THE DI AN DIARY--MEMOIRS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR / PART ONE: YOU ARE IN THE ARMY NOW

The Di An Diary--Memoirs From The Vietnam War

Part One: You Are In The Army Now

 

That First Haircut in Basic.  You are in the Army now!

"I was drafted in 12 Sep 1967 into the U.S. Army while working to save enough money to re-enter college. I was bused from the Arcade Theater in Paducah to Ft. Knox, Kentucky where I completed basic training, and AIT (Advanced Individual Training). I also attended and completed the curriculum at the 1st United States Army NCO Academy at Ft. Knox upon the recommendation of my Platoon Sergeant, Raymond Davis. At the Academy I was selected as platoon leader by my drill instructors.

First to dress, then fall out the rest.  Platoon Sergeant Keith Ragan at 1st U.S. Army NCO Academy, Fort Knox, Ky.  December 1967.

My AIT was designated as Signal Corps, in the field of communications and security. I was ranked first in my class and among four that were selected from a class of approximately sixty to end AIT early based on class rank, and go on to an advanced training program in security at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Candidates beginning the advanced training were issued a Top Secret security clearance. An advanced Cryptography security clearance was added upon course completion. The training and clearances were to allow for “command level” technical support in tactical communications and operations.

At the end of my training in Ft. Gordon, orders were received for Korea, where there had been a lot of border skirmishes in the past year. I had attained an early promotion to Specialist 4th Class (corporal equivalent) coming out of the advanced training. When I got my orders, I was disappointed. The Tet Offensive had begun and NVA and VC battalions were dug in and laying siege to basecamps and cities everywhere in South Vietnam.. The newspapers itemized the U.S. and friendly body count daily in Vietnam and the numbers were staggering. I was drafted, and went to serve proudly, but I felt like my heart was telling me that it was my duty to serve in the Vietnam War. And I knew that I had to volunteer.

You'll have to excuse me for calling it a war and not a conflict. For those who served there, it was a war; the politicians and historians can call it anything they please. So, I took my orders for Korea and went to see the C.O. In front of his desk, I requested he rescind my Korean orders and send me to Vietnam where I would be of more service. He said, apparently somewhat taken back, "You are volunteering for Vietnam"? To which I replied, "Yes sir!" His clerk then came into the doorway and said, "sir, there are three other men here who would like to volunteer along with Specialist Ragan." I turned to see the three men who had been sent to advanced training from Ft. Knox with me standing outside the doorway.

 SPC4 Keith Ragan at completion of 
Advanced AIT, Fort Gordon, GA
Mar 29, 1968

The C.O. asked them to come in, their Korean orders in hand also. He asked for all of our orders, which we extended. He said "gentlemen your requests are approved". He stood and saluted and dismissed the four of us. As soon as we got outside the headquarters building, the four of us all faced each other and shook hands. I know I had tears in my eyes and wrestled, as they did, to maintain composure. It was my first, but not my last, understanding of a type of brotherhood that can't be explained; only experienced. And yet, I never saw any of them again.

I went to Vietnam by plane in spring of 1968, departing from Fort Dix, New Jersey and making refueling stops, to the best I can recall, in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Wake Island, and Japan. I arrived in Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon and joined several hundreds of men awaiting final duty station orders and transport. We were not barracked, but were left outdoors with duffle bag to sleep, sit, eat the meals they brought to us, and be alone with our thoughts and fears until our name was called over the loudspeaker to report to the duty sergeant for final duty station orders.

I recall sitting there for a couple of days, experiencing what I was told was a 122mm rocket attack the first night, until finally, "Specialist Ragan, US51945xxx" blared over the stagnant air. I reported and was told my orders were for the 1st Division in the Di An forward base camp. I timidly asked, "Is that the 1st INFANTRY Division?" and was told by the grizzled NCO, "Son, that's the only 1st Division that I know of". His reply brought a chorus of chuckles from my comrades as the microphone was still on." 

Keith Wayne Ragan

Former Headquarters Tactical Command Sergeant

Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division