While Serving, What’s a Time You Remember Someone Who Went Above and Beyond to Help You Out? Login & Share to Win!

A Sgt stopped his taxi while on Okinawa and picked up an inebriated me and took me back to base before I could get in trouble

I was stationed at NTC. We had a real toxic regimental commander. Didn't matter how well we won the battle, he was always angry and would chew someone out at the hotwash/AAR (After Action Review). I was the S3 Air for the OPFOR, and after several requests for air support, I responded and got both OPFOR fix and rotary wing into the battle; which added to the full realism of battle. It was glorious. The regimental commander disapproved of this action and screamed through the Mike to "get the effing aircraft out of here." At the hotwash the regimental commander called me up in front of the entire regiment (enlisted and officers alike) and screamed at me, nonstop for ten minutes. Spittal in my face type screaming. When it was over, I was visibly shaken, but everyone at the hotwash patted me on the back and said, "welcome to the club." That evening the regimental chaplain checked on me, then went into the commanders tent and heard him scream "DON'T YOU EVER TREAT YOUR SOLDIERS LIKE THAT AGAIN, EVER!" It was a great lesson in what bad and good leadership looks like.

BASIC SCHOOL

It was my second enlistment and my platoon sergeant, who shall remain nameless for his privacy, was probably the greatest mentor I've ever had. I really didn't know much of anything about my job, to tell the truth. My first enlistment I spent the whole time in Berlin, and was shanghai'd from one position to another that had nothing to do with my MOS. I learned zero about my job. This platoon sergeant took the time to teach me everything there was to know about running a shop, from the very basics to being able to (nearly) do his job. He had all of us read manuals, regulations, and the updates. All of his platoon were the best trained he could do. Two duty stations later I was left in charge of a shop as an E4 due to the fickle finger of fate, taking over on a Wednesday. Thanks to his training I was able to take it over, work all 3 days over what should have been a 3 day weekend, and get the shop ready for an IG inspection on Monday. It was the first time that unit had received a "Commendable" rating for their Communications shop in a long while. I was instantly a hit with the chain of command. I will never forget the teachings of that sergeant, and use many of his philosophies and repeat his little sayings to myself every day.

I was accidentally shot by one of my brand new enlisted men. Our medic patched me up (grazing flesh wound) and as we agreed, never mentioned it to anyone. I healed just fine. The medic and me were already on friendly terms, but that made him a friend for life. I am not mentioning his name, nor where this incident happened to protect the "innocent". Certainly didn't want military punishment of any kind for my new guy. Very glad that those few witnesses (also my men) kept this secret. And have utmost gratitude that my injury wasn't worse !

When I first arrived at Quang Tri Viet Nam there were several gurs in my squad who helped me a lot. They kept me out of trouble and kept me from screwing up. I can't name one person without mentioning them all. I was an 18 year old small town kid who never went hunting and was thrust into combat with a m60 maching gun to hump. I needed lots of help from the more seasoned grunts to stay alive and they gave me the help that I needed I kept the m60 for my whole tour and got out ok. Now at 70 I'm alive to talk about it.

Two times: First, while in basic training circa 9/1962. trying to qualify with an M-1 rifle, the first session "I couldn't hit the ground with my shots". Very nervous. While we were waiting for the second session and I feared "Boloing", the Company Master Sergeant, a grizzled vet of the Korean War, I think his name was "Steele", came over and talked to us and related how he got shot in the face and was able to come back from disaster and live on. He seemed to be speaking to me - calmed me down - I qualified for the second session. Thanks to Master Sergeant "Steele" for taking the time to talk to us, raw enlistees.
Second, in Korea, 1964, I was voluntarily "Over Served" at the EM club one night. I gashed my hand on a ragged Quonset hut. The OD called an MP on duty to take me to the hospital in Seoul for stitching. The MP grabbed the commander's staff car complete with flags, pored me into the car and we drove into the big city/base. Everywhere we were saluted?? The MP got me to the ER where I was immediately seen, fumes and all. Meanwhile, the MP got a real load of S--t for not only driving the staff car, speeding, and not covering up the Cornoul's flags.!! He took it like a man, and I got nothing since I was just a drunk, off-duty soldier. We became fast friends after that, He went out of his way, took crap to help me.

The best thing that happened to me back in those days you had to get permission from your leadership to get married and sergeant refused sign the authorization and he told me if I go get a high school diploma he’ll grant me the right to get married. I got my diploma and been married now for 48 years.

Just before my separation from the Navy I was, like many Corpsmen, stationed at a stateside Naval Hospital. One evening I was working the "confined patient" psychological ward. Making my rounds I entered a room that held four patients. My flashlight showed three men on one side of the room. They had grand smiles on their faces. Before I could react the fourth patient grabbed me in a choke hold from behind. Within seconds I was unconscious. By God's grace, I awoke shortly afterwards to see a fellow Corpsman "restraining" the perpetrator with his three-cell flashlight. Having survived an in-country deployment, I would have died there that night had it not been for that sailor. That was fifty years ago and that Naval Hospital has long been closed. Yet even today I remain grateful to that Corpsman for saving my life.

It was 42 years after Vietnam that my boat commander, Lt. John Ebersole was very instrumental in helping me finally get the Purple Heart medal for wounds (burns) received in Nov. of 69 on board the Point Grace in one of the many Mekong river canals. Commander Ebersole was my key eye witness and was very active in helping me get my records corrected. He went to great lengths to help me. Not only did he do that, He flew from ALbany New York to Columbus Ohio, just to present me with the PH medal. I was presented the Purple Heart medal on 11-11-11 at 11 am. Very sad to know that Commander Ebersole passed away a couple years after that.