Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:13 | Moving to a small village called Rach Kien, Grayson Roulston and his company sought to suppress enemy forces. While there, they found out how good at hiding the VC really were and the challenges they would have to face in trying to eliminate them.
Keywords : Vietnam Viet Cong (VC) villagers training tactical ambush close encounter soldiers communicate Rach Kien casualties sniper camouflage
During one mission, they were ambushed by enemy forces, leaving himself and others wounded. After they began to engage the enemy, they had retreated and the Medevacs were called in to gather the injured.
While stationed in Vietnam, Grayson Roulston and his company worked on the mobile riverine force to try to secure the area from VC. After his injury, he took some time off the front lines to do some administrative work before being sent back to the field.
Grayson Roulston remembers February 26th, 1968, when Bravo Company was in one of the worst firefights they’d ever seen at a hot landing zone. After facing very heavy casualties, they managed to medevac most of the company to safety and regain order.
While patrolling, Grayson Roulston hit a booby trap that knocked him unconscious and in very rough shape. Fortunately, he was able to be evacuated to Dong Tam where he was able to be treated, but even that hospital was not totally safe from danger.
As an operations officer, Grayson Roulston and his company were providing support for the Vietnamese army and had to think tactically with their rounds as they defended the perimeter. One time, while flying through enemy territory, Roulston was hit and feared he might be taken down. Luckily, his aircraft stabilized.
As Grayson Roulston and his company moved across Vietnam, they often had to face obstacles ensuring that their soldiers and equipment were safe.
After leaving Vietnam, Grayson Roulston stayed in the military on multiple different tours of duty before retiring in Germany. He stayed on staff with the military working at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to be closer to home.
