Show Notes
James “Sneaky” White enlisted in the Marine Corps and served as a machine gunner from 1960 to 1964, before reenlisting to work in Marine Aviation. In 1966, he deployed to Vietnam with HMM-262 and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while inserting a Marine Recon team. Following the tour he transferred to the Army to become a pilot, but an administrative error deposited him in a rifle company destined for Vietnam. Afer three months in the jungle, White was pulled from the unit and redirected back to the United States to complete the aviation program. He graduated from training and returned to Vietnam for a third time, flying combat missions in support of Special Forces and MACV-SOG, where would earn a Silver Star.
More from The Vietnam Experience
Robert “Dutch” Van Lueween immigrated to the United States from Holland and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966. He served 13 months in Vietnam with Hotel, 2/5, 1st Marine Division as a rifleman before returning to the US in 1967.
Gary Kissling deployed to Vietnam in 1966 and joined the 336th Assault Helicopter Company. As a Huey pilot, Kissling flew various missions during his twelve-month tour, including night operations, air support, and insertion flights with the US Navy Seals. In 1967, he returned to the United States and finished his commitment to the Army flying for a medical unit in Germany.
Thomas “Tim” Groh arrived in Vietnam in October of 1967 and was assigned to Alpa 1/16 of the 1st Infantry Division. He was wounded twice in combat during the Tet Offensive; the second wound, recounted in this video, occurred on February 22, 1968. Groh returned to the United States after his tour and joined the US Postal Service.
Ed Strazzini arrived in Vietnam in September of 1967 and joined the 68th Assault Helicopter Company. Strazzini flew various support missions during his time with the Mustang gun platoon, notably around the 1968 Tet Offensive, before returning to the United States in August of 1968. He volunteered for a second tour in Vietnam as a skycrane pilot, participating in the ill-fated Lam Som 719 incursion into Laos.After Vietnam, Strazzini remained in the Army and completed 23 years of service.
Alan Basham enlisted in the Navy in 1967 and trained as a hospital corpsman with a special emphasis in air-sea rescue and medical evacuation. In Vietnam, Basham was among an elite team of Fleet Marine Force medevac corpsmen (MAG-16 Flying Docs) who flew medevac missions with USMC helicopter crews. After returning to the United States, he left the military and embarked on a career in psychology, training students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Eastern Washington University for twenty-two years.