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David Ray

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For their booby traps, the VC preferred to use American hand grenades. They would shorten the fuse as much as possible for a quick reaction when the trip line was hit. They would also use artillery rounds but, by 1970, punji pits were no longer used. (Caution: strong language) (5:57)

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The Kit Carson scout had led them to some caves where bad guys might be holed up. David Ray grabbed a .45 and headed down the slope. He peered through an opening and saw an NVA standing on the other side. When the man refused to come out, he shot him in the leg. Working his way around to the other chamber, he realized there were four of them. (Caution: strong language) (6:45)

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The Marines had been choppered to a mountain top and David Ray was walking point. He was fortunate on this operation to have a dog and his handler with them. The dog had advanced up the trail when he suddenly stopped and growled. (2:50)

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David Ray was in the jungle for his entire tour. He never saw a city, rarely had a shower. The base camp where he went to rest was often under fire. The lady from the Red Cross had a hard time relating to this. (3:30)

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His homecoming was easy. Not only was David Ray not yelled at or spit on, he came to regard those stories as a kind of urban legend. The worst time he had was an encounter with a World War II vet. (4:36)

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Was Vietnam a waste? Not at all according to David Ray. He and all the others who fought and died there paved the way for the eventual downfall of the Soviet Communist dream. (4:29)

Chuck Traviolia

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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) (5:04)

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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. (5:39)

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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. (5:21)

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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. (5:14)