Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
6:07 | Anybody here know how to type? Roger McGill had just arrived as a new cavalry scout at the 25th Infantry Division. He knew how so he raised his hand but it wasn't long before he wanted out of that job. He talked the commander into making him the major's driver, a much better position. Then the unit received orders for Vietnam.
Keywords : scout Vietnam Hawaii type typing clerk Okinawa tanks Landing Ship Tank (LST) Vietnamese river pilot Saigon Roger McGill
He grew up the son of Irish immigrants in Chicago. His father was a firefighter and served at the age of 37 during World War II, all of which gave Roger McGill a sense that service was a part of his life as well. When he was called, he responded and became a cavalry scout after his basic training.
Before Roger McGill even landed in Vietnam, he came under fire. That was on the deck of an LST making it's way upriver to Saigon. There, his cavalry unit unloaded the tanks and APCs and formed into a convoy. He was the major's driver and the two of them missed the departure. Which way did they go?
At Cu Chi, the VC attacked nearly every night which meant that Roger McGill had to head to his foxhole. This could be a problem during the monsoon. He was the major's driver and bodyguard and they would often head out in an APC to join in the firefights.
Roger McGill's cavalry unit fought alongside many other units in Vietnam as an augmenting force. They also made time for medical outreach to the locals and it was during these times that he befriended the children in one of the villages. One day, he noticed the children were keeping their distance. Something was wrong.
They had no idea. The Americans had built their base at Cu Chi right on top of a vast network of tunnels. Why are guys getting killed inside the wire? Eventually, they figured it out and the reports from a tunnel rat sent down to explore astounded Roger McGill.
The major told Roger McGill to have the jeep ready for a trip into Saigon. He asked to bring along a buddy for some company. No problem. They delivered the major to his meeting but he didn't come out until the late evening and he was three sheets to the wind. Let's go! But, sir, it's after dark.
Roger McGill declined the chance to go to OCS when his two years were up. He was ready to go home. He and some buddies planned to stay for a week in the Bay area to have some fun but after a weird first night, they all headed home. When he got there, he had trouble sleeping.
Roger McGill was married now but he was not sleeping any better. His time in Vietnam was haunting him at night. One day on the radio he heard about a veterans center that offered counseling. He began going to meetings and decided he would go visit The Wall in DC. That began a new chapter of his life. Part 1 of 2.
After a very satisfying experience at the Welcome Home parade for Vietnam vets in New York, Roger McGill began a campaign to stage an even better one in his home town of Chicago. He would need a lot of help and a lot of chutzpah. Part 2 of 2.
