Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Don Wussler

Korea | 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division

It took a while for Dan Wussler to talk to anyone about the war. After the crazy dreams had stopped and his kids were asking questions, he began to open up about his experience in Korea. He joined the family business for a few years, then he found a good career in banking. (2:28)
Don Wussler was asked if he wanted to go back to Korea, and it turned out to be a sponsored trip, entirely complimentary. It was an amazing journey. The destruction was replaced by modern cities and the hospitality was unbelievable. He was very glad he decided to go. (3:57)
It's the camaraderie that Don Wussler misses about the military. He had a friend who was with him through basic training and right through to Korea. He rotated home a few days earlier and he promised to give him a ride when he got home. It didn't work out that way. (2:57)
Don Zimmer

Vietnam | 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division

He was only 12 hours of class credit away from graduating college, but Don Zimmer ran out of deferment so he was drafted. They had told him he was 4-F, but surprise! They made a mistake. (5:13)
After his basic and and advanced infantry training, Don Zimmer signed up for Airborne training. He injured his knee, so he volunteered as a driver at Fort Benning. He drove quite a few injured soldiers to the hospital, so he started having second thoughts about this endeavor. (3:01)
Cam Ranh Bay looked pretty nice to Don Zimmer when he arrived in Vietnam. The barracks were comfortable, but as he progressed though different places toward his destination in the field, the living conditions steadily slipped. (4:41)
When he got to Vietnam, Don Zimmer was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry. Joining them in the field, he moved into the A Shau Valley, where the mountaintops had been bombed away. It was there that the sergeant handed him a radio and told him to man an observation post about 150 yards outside the perimeter. He could not see very well from his position, but he heard shooting. The bad part was, it was between him and the rest of the company. (8:40)
In the A Shau Valley, Don Zimmer's unit was securing and clearing area for an artillery base. A pretty meadow was there, but it harbored an unseen wildlife menace. There was little contact with the enemy, so they found a chance to make creative use of a bomb crater. (4:36)
Two platoons were out. The one with machine gunner Don Zimmer went to dismantle last night's booby traps. The other walked into an ambush. Don remembers how Captain Barry McCaffrey organized the counter attack and even settled some business with his .45. (5:16)
It was supposed to be a short patrol, so they had limited ammo and water. The platoon leader decided to follow a trail they found just as a bomb strike thundered nearby. There was evidence of NVA activity all around and, as they continued, Don Zimmer thought, "We are going the wrong way." Part 1 of 2. (5:26)