| Michael Greenberg |
| Ft. Jackson, SC Ft. Gordon, GA Ft. Rucker, AL Keesler AFB, MS Ft. Rucker, AL Hunter AAF, GA Ft. Benning, GA 366th Aviation Support Detachment, Dak To 360th Aviation Support Detachment, Camp Enari, Pleiku |
| Originally, I was trying to enlist in the AF (aircraft maintenance) because I knew the army would be coming to get me (that's another story). I had done all the paperwork & tests for the AF & was waiting to be sworn in. This was Oct. 66. I was going in on a delayed enlistment because there were no openings for active duty in the AF at that time. I would be in the reserves first, then go on active duty in Dec. However, before I could be sworn in, I received my draft notice. The AF recruiter said he couldn't help me because I had to go on active duty before the date of my draft notice, which I couldn't do. So, at his suggestion, I talked to the army recruiter & wound up enlisting (YIKES!) in the army after all (aircraft maintenance). On 28 Oct. 1966, I reported for induction into the U.S. Army at the infamous Whitehall St. induction center in NYC. After being sworn in, & being shuffled around for hours, we were taken to Penn Station for transport to the reception center at Ft. Jackson, SC. October 1966 was the largest induction of personnel into the army during the Vietnam war years. Because of this, the army did not have enough basic training centers & I spent 2+ weeks, mostly in a tent city, at Ft. Jackson waiting for orders to basic training. Finally, I was assigned to basic at Ft. Gordon, GA. A month into basic, we all were automatically promoted to E-2. After basic, I was assigned to Mother Rucker for aircraft maintenance. That's when I found out the BIG mistake I had made. The MOS I had enlisted for was a six week course that qualified you to be an Assistant Crew Chief. In other words, A DOOR GUNNER, with no guarantee of future schools (either rotary or fixed wing, although rotary would be no better). One day, at formation, a bunch of us were called out & told that our GT test scores had qualified us for something called ATC. No one knew what it was, but it was taught at Keesler AFB, MS. I had kind of decided that I would turn it down because I didn't feel like going further into Dixie than I already had. The following day, the chosen had to attend a meeting about this thing called ATC. At the meeting, someone finally asked, "What is ATC?" When they explained that it was the people in the control towers & radar that directed aircraft, & it was a 17 week course in Biloxi, MI, my hand shot up & I said, "I'll go!" In early March, I was transferred to the army detachment at Keesler AFB. After about 1�-2 weeks, I was assigned to "C" shift & started classes. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to PFC. According to my certificate, I graduated around 18 July 67 with the MOS of 93B20. From Keesler, I went back to Mother Rucker for a month of OJT. After leave, I reported to my next post with Stagefield Co. at Hunter AAF, GA in early Sept. Due to a misunderstanding, I wound up on our SFC's shit list, so when I applied for Thanksgiving leave, I was turned down. However, within a day or two of the denial, I received orders transferring me to the 366th Aviation Support Detachment, 58th Avn. Grp., 1st Avn. Bde., at Ft. Benning, GA, for "further deployment to a restricted area overseas" after leave. Ha! I was getting my Thanksgiving leave anyway. Just not the way I had envisioned. I was home for Thanksgiving & in mid Dec., reported to the 366th ASD at Ft. Benning, where the 359th-366th ASDs were forming up to redeploy to RVN. In late Dec., after multiple KPs & pulling guard mount on (I believe it was) Xmas eve, I was promoted to SP4. We all went on leave in March 68 &, within a few days of returning to Benning, we got our orders to ship out. We left Benning on 4 April 68 by plane to San Francisco, & boarded the scow Barrett in San Francisco bay sometime around midnight. The EM were berthed in the holds of the ship, while the officers & NCOs were berthed in the old staterooms (the Barrett was a converted cruise ship). The next morning, the Barrett left port for the Republic of South Vietnam. Two days out, we hit a storm at sea. Fifteen hundred seasick guys on that scow. Because of the storm, we weren't allowed on deck, so we were stuck below decks amidst the puddles & stink of puke. Lines formed in the latrines for the commodes by those who needed to throw up. Finally, the storm ended, but most guys were still sick & still throwing up. Maybe a week or so later, we hit another storm. This time, we were allowed on deck as long as we stayed in the middle of the ship & away from the rails. It was a big improvement. We made an unscheduled stop in Okinawa for fresh water & to restore some conex containers that had broken their restraints during the first storm & crashed into the rail. Twenty one days out of the USA, we arrived at the port in Vung Tau, South Vietnam. The next day, the 360th & 366th disembarked at the port in Qui Nhon. In June 68, I was promoted to SP5. I started out as a 93B20 & wound up a 93J20 when the MOS was expanded because I happened to be working in the GCA. However, my heart was always in the tower & I would work tower whenever I got the chance to do so (even if it was from the GCA when the tower would lose power). Technically, I was in Dak To from 4 Apr. 68 through late Jan. 69. When the 366th was transferred to LZ Oasis, I was transferred to the 360th Avn. Spt. Det. at Camp Enari, Pleiku (Hensel AAF). I was with the 360th from late Jan. 69 to 30 May 69, when I DEROSed. I was in country (according to the Army's calendar) 1 year, 1 month, 27 days (after extending my tour to get an early out under a new law passed by Congress in the fall of 68). I was separated from active duty at Oakland Army Terminal on 31 May 69. |
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| Last updated: 05/27/07 |
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