Table of Contents
Answering the call
In 1967, as the Vietnam War intensified, two friends and I from Immaculate High School made the decision to serve their country. Bob joined the Marines, Greg entered ROTC and I joined the Army. Our motivation stemmed from the prevailing belief that preventing South Vietnam’s fall to communism was crucial for regional stability. Though history would unfold differently than anticipated, our sense of duty drove us to enlist despite the known risks.
Training and Deployment
For me the journey began at Fort Knox in August 1967 with basic training, followed by advanced infantry training at Tigerland in Louisiana. As the Tet Offensive erupted in January 1968, I then boarded a commercial flight to Vietnam. The journey included stops in Hawaii and the Philippines, Upon landing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base under cover of darkness, we immediately faced a rocket attack. The next day I was ordered to report to the 101st Airborne just north of the city of Hue.
Combat Experience and Homecoming
I was assigned to Echo Company, and that April we faced intense combat including a siege by North Vietnamese forces that required constant air support and naval bombardment from the USS New Jersey. Two months lager a letter from my father revealed the devastating news my classmate Bob had been killed about 20 miles from where I was reading.
The countdown to return home seemed endless. Yet in February 69 I boarded a jet to San Francisco and shortly after landing had a call with my Mom who I had not spoken with in a year.
Education and Career Transition
After leaving the service, I embarked on post-war life at Fordham University. I remember sitting in the front row, pen in hand, diligently writing down every word my professor said. It was a stark contrast to where I had just come from, and I cherished every moment of it. One afternoon, while riding the bus through the Lincoln Tunnel, a loud backfire caused me to suddenly lie flat in the aisle, leaving onlookers puzzled. This incident was a reminder the war would always be a part of me. I graduated cum laude from Fordham in three and a half years with majors in English and Philosophy and a minor in Education.
Finding a New Purpose
A significant turning point came in 1977 when the my sister mentioned a special education program in Paterson. Beginning as a volunteer working with people with physical and mental disabilities, this led to leaving Prudential for the Department of Special Education. Work at Murray House and Wayne House, pioneering group homes in New Jersey, followed. During this period, I met and married Mary. The journey culminated in pursuing speech therapy at Montclair State College, combining philosophical interests in epistemology with a desire to help others communicate effectively.