Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Jon Wallenius

Vietnam | 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment

When forward observer Jon Wallenius got off the chopper at LZ Albany, he was under fire and had to quickly get to cover. Eventually, he scrounged up a mortar and a few rounds and got ready. That night, he witnessed an enormous napalm drop that quieted the enemy. The next day, he was witness to the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Ia Drang. (8:32)
Morale was good as Thanksgiving approached. It was pouring rain and Jon Wallenius had just got his turkey and fixings when somebody yelled for attention. General Westmoreland wanted to address the troops. (4:15)
The Battle of Bong Son had already kicked off when they got a message. When the supply chopper comes in, the next man up for R&R can fly back with it. That man was Jon Wallenius and he hit the jackpot with a trip to Japan. (4:25)
John Wallenius was in the best company in the battalion and he attributes that to the CO, who was fearless but not careless. The noncoms were good, as well, including one who tried to get everyone Air Medals for all the air assaults they had done. (3:30)
Near the end of his Vietnam tour, they made Jon Wallenius a lifeguard at a little beach on a river that no one came to. Then he was sent home early, where he tried in vain to get a room at a fancy hotel in San Fransisco. He did alright for himself at the hotel bar, though. (7:29)
He doesn't want to hear about atrocities. John Wallenius and the others in his unit did their jobs like professionals and were very careful with the Vietnamese civilians they encountered. He pays tribute to a replacement platoon sergeant who caused everyone to be skeptical, at first. (5:20)
Was Vietnam a useless war? Not really. To Jon Wallenius it was a part of stopping Communism. While there, he saw a lot of men rise to the occasion and demonstrate true leadership. Much less often, he saw cowardice. (6:55)
Joseph Butler

WWII | 111th Field Artillery, 29th Infantry Division

Joseph Butler briefly describes the terrible sights he witnessed at one concentration camp after the end of World War II. (:50)
Joseph Butler remembers a close call with a German artillery shell. (1:51)
Joseph Butler talks about why his landing craft was unable to land at Omaha Beach on D-Day, and what he experienced when he finally made it ashore the following morning. (7:02)