These Stories of Valor are part of an ongoing oral history program of the Honor Project to ensure the experiences of our combat wounded and those who gave their all in the service of America are remembered for generations to come.
In 1966, Hackford flew as an F-105 pilot with the 469th TFS at Korat AB in Thailand where he flew 112 missions over North Vietnam; 36 as a Wild Weasel pilot. He returned to the U.S. as an instructor pilot, but was soon retired from flying due to injuries sustained in his shoot down over Laos in 1966.
Read MoreI was on my first tour in Vietnam as a “Phantom” F-4 backseat pilot, assigned to the 558 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), 12th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW), Cam Rahn Bay AB, Republic of Viet Nam (RVN). I was scheduled to be on 15-minute day alert on 3 Sep 1968.
Read MoreDaniel Carmona was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967, and served until 1969 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. On November 1, 1968, SP4 Carmona's company was on an early morning mission. Carmona's platoon was moving along a trail, with Carmona third in line, when they encountered a booby trap.
Read MoreWalter Kaczmarek enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps in June 1967 and served for nearly two years as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, including a tour in Vietnam where he was awarded two Purple Hearts.
Read MoreJames Reeff enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1964, serving for the next four years, including a tour in Vietnam. In August 1965, Reeff was wounded in action while serving as part of Operation Starlite.
Read MoreOriginally from New York, John Grand enlisted into the U.S. Army in December 1955 and served for the next seven years before being commissioned in June 1962 and continuing to serve another 14 years. Grand did two tours in Vietnam with A and C companies, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division operating in the Delta and Plain of Reeds areas of operations.
Read MoreSteven "Gus" Gustuson enlisted in the Navy in August 1965 and served for the next four years including deployments during Operations Sea Lords and Giant Slingshot.
Read MoreKen Teunissen was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and later enlisting and serving for nearly a decade, including time in Vietnam and Berlin, Germany. In February 1970, Teunissen was providing cover fire when he suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg.
Read MoreJohn "Todd" Swanson enlisted into the U.S. Army in October 1967, serving for the next two years, including a tour in Vietnam.
Read MorePatrick Burgess enlisted into the U.S. Army in June 1967, right after high school. Because he was only 17 years old, his father had to sign for him.
Read MoreGlenn Boche was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1969 and served with the 22nd Infantry Regiment, the 25th Infantry Division, while in Vietnam.
Read MoreWalter Schley enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966 and served for more than 30 years.
Read MoreErnest Boisvert was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a member of the 4th Infantry Division, including a tour in Vietnam.
Read MoreJames Bouchard enlisted in the Navy in February 1967 and served for the next three years as a member of the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division, including a tour in Vietnam.
Read MoreCarlton Cannon enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps in April 1967 and was later commissioned as an officer, completing a career that spanned more than 24 years. Cannon, then a Lance Corporal, was first wounded during the Battle of Khe Sanh in April 1968, while serving with the 26th Marine Regiment. He was wounded a second time in September 1968 and a third time in December 1968.
Read MoreLouis Zayas was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1965 and for the next two years. While serving as a helicopter door gunner escorting other troops into a hot Landing Zone in Vietnam, Zayas’ unit came under heavy fire. During the firefight he was struck in the thigh from an explosion.
Read MoreOriginally from Los Angeles, California, George Stavropoulos enlisted in the U.S. Navy, entering the service in July 1965. He was deployed to Vietnam where he was awarded four Purple Heats as a result of wounds he suffered.
Read MoreJames Ives was drafted into the Army in November 1967 and served for the next two years as a member of the173rd Airborne Brigade, including a tour in Vietnam.
Read MoreRon Laney enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1964, serving for over six years, including a tour in Vietnam. In August 1969, while serving near An Hoa, Vietnam, Laney was wounded during a combat operation.
Read MoreTed Craiglow was drafted into the Marine Corps in September 1969, serving for nearly two years including a deployment to Vietnam.
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