Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Mack Angel

Vietnam | 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron

After being assigned to serve in France, the American troops were kicked out of the country and sent to Germany. Since this was during the Cold War, they had plenty of missions to take care of. After that, he was assigned back to the United States at Nellis Air Force Base. (2:48)
After getting a new assignment in Vietnam, Mack Angel flew over the country with his company in a special "Wild Weasel" program. (3:54)
Mack Angel remembers his first mission when they teamed up with some other members of their company. Seeing bombs go off on the ground and the formation around him was quite a sight to remember for him. (5:30)
Returning home on Christmas Eve, Mack Angel had a positive experience with a civilian which pleasantly surprised him. Being a member of the Air Force Thunderbirds wing was very memorable for him and a positive experience. (7:15)
Mack Riggs

Vietnam | 101st Airborne Division

Mack Riggs came from a family filled with service members so it was not surprising when he signed up. His parents came to see him at an open house during his basic training and this is when he learned that his cousin had been killed in Vietnam in a very famous battle. (5:50)
Unlike many others, Mack Riggs was actually trying to get to Vietnam. He was determined to avenge his cousin who died there and, once he was there, he was baffled by the orientation training. He was an artilleryman and it was all geared to the infantry. Fortunately, he met someone who showed him the ropes. (6:25)
As a new guy in Vietnam, Mack Riggs had to sit in the front seat where he was a better target. After he'd been in country for a while, he began to wonder why they would take a place and then leave. Then they would return and take the same place and leave again. This was not like past wars. (3:44)
Mack Riggs moved around a lot. There were so many fire bases in Vietnam that he lost track of the names. Once he took part in an artillery raid. The guns were airlifted into an area where they shot off a hundred rounds and then they were airlifted out. At least they were supposed to be. (4:20)
It was pretty country, if you could overlook the guys in black pajamas trying to kill you. Mack Riggs extended his tour in Vietnam because of his quest to finish his dead cousin's tour as well as his own. He didn't quite finish the complete amount of time but he did another tour at the Korean DMZ which was close enough in his mind. (5:46)
Mack Riggs was lucky. He didn't have to face the anti-war hysteria that so many veterans had to deal with when they returned from Vietnam. He stayed in the service and he lived in a small town so he was insulated from that. But he could not insulate his wife from what happens when you're married to a soldier. (4:45)