Briddle, Fynis, SGT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
My best friend in high school suggested we enlist together to keep from getting drafted. He mentioned we could select our training.

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?
My MOS training had nothing to do with my career path. My largest asset was my military training, leadership skills, and the ability to make good decisions.

I left after my three-year enlistment was up to return to my wife and civilian life a much better young man than I was when I enlisted.

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?
No combat, I was trained in high-speed teletype operations. After Fort Gordon, all operators and maintenance personnel were sent to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and stockpiled awaiting equipment setup in Nam.

After several months two planes of us were sent to Korea because of the manpower shortage there with many leaving. I went to Taegu, where I worked at the DCS Major Relay station there.

After Korea, I submitted an ITT to Taiwan, where I worked at the TDC Com Center for just over a month, at which time I was offered the position of NCOIC of the Kinmen Communications Center on Kinmen Island. I was temporarily assigned to the five-man MAAG team on the island. My home unit was U.S. Army STRATCOM.

As a team, we were always performing goodwill gestures with the locals on the island.

I was able for the first time to be among the poor, mostly farmers that had lived on the island for hundreds of years. It was a true learning experience for me which I will never forget.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
By far, Kinmen/Quemoy Island. The MAAG Team there consisted of an Army Full Colonel, for a while a Major, a Navy Corpsman for any immediate medical needs, myself and a couple of maintenance personnel.

It was the closest to combat I ever came. At the time, there was High Explosive Propaganda Shell firing by both sides on odd days. We use to go out and watch and listen to the shells flying overhead and then exploding, after that we would hear the firing of the shell from the mainland. Having never experienced that before was quite an awakening. Being 20 year-old Americans, we had no idea of what real danger we were in all the time the shells were exploding and dropping the leaflets and from the shrapnel of the exploding shell.

Least Favorite would probably be the few months we were stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and not having any duty and no transportation to see the island.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
There is one person that has made the greatest impact on my life; his name is Father Bernard Duetto.

I met him during my tour of duty on Kinmen. When you are young, you don't think about the future. What I mean is as you get older you reflect back on

Father Bernard Duretto

your life and wonder about things you have done, people you have met and wonder whatever happened to them, why did they become the person they are? I wish I would have spent more time learning more about him while I had the chance.

Father Duetto was a Franciscan Priest that became a Priest/Doctor in France as a young man and then went to China to help the poor. He had built several churches and hospitals while there.

When the Japanese invaded China, he worked with the OSS against the Japanese. Young boys from his flock would put bombs on the Japanese supply barges.

After the Japanese left and the Communists came into power, he was arrested and put in prison. He was not treated very well and constantly told he was going to be put to death. The only thing that saved him was the people he had doctored and preached to before China became communist. After over a year in prison, he was released and he went to Hong Kong. He weighted just 68 pounds when released. He had sacrificed his whole life for the people he loved and continued to do so on his dying day.

He eventually heard about an island called Kinmen/Quemoy just a short distance from Amoy Harbor that desperately needed medical and spiritual help.

He was able to talk his superiors into letting him go there. He deeply loved China, and he felt close to her on the island. He again built a church and hospital and tended to the peoples needs the best he could. The U.S. Navy supplied a lot of supplies he needed. I was told he would once in a while swim the distance to the mainland to see a movie and talk to people there. While I was there, he would come over quite often to have dinner and a glass of wine with the KDCAT team. He died in 1994 after an accident on his motorcycle. He had been given several major awards from the Peopled Republic of China for his 40 plus years of caring for their people. I have researched his life for many years and have several items I have collected.

He was truly a HERO........

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Again my ARCOM

First, from my ARCOM

"For meritorious service while serving as Non Comissioned Officer in charge. Kinmen Defense Command - Taiwan (provisional), APO San Francisco 96263. During the period, November 1970 to November 1971. Sergeant Briddle's positive efforts in improving communications operations have significantly increased circuit continuity. His professionalism was

Seargent Gene Briddle in the KDCAT COM Center

instrumental in the operation and maintenance control of the entire Kinmen Island communications complex. In all areas, Sergeant Briddle's duties were challenging due to the diverse type of electronic equipment utilized. His loyalty and complete dedication served as sterling examples for his associates to emulate and earned him the respect and confidence of his superiors. Sergeant Briddle's invaluable service and outstanding record of achievement were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the United States Army Strategic Communications Command, and the United States Army."
Our Comcenter was located inside a mountain. It was teletype and crypto equipment and radio contact with Taipei as a backup. We had to deal with water leakage onto our equipment, sending the teletype signal about 100 miles plus over sea with equipment meant for the use of a shorter distance over land.

Several times we had to borrow tubes from the republic forces and, at times, lend them repair items also.

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?
My ARCOM means the most to me.

Not having ever proved myself in combat, I was very honored to have been presented it.

I always tried to do my best whatever it was and being awarded it was a true honor. I felt I did do the best I could and was a good Soldier.

Having it also makes me believe that I would have served my country with honor under combat which gives me great satisfaction.

I will always have guilt that I did not support my fellow soldiers in combat however I went where my orders told me to go and not going to Vietnam was not of my choosing.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?

Colonel Daniel Moriarty MAAG

Colonel Daniel R Moriarty.

Being the only Officer on the island was difficult for him.

He was such a fantastic caring man. I was immediately drawn to him trying to do whatever I could but still being careful not to cross over the Enlisted/Officer barrier that exists.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
Being an only child. I continued to do things on my own in the Army.

I did have a few really good friends.

There were 3 of us that were very close in high school, so close we called each other bro or brother. They were Jerry Goglas and Mike Bentley,

My Brothers

whom I went into the Army with and was with the ASA for four years. Jerry went into the Army a short time before Mike and I did. He did a tour in Nam. I found out through Mike he became a Police officer in Florida after coming home. I guess the Nam memories were too much for him. His wife and child left him and, eventually, he took his life. I cried when I heard this. I had lost touch with Mike a few years after we returned home. In 2014 I decided to find him. After much searching, I did get a possible phone number and called him. What a surprise when it turned out to be him.

We have driven to New Mexico to see him and his wife and talk every few months.They had a Mining Consulting Business. One day, while trying to lift a heavy object, he severely injured his back and has been severely disabled for many years.

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?
While in Taipei before I transferred to Kinmen I was working on a plastic model car one day, using an Exacto knife. I slipped and sliced a 1 long cut on the top of my left index finger. I had to wrap it up, go out and find a taxi and explain that I needed to go to the Military Hospital but I had no idea where it was. I did get there and after several stitches, I was back at the hostel.

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?

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu

When I went to work after the service, I worked at a very large Lock Manufacturing Company. Within six months, I was promoted to Production Supervisor, the youngest one they ever had. My military training made this possible. I went on to become a Manager and worked for them for 37 years, having relocated twice from California to Arizona and then another part of Arizona, where I crossed the border into Nogales Mexico and worked at our plant there until retiring.

Currently retired.

Was a Volunteer Firefighter/Engineer EMT for 9 years

Currently manage a program for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office called Citizens on Patrol.

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?
Just having the confidence to make decisions and stand up when others won't.

Thinking things through to the end so the actions of those decisions are effective and that they will work.

Treat all people with the most respect. Thank all ex-military I see for their service.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Work hard, but enjoy the decision you made to become a member of one of the greatest branches of service.

Continue to learn and improve on whatever you do while in the service and also whatever you choose to do after the service.

You have been given the tools to be successful, just use them.

Always be safe.

Be smart enough to realize if you need help and if you do get it.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
By requiring me to complete the Reflections of My Service.

DS 2/2/2020