Following Army medical and paratrooper training in April of 1964, I was assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) located on the island of Okinawa. I joined HHC of 1/503 Airborne Infantry, under command of Lt Col Richard “Rawhide” Boland, and trained arduously with the Brigade in airborne assault operations throughout the Pacific. On 5 May 1965 the Brigade was deployed into the Vietnam War where I participated in numerous "search and destroy" operations as a combat medic. In 1966 I was reassigned to 6th Army Headquarters in California and used to train troops headed into the war zone. I completed my service in late1966 and returned to civilian life.

I consider myself fortunate to have served with the distinguished 173d Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War and am very proud of the Brigade’s recent accomplishments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, as a civil engineer, I have dedicated my efforts along with others to design and build a fitting memorial to the 173d Airborne Brigade and those soldiers who fought and died for our freedom under it’s flag,