Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Bennie Koon

Vietnam | HHC 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry Division Air Mobile

Growing up near Columbus, Georgia, Bennie Koon always had a military influence. After working on base as a kid, he joined the Army. (9:08)
During basic training, Bennie Koon shot "expert" with the M14 and M16, which he's proud of. Leaving for Vietnam was very memorable for him and he remembers the feeling of stepping off the plane in Cam Ranh Bay. (7:27)
After heading to Phu Bai, Bennie Koon and his company went to Camp Evans to be stationed. Facing mortar fire, he remembers feeling terrified and not knowing when it would pass. Bennie explains the defenses they had set up to defend them from the Viet Cong. (9:49)
Being a radio repairman, Bennie Koon had to be inventive with fixing up old devices that had been damaged in combat. (8:50)
Coming in for support, Bennie Koon and his platoon moved to Khe Sanh. Being prepared for anything that might happen was essential to success in Vietnam and he tried to stay ready. (7:49)
When one of the Marine units supporting them left, Bennie Koon and his platoon had to think quickly to fill in the gaps to stay secure. In their down-time, they played games and drank beer, which became pretty habitual for him. (9:27)
Bennie Koon got used to living a rough life in Vietnam. Overtime, things got easier for him as he got smarter and learned what he did and didn't need. (11:31)
Bernard Bentfeld

WWII | 656th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Bernard Bentfeld, as a member of a mobile recon unit, recalls how sparse the combat was. (1:13)
Bernard Bentfeld recalls taking artillery fire in his first combat experience. (2:03)
Bernard Bentfeld and his unit have to cross the bridge at Remagen but get caught out in the open during German attacks from fighter planes and dive bombers. (3:34)