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Peter Sprenger

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Ferocious fighting and a myriad of cultures in Iraq, took 2LT Peter Sprenger and his fellow soldiers by surprise. Their training didn't prepare them for what they faced. (2:45)

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Not knowing when he'd go to Iraq or what was going on politically, 2LT Sprenger recalls how it felt to finally enter the country. He relives the difficulty of moving through the desert while heading toward battle. (4:19)

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Trained very well before arriving in Kuwait, 2LT Sprenger experiences a Scud missle attack and witnesses just how well American forces are prepared. He describes what it's like to brace for chemical warfare in the desert heat. (3:48)

Phil Mayrand

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Phil Mayrand was drawn to the bravado of the military, and the appeal of being a Green Beret was too big of an opportunity to pass up. However, when his parents got wind of his plans, they pushed for him to go to college instead, but the draft would come for him eventually. He'd end up volunteering, and spent his first days training at Ft. Bragg. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (6:30)

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Phil Mayrand describes the furtherance of his infantry training leaving Ft. Bragg for Ft. Polk where he'd also meet some lifelong friends. The opportunity to get some additional leadership training presented itself, and anything he would agree to take would delay his inevitable trip to Vietnam, but an unfortunate injury would put this plan in jeopardy. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (10:03)

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Phil Mayrand had come out of Non-Commissioned Officer school, and was again met with a big choice. One was to go straight to the war and put his training to the test, the second was to take up Ranger School. At Ft. Benning he was put through his paces to push his limits both physically and mentally. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (11:10)

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His extensive training, resulting in bodily injury as well as a debilitating illness, held him back a few weeks, but as he assumed, he'd be on his way to Vietnam. Phil Mayrand describes the conditions of his departure and the foreboding welcome he received there. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (8:05)

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Phil Mayrand was attached to the 25th Infantry Division out of Cu Chi in III Corps of Vietnam. He was a newly minted NCO, taking charge of men who had been cycling in and out of country for weeks. The weight of this responsibility hit him quickly. They operated in conjunction with the Brown Water Navy, the Navy's river patrol boats that maintained control of South Vietnam's lengthy waterways. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (11:52)

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The rivers were vital pathways for the movement of enemy personnel, arms, and supplies, so monitoring them at all times was crucial to maintain security in the area. To do that, patrolling the rivers at night was a necessary part of the job. Phil Mayrand describes the terror of moving at night, where the deep foliage kept everything concealed in darkness. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (4:49)

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Moving by water was not the only way around Vietnam. Phil Mayrand describes an operation where they utilized Army Hueys to make an insertion and the dangers that came with that. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (6:56)