Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Hal Smith

Vietnam | 29th Civil Affairs

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Hal Smith saw many of his peers avoiding the war and decided to join unlike them. After training, he reported to Vietnam outside of Saigon and thought he was being assigned to Combat Assault. (4:51)
On his first night in Vietnam, Hal Smith had to sleep out in some difficult conditions that got him quickly acquainted to the country. He soon found out that his assignment to CA meant Civil Affairs, which was a relief to him. During this assignment, he got very involved with the Vietnamese people. (6:50)
After getting a new assignment in North Vietnam, Hal Smith continued assisting with MEDCAP proceedings in this part of the country. At times, it seemed that there was no point to American involvement in this region. (7:03)
Hal Smith remembers the extensive medical training that they got in preparing for the elements of Vietnam. After returning home and reflecting on their efforts while deployed, he realizes that the relationships he made were important to him. (6:19)
After returning home from Vietnam, Hal Smith went into seminary to go into ministry. He studied religion all over the United States before ending up back on the east coast. (4:45)
Hank Derenoff

Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) | 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Growing up, Hank Derenoff enjoyed the hunting and fishing in his native Alaska. As a kid, he dreamed of being Special Forces but the emotional upheaval of seeing 9/11 unfold on television gave him a sense of urgency. (5:02)
Hailing from Alaska, Hank Derenoff may as well have been on another planet when he arrived at Fort Benning for basic training and Airborne school. He shrugged off the heat because he was determined to succeed and he did. Then it was on to Fort Bragg where the hazing actually had a point to it. (5:46)
Hank Derenoff could never remember the names of the bases and combat outposts in Afghanistan. Not until his unit got to COP Nolan in the Arghandab Valley. They arrived during winter before the fighting season began which gave them the chance to get to know the locale and the locals. (4:59)
They thought Afghanistan was going to be warm. The 100 plus temperatures were coming, but the first night Hank Derenoff was on a night patrol, he nearly froze. His newly arrived unit was also tested in its first firefight at a so-called abandoned village. (5:30)
The trailer was jinxed. Hank Derenoff couldn't believe it. It had already hit an IED once and they wanted the unit to take it, loaded with supplies, back with them to COP Nolan. On the most dangerous highway in Afghanistan, no less. Something was bound to happen. (7:53)