Leon, Robert, Sgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
I was a John Wayne Marine influenced to join the Marines by my brother Jesse, who joined after he was told to by a judge. We were both leading interesting lives with alot of violence involved. After he joined the Marine Corps, he looked so good in his uniform and I knew he was an ass kicker, so I wanted to be a part of that. Going to Vietnam was easy, all they needed was bodies in 1968. When I ended up being a Casualty Reporter for the 3rd Marine Division, that sort of screwed everything up. I was up to my ears in casualty reports on a daily basis and the people I hung with were combat veterans I could relate to. I was able to visit alot of the battalion aid stations like D-Med in Dong Ha, USS Sanctuary off the coast, U.S. Army Mortuary in Danang, 22nd Casualty Staging Facility in DaNang, Cam Ranh Bay, LZ Stud and some I just forgot about. I was the guy you didn't want to meet as that meant you were either dead or wounded. Man, what times those were. I'll never forget the men who touched my life, dead or wounded and those that gave their lives for this country. I'm a lucky man and I still thank God I'm alive to share the stories of the brave, brave, bad asses I ran across in Vietnam. My head is still screwed up. I'll see them soon. Semper Fi

Photo below is top: Okinawa, on my way. Bottom:My brother took this photo of 1st Tank Bn. guys on a hill about 20 miles from DaNang. I understand the Dude in the middle was killed minutes after this photo was taken. I never saw him again. He was very cool.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I didn't have a career path. Too dumb to understand at the time that the Marine Corps was the best thing that ever happened to me.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
Alot of the combat operations I served in were never entered into my SRB. We followed all the battles from beginning to end as casualty reporters. We were considered support and that was fine with me. I didn't like the aftermath of death and it worked for me.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I think DaNang and Quang Tri as they were the places that made me what I am today. DaNang was with my visits to my brother's outfit, the mortuary and the medevac units I worked with. Quang Tri as I was able to connect with my buddies more after moving around the country.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The death and dismemberment of four Marines prior to coming home. They had been killed and the gooks had taken their heads. They were found a few days or weeks later and then were shipped home with their torsos for their proper burials. I still dream of the day they found them... Nightmares are always there and is one of the contributors of my being unafraid of death.

Another particular memory was changing the dressings on the amputated legs of Lewis Puller Jr. in DaNang at the USAF 22nd Casualty Staging Facility. The whole time he was there was surreal with the activity surrounding his presence. We thought he was going to die before getting back to the states. We were wrong, but he was really messed up. He was a triple amputee with head wounds. Very ugly picture in my mind. Alot of good men went through that facility, alot of them my friends.

The other one that stood out were the 3 guys from 3rd Amtracs who were suffering from 3rd degree burns and they were hurting so bad, it was disturbing to know their lives were never going to be the same. Brave men and I will never forget them or stop thinking of them.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
The Navy Achievement medal was awarded for Valor because of the shit I saw and lived through. So they they anyway. I didn't receive this award until I was out of the Marine Corps and received it one day at my parents house. Not a big deal to me.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
They all mean alot to me as they represent my service to my country and finishing what I started. To this day, it feels good to have served in the Marine Corps and no one can take that away from me. It turned me from a psuedo hood to a man with character and morals. It's too bad that the death and carnage was in my life as that also created a part of me that exists today.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Having a brother in the Marine Corps was beneficial to me as he was a guiding force in my decision to join. He signed a waiver to go to Vietnam so i could leave. He was playing on the Marine Corps Baseball Team and was pretty good. He gave that up for me and I'll always be beholding to him. I refused to leave for personal reasons and he was stuck there in DaNang with the 1st Marine Tank Battalion. He took me to a couple of unauthorized visits miles from DaNang. Jesse was a hydraulics mechanic for tanks and we both survived that stinking war.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Probably when on May 5th, 1968, my sister's birthday, I was having a smoke in the back of the hooch in Quang Tri and I didn't notice that a sniper had taken a few shots in my direction and I didn't have a clue. After about the 3rd shot and buzzing noise overhead, I looked at the other guys in the hooch and they were all on the ground yelling for me to get my ass down. Guess I was lucky that day. I'm glad that gook missed.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After the service, I was a worker for warehouses and not a follower of anything in particular. Smoked alot of pot, got drunk alot, got into fights and pretty much didn't do anything. Dreams and nightmares and stress had gotten the best of me. Got married twice and then after a decade of singlehood, settled down with a good woman and had two more kids who I enjoyed. Now I'm retired and enjoying what time I have left on this earth to being the person I always wanted to be.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I'm involved with alot of veterans thoughout. I enjoy talking to them and sharing memories of the good guys we left behind. Now I'm getting treatment and counseling at VA. A tumor was removed from my throat which was connected to exposure from AO. Also PTSD was diagnosed and alot of my problems identified. I'm glad I went to VA. My buddies who suggested it, saved my life.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Very positive. It's made me enjoy and respect life and men and to not judge.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Keep your ammo dry. If you see an asshole in the room, don't be the second one.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
This site has been a great catalyst for finding old friends and comrade in arms. I am proud to have served with such great Americans.