Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

COMBAT STORIES FROM Vietnam

Arthur Hurst | Multiple Units - Army

4:12   |   After his Vietnam tour, Arthur Hurst continued stateside as an Army Air Traffic Controller. Then he had to go on temporary disabled status when he developed lung problems from handling Agent Orange at air fields in Vietnam. He responded to new medications but was forced to retire form the service. He describes how he was exposed and how he could spot booby traps when he was there.

More From Arthur Hurst

Keywords   :     Arthur Hurst    Vietnam    air traffic control    Fort Leonard Wood    Fort Huachuca    Arizona    Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL)    hospital    lung    Agent Orange    defoliate    booby trap    Bird Dog    Cessna    body bag    Da Lat

Videos ( 5 )
Korea
Vietnam
  • Arthur Hurst  |  Vietnam  |  125th Air Traffic Control Company  |  4:05

    Before he shipped out for Vietnam, Army Air Traffic Controller Arthur Hurst studied the geography and landmarks of the country so he could get oriented more quickly. He was based mostly in the central highlands, and visited many of the restored French air fields. He recalls how some farmers would drop their hoes and rakes and pick up rifles and start firing.

  • Arthur Hurst  |  Vietnam  |  125th Air Traffic Control Company  |  3:20

    In Korea he had learned to speak a little Korean but Vietnamese was a different story and the tonal language eluded him. Army Air Traffic Controller Arthur Hurst loved working with the Montagnards on joint operations and he marveled at how they would bring along the whole family and maybe some ducks. Less pleasant are the memories of talking to doomed pilots on the radio.

  • Arthur Hurst  |  Vietnam  |  125th Air Traffic Control Company  |  3:31

    To Arthur Hurst, Vietnam was a very beautiful country and he really liked the people, too. He liked Korea and the Koreans as well, but that country was quite barren when he served there. He recalls a civilian nurse and a missionary family who encountered the cruelty of the Viet Cong.

Other Conflict
  • Arthur Hurst  |  Other Conflict  |  Multiple Units  |  3:42

    In Korea, he had switched from Radio Operator to Radio Repairman with a little on-the-job training. After that tour, Arthur served at Ft. Hood for a while and then tried his hand at civilian work. He reenlisted and learned avionics repair and then applied for air traffic control school to learn that valuable skill.

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