Current Residence: New Carlisle since 1970
Family: Married to Mary Lindamood West for 50 years. She was my high school sweetheart from Centerville, Ohio. One son, Michael; his wife, Tisha; and granddaughter, Allison.
Career after the military: 34 years working for General Motors as a tool maker and a senior manufacturing project engineer, now retired.
Branch of Service: U.S. Army as a sergeant E-5
Did you join the military or were you drafted? Drafted.
Dates of Service: 1968 to 1969
Deployment/Bases: Fort Jackson, S.C.; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Polk, La.; Vietnam; Fort Dix, N.J.
Time Served: 1 year and nine months, including eight months at Walton Army Hospital at Fort Dix, N.J.
What did you do in the service? Attained the rank of sergeant and served as a squad leader in Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne Division. I met my lifelong friend Dave Strader while in basic training. My wife, Mary, and Dave’s wife, Beverly, followed us to three different states while we were in training.
What did you gain from serving in the military? Respect, honor and being able to depend on your fellow soldiers. I was wounded in action on a night patrol and awarded the Purple Heart for combat wounds. My wife was notified I was wounded but received no other information. She started making phone calls and tracked me down in Japan where I had been sent for surgery. It was on a phone call there I learned I was going to be a dad. From Japan I was sent to Fort Dix, Walton Army Hospital for further recuperation. I am now very active with the Military Order of the Purple Heart. I serve as Americanism officer for the Purple Heart Honor Guard. When I wear my Purple Heart ball cap and people approach me and say, “Thank you for your service,” I really appreciate it and I’m sure other veterans do, too.
Hobbies: I love working on classic cars. I am a proud member of the National Road Corvette Club in Springfield.
Hometown Heroes is a weekly feature profiling Clark and Champaign County veterans compiled with the assistance of local Vietnam veteran Randy Ark. To nominate a veteran, e-mail samantha.sommer@coxinc.com or randyark48@gmail.com or call 937-328-0363. Any veteran of any military branch, years of service and age is eligible to be profiled.
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