ADVA Oral History Project

History of Jerry Blaine Calhoun

July 2002

  1. What are your name, age, and place of residence?

    2. Jerry Blaine Calhoun Age 53

    EF 398490 G.S.P.

    100 GA Highway 147

    Reidsville, GA 30499

  2. Where were you born?

    3. Born: Phillippi, West Virginia - Raised: Bradenton, Florida

  3. When and where did you enter military service?

    4. Miami, Florida – April 25, 1967

  4. Why did you enter the military?

    5. I wanted to see what the Army was about.

  5. Where did you receive military training?

    6. Fort Benning, Georgia & Fort Dix, New Jersey

  6. What type of training did you receive?

    7. Basic Combat and Light Vehicle Driver

  7. Where did you leave the US for overseas?

    8. I was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado and shipped from Fort Lewis, Washington.

  8. How were you transported overseas?

    9. Freedom Bird – Air

  9. Where did you first arrive overseas?

    10. Cam Ranh Bay

  10. What were the name(s) of the unit(s) you served with?

    11. Company B, 23rd S&T, Americal Division

  11. What were your job duties?

    12. Supply for units outside of Chu Lai: Mainly Hill 69 - LZ Ross

  12. What were the locations where you served?

    13. From Chu Lai south to Quang Ngai and north one time to Camp Evans, DMZ (my first convoy) and from Tam-Ky west to the border of Laos, a place called Tam Fuc (I think that is how you spell it).

  13. What were some memorable places that you were at?

    14. All of the above. I think I have been fired on at all these places and in between also.

  14. What were some memorable people that you met?

    15. David Hart from California, Gary MocKavee from Indiana, and David Haddex

  15. What were some memorable things that you did or saw?
  1. Sitting on top of a bunker while on guard just before dark, a friend from Riverview, Florida and I had a sniper bullet rip the sandbags between us. (Very close!)
  2. We, 40 – 60 trucks, were coming in late one night using blackout lights on Highway #1 which was a dirt road so there was a lot of dust flying. You couldn’t see much. David Hart and I were in my truck. I asked David, "What are those green things?" David laughed, "Those are NVA tracer rounds." About that time, mortars started going over us into the rice paddies. Then one landed in the road about three trucks up causing a chain reaction stopping the trucks. The one behind me hit my truck in the right rear end and then came along side of it to a stop. I couldn’t believe this man wanted to wait on the MPs to complete an accident report while we were under fire. Also, there were about thirty more trucks coming on strong behind us. I was the highest ranking man there (SP5) so I asked him if his truck would run. I told him if it would to go and to not look back. If it would not have started, I was going to push it into the rice paddies to clear the road for the trucks behind us. Our dispatcher, a SP6, tried to give me an Article 15 for this. He said I should have waited for the MPs (under fire). With all those other trucks coming behind us it would have been one big pile up. Then what? The NVA would have gotten all of us – thirty tucks and maybe forty-five men. I heard right before leaving to come home that they were trying to get me a Bronze Star for this. It probably saved all of the men and trucks behind us. (I have more stories, I will write later – too many).
  1. What was a difficult time or activity?

    2. Christmas – not being with family and friends.

  2. What was a happy time or activity?

    3. Freedom bird, going home to see father and mother.

  3. What were the living conditions like?

    4. I slept on or in my truck about half the time, the rest in a hootch.

  4. How do you feel about your war service?

    5. I am proud to have served, I didn’t go to Canada like some.

  5. What awards and decorations did you receive?

    6. NDSM, ARCOM, VCM W/60 Device, VSM, Sharpshooter M-16, and Marksman M-14

  6. What was your highest rank?

    7. SP5 (I was offered Staff Sergeant to extend six months).

  7. When and where did you leave military service?

    8. April 29, 1970 at Fort Rucker, Alabama

  8. Where did you go after leaving the military?

    9. Bradenton, Florida

  9. What did you do after leaving the military?

    10. I went to work for General Propeller company of Bradenton, Florida in January 1971.

  10. What occupation(s) did you have after military service?

    11. Machinist

  11. What are the names of your spouse and children?

    12. Deana Corene Calhoun (My G.S.U. Girl) - Daughter

    Jerry Edward Calhoun – Son

    Sherry Miller – Ex Wife

  12. What are your hobbies?

    13. Hunt, Fish, Hike, Vegetable Gardening, Wood Working, and Restoring Old Cars and Trucks (Love them Honda Goldwings).

  13. Do you stay in contact with army buddies?

    14. I have lost all contact.

  14. Do you participate in veteran’s activities?

    15. No, but I would like to.

  15. Do you have other comments you would like to make?

I would like to see a group of Christian Vet’s pull together in helping young children who are slow learners in reading and writing. That has always been a big problem with me. It was my main reason for leaving the Army. I have kept it hidden all these years. My spelling is very bad. I have to use a dictionary all the time. I think everyone has something they cannot do well. This is mine, but as for being a good custom cabinet man, I am. I love it. There’s not much that I can’t do. I had my own cabinet shop for about ten years.

Thanks and God bless.

P.S. I hope to start a new maintenance business this year or next in Siesta Key and Longboat Key, Florida (south side of Tampa Bay).