Chrisler, Danny, SGT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
Back in 1967, after attending two years of Auto/Diesel Vocational school after graduating from high school, I no longer had a deferment for going to school. Since I had heard that the Draft Lottery System was coming out, I decided to volunteer for the draft. That way I would only have to spend two years in the Army and nobody could say that I was just waiting around to get drafted.

I honestly wanted to serve my country and get my obligation with the service over with. Of course, it was scary after seeing what Vietnam was like on the news each night on TV. I just hoped that I would return in one piece and keep my nose clean (stay out of trouble) so I would have a respectable military record so everyone would be proud of me. My grandfather and uncle had both served in World War II, but my father had asthma so bad that he had to drop out of high school. He never was able to go back and finish high school on a GED or anything. I guess that you could say that I was proud to serve, but yet was as hesitant as any young man was during that time in their life.

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?
I had only intended on staying in the service for a minimum of two years, that's why I volunteered for the draft and did not enlist. After I had taken all of the "skill tests" so they could see where they would put you, I guess that I must not have done too well on the tests because they told me that I was going into the Infantry. We had all heard that if you are not really skilled at anything, you would probably end up in the Infantry and be a "ground pounder" which to all of us seemed to be the "bottom of the ladder".

Well, I did not have any time to worry about that, because I had to keep my wits and concentrate on doing everything that I was supposed to do. As it turned out, after doing my Basic Training at Fort LeonardWood, Missouri, and then my Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, I was ready for my tour in Vietnam.

I flew over to Vietnam with us stopping once in Okinawa on the way to refuel. Some did not fly but had to take a ship which took about a month to get there. I was glad that I flew. My 365 days in Nam did not go without many, many, many scary times. I did manage to make it through my tour and returned with two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars with Valor.

I also returned with the rank of E5 which was a buck Sergeant. My job for my tour in Vietnam did not end up with me being an Infantryman, but a Track Commander on the Command track in an Armor Recon Company. I spent my last 6 months at Fort Knox, Kentucky. We, as soldiers did not get respect and that is why I left the Army when my commitment was done.

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?
1968-1968 Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase IV Campaign (1968)
1968-1968 Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign (1968)
1968-1969 Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign (1968-69)
1969-1969 Vietnam War/Tet 69 Counteroffensive Campaign

These are the four Military Campaigns that I was involved in during my one year tour. Were any of these "life-changing" for me in any way? Any or all of them were I am sure in some way. War cannot "not change" a person.

Ask any Vietnam veteran and I will bet that our main "gripe" was that we would go into an area, fight to gain the upper hand and finally overtake the enemy. Then we would leave that same area and go back to our base camp to do the same thing the next day. What kind of sense does that make to "gain" that land, but to then just "give it up" again after leaving it? There were no "lines" in Vietnam, so in that respect, I always said after a battle that our lost, killed, or wounded just died in vain because we had actually gained nothing! Vietnam was like no other war. I can totally understand why some Vietnam veterans came back home, let their hair grow, and became war demonstrators.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
Sure, there were plenty of times while in Vietnam that I did not think that I would survive. I believe that my unit was probably in an active firefight with the enemy at least once a week during my tour. Since I was a Track Commander behind the 50 caliber machine gun on the Command Track #10 which was usually in the center of the formation when driving down the roads or in our night time logging positions, I had an excellent chance of being in the action.

On my track was the Platoon leader (a 1st Lt.), our interpreter, our medic, and our driver besides myself. We were a very close-knit group. I had actually gone through 6 different lieutenants during my tour.

The absolute scariest time in Vietnam was one day (I cannot remember the exact date) we were on a Search and Destroy Mission in an unfamiliar area of the jungle in Tay Ninh. We had the new Sheridan tanks which could not break through the jungle at all. They only weighed 15 tons and were too light duty to be doing what we were doing that day. It seemed like we were getting deeper and deeper into the thick jungle after going slowly through it for about an hour. We would not be able to turn around to go back, so we could only keep going straight.

Our troop commander was usually above us in his little Loach helicopter guiding us through to the next clearing. We started to drive past a lot of smoldering campfires and enemy bunkers. We knew that many VC or NVA were right underneath us! After it seemed like hours, we finally came upon a small clearing just large enough that we could form a very tight night time position because it was getting dark.

