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Hal Smith

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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 Cramer

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His father was West Point, class of 1946. Wounded twice in Korea and a Silver Star recipient. Then he became a member of a new organization, the Special Forces. Hank Cramer would follow him into Special Forces but first, some history on how that first group of elite soldiers wound up in Southeast Asia in the 1950s. (8:46)

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The first place the newly organized Special Forces made waves was down in Louisiana during Operation Sagebrush in 1955, a giant training exercise involving over 100,000 troops and half the state. Only a child at the time, Hank Cramer wasn't involved, but he tells the story of how their operations completely disrupted the exercise and the price they paid for their effectiveness. Hank would later become part of the 1st Special Forces Group in 1984 during his own Army career. (8:24)

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Hank Cramer fought for years to bring recognition to his father's death in Vietnam in 1957 and to have his name added to The Wall. Harry Cramer was a member of the very first Special Forces unit and he died while training anti-Communist refugees from the North. The DOD had stonewalled him at every turn but he persisted. Part 1 of 2. (7:35)

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Hank Cramer had a lot of help on his quest to get his father's name added to The Wall. An investigative reporter, some high ranking staff officers and a Congressman who happened to be the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee all played a part. Part 2 of 2. (6:31)

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Hank Cramer had grown up with only a memory of his father. He wanted to be in Special Forces like him but the Army put him in the Signal Corps. He did manage to get to Airborne School and he kept applying for Special Forces, always hoping. Finally, he got the call. It was the First Special Forces Group, the same unit as his father. (5:57)

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Five years was all the Signal Corps would let Hank Cramer stay in Special Forces and he was in the field nearly the entire time. There was no war, but countries everywhere were asking for help. All over Southeast Asia and then on to Central America where no one got along. (4:35)