|
Terry Ritenour - Member since 2016
|
I was born in Anamosa, Iowa, in 1949, my family moved to Loveland Co., when I was four years old. I moved to Richfield Minn., in the middle of my junior year in high school.
Uncle Sam (the draft) sent me a letter, say I was being drafted in the U.S. Army. As I reported to be sworn in, two Marine recruiters showed up, say” we need three volunteers “to fill our quota. Yes my name was number three on the list. Yes I was destine to be a Marine, my father was a Marine, my stepfather was a Marine, and my step bother was a Marine I joined the Marine Corps two months out of high school, I was 18 years old. My basic training,(Boot Camp) took place at, Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. From Basic training, I moved up the coast to Camp Pendleton, for advanced training. From there it was straight to Vietnam. I served in the Marine Corp from July,1967- June, 1970, I was with the 1st. Marines, 2nd Battalion, “H” Company, 3rd Platoon, “Charley” Squad, 2nd Firer Team .I was a rifleman, (a grunt) ,small arms specialist, “point man”, and “tunnel rat”, in “Vietnam”. On November 9th, 1969 while participating in; Operation Pipestone Canyon”, in Quang Nam Province, I was seriously wounded from a bobby trap,(enemy explosive device). I was air lifted to Da Nang. My wounds were to server to save my right leg. My right leg was amputated below the knee due to the injuries. From DaNang I was evacuated to the U.S. Naval hospital in Yokosuka, Japan for further treatment. From Japan I was sent back to the, U.S.A, Oakland Naval Hospital, Oakland California, for recovery. In May,1970, I was medically discharge from the Marine Corps. I was married for 40 years, my wife passed away in 2010 from cancer, I have two daughter,6 grandkids.
Every day I'm reminded of the war every day, when I have to put on my artificial leg, just to stand up, and walk. As a Marine, I’m proud to have served my country, and would do it all over again if I had to. The medals and awards I received, remind me every day of the “Vietnam War”, and that our freedom, is not free. Now it's my time to give back, I'm a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 1071,a member of the American Legion Post 161,VFW Post #1,and the DVA. I serve as a mentor in the, Jefferson County Veterans Treatment Court in Golden, also. “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”, Semper Fi. I'm proud to be a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1071.
Uncle Sam (the draft) sent me a letter, say I was being drafted in the U.S. Army. As I reported to be sworn in, two Marine recruiters showed up, say” we need three volunteers “to fill our quota. Yes my name was number three on the list. Yes I was destine to be a Marine, my father was a Marine, my stepfather was a Marine, and my step bother was a Marine I joined the Marine Corps two months out of high school, I was 18 years old. My basic training,(Boot Camp) took place at, Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. From Basic training, I moved up the coast to Camp Pendleton, for advanced training. From there it was straight to Vietnam. I served in the Marine Corp from July,1967- June, 1970, I was with the 1st. Marines, 2nd Battalion, “H” Company, 3rd Platoon, “Charley” Squad, 2nd Firer Team .I was a rifleman, (a grunt) ,small arms specialist, “point man”, and “tunnel rat”, in “Vietnam”. On November 9th, 1969 while participating in; Operation Pipestone Canyon”, in Quang Nam Province, I was seriously wounded from a bobby trap,(enemy explosive device). I was air lifted to Da Nang. My wounds were to server to save my right leg. My right leg was amputated below the knee due to the injuries. From DaNang I was evacuated to the U.S. Naval hospital in Yokosuka, Japan for further treatment. From Japan I was sent back to the, U.S.A, Oakland Naval Hospital, Oakland California, for recovery. In May,1970, I was medically discharge from the Marine Corps. I was married for 40 years, my wife passed away in 2010 from cancer, I have two daughter,6 grandkids.
Every day I'm reminded of the war every day, when I have to put on my artificial leg, just to stand up, and walk. As a Marine, I’m proud to have served my country, and would do it all over again if I had to. The medals and awards I received, remind me every day of the “Vietnam War”, and that our freedom, is not free. Now it's my time to give back, I'm a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 1071,a member of the American Legion Post 161,VFW Post #1,and the DVA. I serve as a mentor in the, Jefferson County Veterans Treatment Court in Golden, also. “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”, Semper Fi. I'm proud to be a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1071.
This is Charlie Squad, 1969, North of Chu Lai and South of Hill 63