The order was given to NOT put out any trip flares because we were so close to the jungle underbrush. The 4 duece mortar was set up in the center of our position shooting up illumination flares all night long. If we would have been attacked, we surely would have all been killed. Everybody stayed awake the whole night thinking it would happen. The following morning when leaving we were attacked. we backed up, called in artillery and napalm strikes, they were able to finally evacuate through a much safer area to the road again. Many prayers that night.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I suppose that I would say that my fondest memory duty station was a Fort Knox, Kentucky. Basically, because it was my very last duty station and I was honorably discharged from there. It also may have been my toughest one. You see, Fort Knox is an Armored Training facility. I had no previous training in Armor before I had gotten to Vietnam. I had Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, but was never really an infantryman in Vietnam.

On my very first time outside of the main gate of the Fire Support Base at Cu Chi, Vietnam in May of 1968, I was actually promoted to being a Track Commander on the command Track of First Platoon, Charlie Troop only being a Private First Class E3. So, nothing of what I had learned about being an Infantryman at Fort Polk applied to when you are in an "Armor unit".

Then, since I was an E5 Buck Sergeant then arriving at Fort Knox, They immediately made me the Platoon Sergeant in control of everyone in our barracks. That was a very tough job because everybody in the barracks was just like you and most had only 6 months to go before they were discharged from the service. It was really fun when they would have all of us fall outside for revelry in a formation. Trying to get everyone at attention and looking good was the last thing that any of them wanted to do.

Then we would have to "police the area" for cigarette butts and litter before everyone was free to go about their day. I don't know how many times I would have everyone turn around and go back over the area again because nobody was paying attention. I was assigned to Headquarters Platoon and when we would have inspections of our vehicles and buildings they would expect the vehicles, yes even the tanks, jeeps, and trucks to be waxed and shined to show a good example. My least favorite duty station was Fort Polk, Louisiana because of how tough it was getting you ready for Vietnam.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I still do get back together every two years with about 40-50 of my Vietnam buddies at a different location each time that we have a reunion. Our first get together reunion was in 2005 when they had not "found me" yet. Then in 2006, I received a phone call from a lady inviting me to join their group. Our members in our group are exclusively only for the three years 1968, 1969, and 1970 and also for only the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Platoon, Charlie Troop. We figured that that way we would be more apt to know some of the guys and possibly remember better some of the battles or heroics that happened.

Out of this group, my driver, my last Lieutenant, my last medic, and I were all on my Command Track #10 together for the last 5 or 6 months of my tour of duty in Vietnam. We all are very close to this very day. We all very much look forward to our every two-year reunions. My wife and I hosted the last reunion in 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona and all had a great time and it was well attended.

From the very first day that I got in Vietnam, one of my buddies told me to be careful about making a lot of really close friends during my tour because "they are here one minute and gone the next". I had taken a lot of pictures when in Vietnam and actually found out when I returned home that they were all slide pictures. I think that I had actually around 600 - 700 slides. After I had viewed all of them and sorted them out, I ended up with about 200 that I really remembered what they were.

I have a nice really think Vietnam Picture Album that I always bring to our reunions for everyone to look at. In that album there are 185 of my favorite pictures all enlarged to the 8 X 10 size with captions on the pictures so people know what they are. Everyone always looks forward to looking at my album.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Well, first it would have to be being assigned as the Track Commander of the Command Track my very first day outside of the main gate in the Fire Support Base at Cu Chi in Vietnam. I made the rank of E5 Buck Sergeant in 6 months and actually went before the promotion board (to be promoted to E6) at Fort Knox, Kentucky before I was Honorably discharged just to see what it would be like.

Of course, I would have had to go back to Vietnam and add probably another 3 or 4 years to my enlistment. No way! I am also very proud to have been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, 3 Bronze Stars with Valor, 2 Purple Hearts, and the Good Conduct Medal for my service. I am very proud of my service.

I might also add that I am most proud that I always obeyed my orders and never refused an order. I am saying this because with being the Track Commander on the Command Track does have it's "privileges". Besides getting on the chopper with my Lieutenant and flying back into base camp for more supplies was always fun. Not only was it a great photo opportunity, but I could always bring some extra goodies back for the guys from our basecamp. It was a great experience except for the terribly, unwelcome return that we all got when coming back home. We all still dismayed by that and I still have bad feelings about it.

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?
I figure that the Purple Heart awards that a combat veteran receives come with the territory if he is in combat. I also figure that there are far too few Bronze Stars with Valor awarded than really should be. A combat veteran sticks his neck out way too many times during a battle and usually ends up getting nothing for doing it. I have seen people in a battle that should have gotten an award for doing something heroic but ended up with nothing.

