. . Clem Blazewick Clem Blazewick was drafted in June 1965 and departed San Francisco for Southeast Asia on Christmas day, right before the big build up of forces in Vietnam. Narrowly escaping duty as a medic with the Marines near the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ), he was assigned to be
. . Ed Blank Ed Blank grew up in Pittsburgh’s South Hills. After graduating from Duquesne University and completing an ROTC program, Ed commissioned in the US Army. As an officer in Vietnam, Ed’s specialty was rigging telephone lines for communications among US troops—an often overlooked and undervalued requirement of
. . Dave Barker Dave Barker was born in San Diego, California and grew up in Orange County. He volunteered for the Marines in 1964 and served with the 7thEngineer Battalion in Vietnam. When he was sent to Vietnam in August 1965, he had no idea where he was going.
. . John Barber John Barber came home from Vietnam after two tours of intense jungle combat. Sometimes during those search and destroy missions, most of the guys in his unit never made it back—at least in one piece. Why he survived the odds is hard to understand, he ponders.
. . Ray Amelio Ray Amelio grew up on Pittsburgh’s North Side, and after graduating from high school he attended nearby Duquesne University. Like many young, rambunctious students, Ray could have—should have—paid a little more attention to his studies. It was only a matter of time until he was asked
