Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:04 | When Chuck Traviolia ran out of money for college, he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps rather than face the draft. There was one hitch, he was married and the Marines weren't taking married recruits. His wife had to sign but she wasn't sure he had what it takes. She decided to find out. (Caution: strong language)
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After basic and infantry training, Chuck Traviolia went to mortar school. Next stop, Vietnam. When he got there, the company he joined had just finished shooting a documentary called A Face Of War. Everyone on the film crew had been wounded.
Along with the mortars, the Marines had a rocket launcher that was like a large bazooka. Mortarman Chuck Traviolia wielded those weapons but what really impressed him was a dog and his handler. It was remarkable how they spotted the enemy.
Chuck Traviolia and his fellow Marines were sent to an R&R at China Beach but they couldn't enjoy it because they were simultaneously prepping for a big operation. When it kicked off, they found themselves pinned down by heavy machine gun fire so they called in some air support. When they did get into the enemy bunkers, they were amazed at what they found.
During Operation Desoto, Chuck Traviolia's unit was engaged in a firefight when some Navy Jets mistakenly dropped three large bombs right on them. He was buried by dirt from the crater with only a hand sticking up above ground.
Chuck Traviolia just happened to be on a direct line towards an enemy target when a short mortar round hit. He wasn't badly wounded and walked back to the aid station. Later during this engagement, he saw an example of a gunney outranking an XO.
A Marine was supposed to be sent home from Vietnam after three Purple Hearts. Chuck Traviolia had been wounded four times but his records were messed up and he was still there. He didn't have much longer until he rotated home when the VC nearly overran Hill 25. Part 1 of 2.
When the VC were about to overrun the hill, the order was given for a howitzer to fire on the Marines own position. This broke Charlie's back and they fled back up the ridge where gunships chased them and made it rain brass. Chuck Traviolia was a friend of some of those killed that night and he made it a point to meet their families after he went home. Part 2 of 2.
Chuck Traviolia went to visit some wounded buddies in Da Nang. He was in the back of a truck on his way back to his unit when the truck hit a land mine. He remembers opening his eyes and he was at tree top level.
