Dixon, Jack, Sgt

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS?
I had left High School in Jan. 1966 needing 1/2 credit in English to Graduate. I was going to Adult night school to get it. Since I was not a fulltime student, the Draftboard got very interested in me. I showed them. I joined the USMC for four years so they couldn't draft me in the Army for two. I took the GED test in Vietnam and got a Florida Equivelency Diploma.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
I joined in Feb. 1966 on Delayed Enlistment Program. I got on the Greyhound in Jacksonville, Florida on March 29 and arrived at P.I. about 2100. Was fortunate enough to be assigned to 1st Bn. Was assigned Squad Leader a couple of days later. I got fired one time but was reassigned when the SDI came back on Duty. Picked up PFC and was runner up to Honor Man. After ITR, was sent to Aviation MOS School at NAS Millington, Tn and ended up going to AME-A School. That would be Air Conditioning/Pressurization/Seat Shop. Graduated 2nd in Class but was top Marine and received Meritorious Lance Corporal. My first assignment in the Fleet was to VMA(AW)225 at Cherry Point, NC in December, 1966. As some of my friends were shipping out to Nam, I volunteered to go early to stay with them. September 12th I arrived in Danang and was assigned to VMA(AW)242 with most of my Buddies. I was promoted to Corporal in October and ran the Night Crew Seat Shop. January 1968 brought about the Tet Offensive. (to be discussed in proper place). In late September, 1968, I rotated back to CONUS and after 30 days delay enrout, reported to VMFA(AW)333 in Beaufort, SC. In October '69 I was promoted to Sgt. and released from Active duty March 25, 1970.

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
On the receiving end only. Tet '68 there was no safe place to be anywhere in Nam. From Jan. '68 til I rotated home I estimate that we came under attack about 25 times. Mostly mortar and rockets. In July '68 I was on night crew and we got hit. On my way to the CP Bunker one of the rockets found one of our Intruders fully loaded and ready for a mission up North. The bunker was only about 50 feet or so from the exploding bombs. As I explained to my family in a letter home, "That was as close to Hell as I ever want to be." I don't think any of us that were in that bunker were ever the same afterwards.

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
Cherry Point NC the Summer of '67. Was on night crew and hanging out at Atlantic Beach just about every day. The Big Surf Bar and Dance hall was the place to be on the weekend nights. 3.2 beer and lots of Buga loo and Shag.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Being trapped in that Bunker in July '68 counting those 500 pound bombs cook off. We weren't sure the bunker was going to withstand the repeated explosions. A close second was learning that our Shipper had been shot down over the North in Oct. '67, Lt. Col Lewis Abrhams (kia)

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
Got a V on the Navy Achievment Medat i was awarded. I was for just doing my job under "difficult, combat conditions" I think we all got one.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
The Rifle Expert Medal. Most of my medals were for just doing my job or being somewhere at a particular time. A Marine Expert Rifleman...it don't get no better.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
My Drill Instructors. Staff Sgt. Hall, Sgt. Caldwell and Sgt Bennet. I still can't believe I survived their Loving, Careing, Supportive nature. ;-)

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
Too many to narrow down to one at this time.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
I around working minimum wage jobs for about a year and finally decided to apply for a job with Southern Bell Telephone Co. I was hired as a lineman in Dec. 1971. I bid on a Cable Splicer title in March '72 and got the job. I spliced cable until 1984 when I was promoted to Asst. Staff Mgr. on the North Fl. Construction staff. 1991 I interviewed for an Equipment Engineering position and was promoted. I had to take early retirement in 2000 due to health issues. After retirement I bought a 21' Sea Pro Center Console fishing boat and tried my luch at being a Fishing Guide in the St. John's River and around the Mayport jettys but it turned out to be too much work so I decided to sell the boat and attempt to rebuild the Dixon Family Cabin on Florida's Santa Fe River. I had no sooner got started when the flood of 1999 came about 3' into the Cabin. Now rebuilding the cabin was a top prioripy with the Flood Insurance money. It is a very relaxing get-away now.

IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
American Legion, DAV and The Marine Corps League. The DAV has helped a lot with my VA Compensation Claims. The MCL is for Brotherhood with Marine Corps Vets.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
The USMC taught me to never give up and it has paid off over the years.

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth closed. Do whatever you do the best in your power and as quickly as you can. Walk proud and represent the Corps in a way that people see the reason why the USMC is still top shelf.

HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
It used to be a place to express the way you feel about most anything but now it's like being in 1st grade with a teacher out to prove who is boss.