of Post 3106 Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of Post 0145 of the American Legion, both in Leesville Louisiana. These organizations offer understanding camaraderie that does not exist in any other place.
|
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
It made me more focused and discipline and I learned in the military to do it right the first time, which will save time and problems later. I tried to apply that in my life and at work. You never stop learning, life is one big learning cycle. I wake up every day with the appreciation of life and I am proud of my service. I will never forget and it will always be there.
|
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Be all you can be, take every opportunity in training that comes your way and remember there is no place like home. I thank you all for your service to this country.
|
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 | | TWS and the US Army |
TogetherWeServed .com has been a morale booster. I have discovered a few old Army buddies and I rediscovered that bond between brothers, and enjoy what I see on the site. I have downloaded some of my photo's of the year (1967) when I was in Vietnam. This is about the only place they will be appreciated and I am proud to be a part of what makes this country great. DB 1/25/2016
|
|
