Steve K | Army

I was drafted into the Army on February 2, 1968 at Fort Wayne in Detroit Michigan. I was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky for Basic Combat Training then, did my Advanced Individual Training stint at Fort Bragg, NC before shipping out to Vietnam in September of 1968. As a Radio Telephone Operator I was fortunate to be assigned to serve with D Troop 3rd Squadron 5th Cavalry Regiment(Air) at Camp Bearcat and Dong Tam with the 9th Infantry Division and when the 9th was rotated out of Vietnam in late July 1969 I served with D Troop 3/5 under the umbrella of the 1st Aviation Brigade. While HQ, A, B, and C Troop of 3/5 were tanks and tracks and therefore stationed in the Northern part of South Vietnam, D Troop was an Air Cavalry unit, more amendable to the alluvial soil found in the southernmost regions of South Vietnam; thus I served my 12 month tour from September 1968 to September 1969 in the Mekong Delta and environs. As I've said I was incredibly fortunate to have served with an elite unit filled with extremely courageous and talented troopers of all ranks. Along the way I was promoted twice from PFC to Sergeant E-5, attaining the NCO rating in April 1969. In great part due to the soldiers I had the honor of being associated with I earned the Basic Air Crewman's Badge and was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal while serving with D Troop. I separated from active duty upon returning home in September 1969 and received an Honorable Discharge on February 1, 1974. I married my girl, Ann, who waited for me to return from Vietnam in October 1970. I retired from General Motors July 1, 2008 and reside with my wife of forty years in Southgate, Mi.