Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Steve Korovesis

Vietnam | 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division

Within a few weeks of his arrival in Vietnam, Steve Korovesis was in the A Shau Valley as part of a blocking action against the NVA. After dodging leeches and sleeping in an enemy spider hole, he was part of a detail chopping out an LZ for the colonel's helicopter to land, something that went badly awry. (5:32)
They were cutting through dense jungle on the flank of Hamburger Hill when the word came down. You're too slow, use the trail. Reluctantly, Steve Korovesis and his comrades did that and, sure enough, they were ambushed. A Medevac chopper was summoned and that ended in more death. That was just the beginning of this battle. Part 1 of 2. (8:27)
As his company led the assault on Hamburger Hill, Steve Korovesis was armed with a grenade launcher. He had to pass it on to his squad leader when they were pinned down. Just about the time he realized he was now unarmed, a hand grenade knocked him out of the action and he was sent to the rear. Part 2 of 2. (7:43)
After his eardrums were shattered by a Chi-Com grenade at Hamburger Hill, Steve Korovesis was evacuated to a hospital in Japan where they postponed his surgery until he was back in the States. While he was still in Japan, he had a chance meeting with Samuel Zaffiri who would later write a famous book about the battle of Hamburger Hill. (5:26)
He had been wounded and sent home only six weeks into his Vietnam tour. After he had recovered from his surgery, they asked Steve Korovesis if he wanted to go back. Are you crazy? I was almost killed there! He was allowed to serve out his term at Fort Sheridan where he did nothing really. (4:03)
Steve Long

Vietnam | Multiple Units

He was an indifferent student until an assistant principle suggested he get involved with the International Relations Club. He saw something in Steve Long and challenged him to do more. (7:20)
He was real good at baseball, but not so good at sociology. He gave college a go, but it just didn't work out, so Steve Young enlisted in the Marines. This led to a good news, bad news situation with his father. (7:29)
Steve Long was on a bus headed to Marine boot camp when he encountered his first DI, barking orders. He thought he was getting a plum job while marching, but road guard turned out to be not so good. He did enjoy meeting recruits from a wide variety of backgrounds, which was new to him. (7:26)
Basic training was physically and mentally demanding, so tough that it was too much for one recruit. Steve Long recalls how that incident was used for more enlightenment from the DI. (6:20)
The DI had drilled the young Marines well, and on the eve of their graduation from boot camp, he had a sobering prediction to make. Steve Long's response was one of bravado and then he was off to infantry school. (4:59)