The most important medal that I have received for my service in the Army is the Good Conduct Medal. It means more to me than anything else. It is (and would be) so easy for someone to step out of line when in a battle zone or when frustrations get the best of someone, either lash out in anger physically or verbally when you have seen your friends die in front of you or you have just blamed yourself for their death. I have to say, that even though I have always been a very mild-mannered guy, at times when in Vietnam I really had to control what I was doing.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
I would say that my Senior Aid Man (Medic) Larry "Doc" Young, my Lt. Greg Adams, and my driver Winston Cunningham, have been great influences in my life. We will always be lifelong friends and we still manage to see each other every two years at our reunions.

Unfortunately, Winston's wife has just passed in 2019 of cancer and "Doc" Larry Young has just had a stroke but is getting better. These people are all great role models and all of them speak positively about their war experiences. All of us were in only a short time (all less than 5 years each).

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.
Winston Cunningham, Scottsville, Kentucky. Winston was my driver for my last 6 months on my armored personnel carrier #10 in Vietnam. I think that I have more pictures of Winston and me in Vietnam than with anyone else. He is a great friend and will always be there for me as I will be for him. My wife and I traveled to Winston's wife's (Carolyn) funeral in 2019. She had passed away from cancer. Since Winston nor I smoked cigarettes, drank any alcohol, or cussed in any way, we would always be hanging out together. We had a lot in common with each other. We have visited each other in our own home states at different times throughout the years. We have called ahead and plan to drive to visit Winston again in 2020 and possibly will stay with him for a couple of days.

"Doc" Larry Young, Woodbridge, Virginia. Doc was with me for the last 6 months in Vietnam and rode on my track. We would always "watch out" and protect Doc as much as we could because he was very brave and important to us. During the time he was with me, he never got so much as a scratch on him and he saved a lot of lives. We see each other every two years at our reunions. Doc has always volunteered himself at the WALL in Washington DC on every Veteran's Day and he is the one that determines "who" will place the 25th Infantry Division wreath at the WALL. Unfortunately, just a few months ago, Doc was hospitalized when he had a stroke. He is slowly coming back.

1st Lt. Greg Adams, Athens, Alabama. Lt. Adams was my Lt. on my track for the last 6 months of my tour in Nam. He and I always got along very well and he had put me in for 2 of my 3 Bronze Star awards that I received. Greg is always at our every two-year reunions also. Greg was a real jokester all of the time. We would be lost and he would say to me, "Danny, do you know where we are"? I would tell him that HE was the one that took "map Reading"!

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?
Some people may find this funny, but I did not find it to be very funny at the time. After I got back from Vietnam, I was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky for my last 6 months. I was housed in a barracks with about 30 vets For a few weeks I shared a room at the end of the barracks with another E5 Buck Sergeant that was short and was leaving soon. He slept on the bottom bunk and I slept on the top bunk.

This guy had the most God-awful case of athlete's foot that I had ever smelled! Every night he would be laying in his bed and would be itching his feet and toes until they were raw. It was the worst smell that I had ever smelled and after my year in Vietnam, I had smelled some bad smells! I went to the higher-ups to complain and they just told me to suck it up for a few more weeks, then he would be gone. I don't know how many cans of air freshener I used every night to try to mask that smell!

Here is one more:
One night I had led a night patrol out past our trip flares about one kilo and set up a listening post. They always had an E5 lead those patrols out and I would pull my fair share of them. We were on strict noise discipline and would take turns on guard duty making sure that more than one person was awake at all times. I had looked down the line of guys where we were and saw this soldier cupping something in his hand. He was actually smoking a marijuana joint! I got his attention and would have strangled him if I could have. The next morning he got an Article 15!

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 I had returned back home on May 9, 1969, I returned to my old job working at the local hometown Gulf gas station where I had worked before I went into the service. They had given me a $1.00 an hour raise after being gone for two years (so I was making $2.25 per hour) and I thought that was fine with me.

My father was a mechanic at International Harvester and after he put in the good word for me I got a job as a partsman there. After 10 years working there, I got a better job offer at a semi-truck dealership Wisconsin Kenworth which was not far from my home. I was hired as their Service Writer and I worked there for 18 years. I left there and we moved to Chandler, Arizona in June of 1996. I got a job as a Correctional Officer with a private prison, but then I got a better job offer working for the infamous Arizona Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in their jail as a Detention Officer.

