Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Jerry Sinn

Vietnam | Reconnaissance Platoon, Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division

The Tunnel Rats went right down into the Viet Cong's holes in the ground and eliminated them. When new Lieutenant Jerry Sinn got a taste of it, he knew he could do it. The teams were experienced, disciplined and deliberate, and since it was the 1st infantry Division, no less was expected. (6:46)
In his initial Vietnam assignment, Jerry Sinn respected and trusted his Vietnamese scouts. But when he later served with a different outfit, the South Vietnamese soldiers he was assisting were incompetent and he was not very impressed with them. He was impressed by the Australians and enjoyed working with them and he has nothing but praise for the officers and enlisted men of the 1st Infantry Division. (6:14)
It was the most incredible Tunnel Rat mission he had in Vietnam. Jerry Sinn recalls flying into a hot landing zone and having a terrific firefight before his team even got to the tunnel. Then they discovered they were right in the middle of a Viet Cong bunker complex. Before it was over, he was wounded and one of his team had earned a Silver Star. (6:14)
Jerry Sinn describes what it was like commanding Rome Plow units in Vietnam. The Rome Plows were specially equipped bulldozers that cut down trees and punched through the jungle so assault units could move. It was dangerous work and it caught up with him in Cambodia. (7:45)
His most vivid memory of Vietnam? It was the way his commander broke the news that he and his men would get no rest before leaving one battlefield for the next. His worst day? It involved rocket fire and a tourniquet. During all this, he was oblivious to news or media. (3:54)
He returned from Vietnam and decided to stay in the service. Jerry Sinn experienced none of the abuse suffered by many veterans. Better than that, his tour affected him in positive ways, especially the discipline he learned in the 1st Infantry Division. This led him to serve there again later in his career. Despite the way that war is remembered, an Indian commander convinced him it was a success. (7:22)
Jesse Beck

WWII | Company B, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division

Jesse Beck was serving in the European Theater as an engineer where their duties were to help infantry get across the many rivers of Germany. Projects like building bridges or ferrying troops were quite dangerous, especially when they were up against German artillery. (4:26)
Jesse Beck, a Special Forces soldier, describes how his unit used technology to "sniff" out the enemy in Vietnam. (1:11)
Jesse Groves

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

Jesse Groves had a tough upbringing until he went to live on a dairy farm, where he thrived. Drafted into the Army, he was about to find out about that war in Vietnam, of which he was only vaguely aware. (6:05)
As his sister drove him to the airport to leave for Vietnam, a morbid thought came over Jesse Groves. He forgot about it when he got there and stepped off the plane into what seemed like hell itself. (Caution: strong language.) (4:07)