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Gene Richardson

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There was a sniper out there and Gene Richardson was shooting back at him when he thought he saw a rat. It wasn't a rat, it was a kitten. He cleaned it up and adopted it, though his men teased him about it. The chief of the village next to the base invited the officers to come for a feast where an unusual dish was served. (6:03)

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He had a leg wound that just wouldn't completely heal so Gene Richardson was sent to Saigon, then to Japan. He was wondering what was going on when the doctors finally told him what the problem was. At least he was in Japan instead of in the mud back in the Mekong Delta. (11:50)

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The war in Vietnam tore his generation apart. That's one reason Gene Richardson has come to the conclusion that we never should have gone there. He cautions that we should always question the reasons for getting involved in a conflict. (7:17)

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Gene Richardson could have re-enrolled at college but he felt it was time for some adventure so he entered the draft. The Army took him in 1966 and, like the men that came before him in his extended family, he would serve the country. (4:42)

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The Marine Corps usually didn't get personnel through the draft but in 1966, there was a big buildup for Vietnam. After Gene Richardson got his clothes and his shots, he watched as every third man was taken and sent to the Marines. He considered raising his hand but he suddenly thought of his dad and his uncles. (5:26)

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Gene Richardson was on a troop train on his way to Fort Lewis, Washington, for basic training. The train was halted in the Midwest and the men were told that there was no room for them at Fort Lewis. Their new destination was Fort Carson, Colorado, where the nights were below freezing. (9:31)

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He grew up tramping through the woods so when it came time for escape and evasion training, Gene Richardson was pretty good at it. When it came to the medical and first aid training, though, he had some reservations. (3:56)

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At the end of basic training, Gene Richardson was told to report to the captain's office. Uh-oh. Can't be good. The captain told him to report to the colonel's office. Yikes! When he got there, the colonel put him at ease and noted that he had a good bit of college under his belt. Had he ever thought about becoming an officer? Pt 1 of 2. (9:43)

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After being offered the chance to go to OCS, Gene Richardson had to pass a board comprised of three officers who bombarded him with questions. He felt like he did pretty well but then began a long waiting game. Pt 2 of 2. (10:02)

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Officer Candidate School was brutal but Gene Richardson had a plan. It was all a game and he was going to win it. They would not break him. He was fresh from basic and AIT but there were a lot of candidates who were NCOs, who were glad to share their knowledge. Part 1 of 2. (10:34)