Both my wife and I went through their 7-week Detention Officer training academy to get the job. After working there for 2 years, I got a better job offer at the City of Tempe Jail as a Detention Officer. I ended up working there for 14 years and retiring from there at 64 years of age.

So between our Social Security, my wife's and my Arizona monthly State Annuity check, and my small Military Disability check, we are doing okay. We are enjoying life here in Arizona every day and I am at peace with everything that has happened in my life. I am on my second marriage with my present wife. We had met on-line after both of our first marriages lasted each of us 31 years.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, The American Legion, and the Wounded Warriors.

Although I do donate to these organizations periodically, I do not ever go to any of the American Legion Posts. I went to one and some supposedly disabled vet was constantly bending my ear about all of the different kinds of Agent Orange that there is. I did not go there to hear that. Once in a while when we are on vacation I ask merchants what the best deal is that I can get on a room using either my Veteran's ID or my AARP card. Usually, it is the same, so I will use our AARP card. One thing is; I do use my Veteran ID to get a 10% discount at Freddy's eatery, Denny's, Texas Roadhouse, Ace Hardware, Lowes, Home Depot, etc., etc.. That I DO APPRECIATE! I am a very proud Vietnam Veteran and you would have a hard time catching me NOT wearing my Vietnam Veteran caps any day of the week. I have stickers on my truck's tailgate that say, Vietnam Veteran, TET 1968 Survivor, 25th Infantry, Charlie Troop, We Will Never Forget, Wounded Warriors, etc../

I might add that there is a retired (Vietnam Vet Colonel, 1st Air Cav) here in Phoenix, AZ that he himself promotes and hosts every year a "Welcome Home Arizona Vietnam Veterans" dinner at a local resort. He has been doing this for the last 8 years. We have been to every one of them. I might add also that in 2015, the local community that we live here in Chandler, AZ had presented to me their "Quilt Of Valor" that I have proudly displayed in our home. .

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?
There really is not anything that I miss most about my time in the service. I proudly served and did my time and really think that I honestly did the very best job that I could have done. If I had it to do over again, I would hope that it would not have been during a wartime period. I am carrying pieces of shrapnel around in my body for the rest of my life as many of my Brothers are also. I honestly believe that every male should be required to go through a branch of the service with no excuses accepted. After my Vietnam and service experience, I had to clean up my language. It was not hard to do either. No slips ever! My two daughters who are now 43 and 45 will readily admit that they have never heard me swear at all. My present wife of 18 years has never heard me cuss at all. I have heard some vets say that that is impossible to do. Well, I am living proof that IT IS possible to do. I would like to believe that the US Army developed me into the polite, caring, respectful 72-year-old man that I am today.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Go into the service knowing that you will be lonely at times, there will be no shoulder to cry on when you are down. You may get depressed at times, but you have to make the best of it. Hopefully, you will get the respect that you deserve as a United States Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Pilot, etc..

Based on my own experience, I believe that the Vietnam Veteran was so disrespected when we came home that probably most of us at one time or another had contemplated suicide because we just could not understand "what" more could have been expected out of us.

We were over there fighting and getting killed and wounded for "what"? Most of us that came back after being gone and out of the public's eyes for 1 1/2 years, could not understand how much things had changed while we were gone. When the very first words that we all heard before we disembarked our plane when we landed at San Francisco were "Gentlemen, the smartest thing that you could do now is to change out of your uniforms into some civilian clothes if you have them". What? Are you kidding me? Most of us have never and will never get over that for the rest of our lives. That was worse than the yelling of "baby Killers" and throwing piss on us. Just how were WE supposed to feel?

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
TogetherWeServed.com has made it possible for us veterans to get a form of "closure" by putting down in words our own related experiences of the Vietnam War.

It is nice that the veteran and his other veteran Brothers In Arms can read about each other's experiences and compare them with their own. No one single Vietnam veteran had any exact experiences, maybe similar. Imagine this, it has been over 50 years since I was in Vietnam and here I am sitting in front of my computer in the wee hours of the morning putting my information on to your website page.

It has been a trip back in time for me with some fond memories and most not so fond memories of that time. I sincerely hope that what I have written will be interesting for people to read as it was a very important period in my life. I have told my buddies about this site, but I will leave it up to them if they want to take the time to put down their information as I did. I could not figure out how to Browse and put some pictures in or I would have. It is too late to teach an old dog new tricks.


KC 5.10.20