22 Young Soldiers Of The Vietnam War
A look at American soldiers at war in Vietnam, during the 1960s and 70s.
Published 10 years ago
15
Milton Lee Olive, III. Private First Class Olive and four other soldiers were moving through the jungle together when a grenade was thrown into their midst. Private First Class Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of his platoon.
16
Steve Cameron left his family farm in New Milford, Ill., and joined the Marines in June 1965. He was 20 years old, and the Vietnam War was raging a half a world away. If he didn’t enlist, he knew he’d be drafted. “If your country needed you, there were no excuses, no cowardice and no second thoughts in serving your country,†he said.
17
Iconic photograph shot June 18, 1965, by the late Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Horst Faas, captioned as an unidentified American soldier of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Fran Chaffin Morrison claims it is her late husband, Larry Wayne Chaffin, who served with that brigade in Vietnam for exactly one year beginning in May 1965.
19
Airman William Pook, shown here in 1972, served in the Vietnam War while stationed at Tahkli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Pook was 18 years old when he was assigned to the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, and retired as a Master Sergeant at Langley AFB, Va., on Sept. 23, 2011, after 40 years in the Air Force.
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