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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
Cpl Kenneth C. Foran US Marine Corps (1965-1968)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
I wanted to go on to college and I knew that my family could not afford to pay the tuition. In Canada we had many Americans as teachers and my Math teacher suggested that in enlist in the US Armed Forces and that they would pay with the GI Bill. After my tour was completed I attended the Cleveland Institute of Art; which was a five year course at that time and majored in Industrial Design with an automatic minor in Graphic Design. When I graduated after five years my remaining GI benefit totaled two days left. My last two years I was on full tutition scholarship which meant the GI Bills funds made life more comfortable.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
During boot camp at PI. I and two others in the platoon were selected for OCS. I tried to tell the DI that I could not be an officer because I was a Canadian. At the top of his lungs with a few  descriptive adjectives he said that if the *** n Marine Corps wanted me to be an officer I would. During the FBI background check it also surfaced that I was also a fraudulent enlistment. I did not have the 30 days residency when I enlisted and the recuiter should not have signed me up; I did not even have a social security number. I, along with the senior DI met with the base commander and JAG officers and I was given a choice of leaving the Corps or staying; but no OCS. I accepted staying and had the option to resign at any time with 48 hours notice to my Commanding Officer during the balance of my enlistment; however if I exercised this option I would be subject to deportation.
I graduated boot camp and ITR with no orders or assignment and was told to check in with the OD in Cleveland , Ohio a week prior to my leave terminating. I had a airline ticket to Memphis and to check in with the OD at MATTC again with no assignment. Was tested for a week and half and everything I qualified for I could not be, due to not being able to have a top secret clearance. Eventually I was trained as a Structural Mechanic for helicopters, with a 30 day temp secret clearance to be renewed by each of my CO's. I was stationed at New River (HMM-261), Vietnam (HMM-164; TAD to HMM-362: H&MS-16) and NAS Glenview (VMA-543).
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
Being in helicopters and a machine gunner I was in many operations during my Vietnam tour; they are all listed in my profile from my SRB. The most significant were:
The Siege of Khe Sanh, both on base, resupplying and medevacs.
The Battle for Hue City, once we landed a UH-34 (HMM-362)  in the soccer field for multiple amputees and as we lifted out a mortor round exploded under us and damaged the lower cylinders and the closest place to evac to was the USS Sanctuary just off the coast; we basically crash landed on the aft pad.
Another was the rescue of two Green Beret A teams out of A Shau Valley, a twenty minute hoist extraction during which I think everyone within a mile was shooting at us. Every Green Beret was wounded at least once, they were surrounded and about to be overrun when we arrived. Our wing-man hovered at 2000 feet in case we went down and four Army gunships flew suppressive fire around us during the extraction. I worked the two .50's while the crew chief operated the hoist; at one point while switching from guns I saw tracer rounds ricochet off his bullet bouncer while pulling a soldier through the hell hole.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
One memory other than those of combat was the time I spent on the Drill Team in Memphis, I really enjoyed the practice and parades we participated in. Every time I see the Silent Drill Team ads on TV; it is like a flash back and find myself mentally going through the drill with them. The one thing I notice is that they now use the shorter 12" bayonet while back in the day we used the standard issue 16" bayonet.
WERE ANY OF THE MEDALS OR AWARDS YOU RECEIVED FOR VALOR? IF YES, COULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW THIS WAS EARNED?
 Yes, I was awarded a Single Mission Air Medal for Heroic Achievement in Aerial Flight. This was for the rescue of two Green Beret A teams out of A Shau Valley.
During the followup a week after the mission an Army Officer interviewed the entire crew and we learned that the Army Green beret CO of the 5th Special Forces had recommended the pilots for Navy Crosses and the crew for DFC's. Never heard anything after that until I was back at NAS Glenview and was about to be discharged and at a Sunset Parade was awarded the Single Mission Air Medal. Obviously the Marine Corps downgraded the awards.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 The most meaningful is the Combat Air Crew Wings with three gold stars. These are probably the rarest of wings in the U.S. armed forces, especially with the three gold stars which represent land, sea and air operations.
These are the only wings that are awarded for Combat service and made of Sterling Silver, at least during the Vietnam era, and mine have "Sterling" stamped on the back of them. Not sure if this is true now. One needed to complete 20 Combat Missions to qualify; operations off the USS Valley Forge warrented the sea operations gold star.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 My Senior DI SSgt French, after learning that I was a Canadian after the FBI investigation and that I elected to stay in the Corps. He personally thanked me for what I did and after that I got the usual boot treatment but none of the extra motivation that others received. I guess they figured that I was motivated enough by staying in.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Junior DI (Michaux) calling out a shitbird and asking him if he could hear the orders and understand them. He gave him a few commands that were dutifully obeyed and finally yelled to jump up in the air and then yelling at the individual "Who in the Hell told you to come down!" To this day I still grin at the thought.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
 I graduated the Cleveland Institute of Art with a B.F.A. in Industrial Design and my entire career has been in Product and Business Development.
Here is a picture of the stacking chairs I designed while at Rubbermaid.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Vietnam Veterans of America, being in a small town this is a group that were all there from various services, time periods and we can all relate to each other and our experiences. Here is the logo I designed for our chapter.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
I would say that discipline was the greatest influence; especially the time served on the Drill Team and in combat. The discipline lead to stress management that followed me throughout corporate life. At times, people would say how stressful things are and I would suggest that until people are shooting each other in the hallways and cubicles that they really do not know what stress is really like. Also, to stand up for what is right and if you know you are right stick to your guns and get it done.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
Just be the best you can, learn as much as you can and make the most of the time you spend. If you can stay in the reserves once active duty is over and share your experience do so.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
I have been able to connect with a few that I served with in Vietnam; and it is interesting to read how the Marine culture is evolving from when I was in for my short time.
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TWS VOICES
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descriptive adjectives he said that if the *** n Marine Corps wanted me to be an officer I would. During the FBI background check it also surfaced that I was also a fraudulent enlistment. I did not have the 30 days residency when I enlisted and the recuiter should not have signed me up; I did not even have a social security number. I, along with the senior DI met with the base commander and JAG officers and I was given a choice of leaving the Corps or staying; but no OCS. I accepted staying and had the option to resign at any time with 48 hours notice to my Commanding Officer during the balance of my enlistment; however if I exercised this option I would be subject to deportation.
in the soccer field for multiple amputees and as we lifted out a mortor round exploded under us and damaged the lower cylinders and the closest place to evac to was the USS Sanctuary just off the coast; we basically crash landed on the aft pad.
being in a small town this is a group that were all there from various services, time periods and we can all relate to each other and our experiences. Here is the logo I designed for our chapter.
