The reality of being an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam
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- Опубліковано 28 січ 2024
- After getting kicked out of college, Bob Beisner decided to take a different path by joining the United States Army in May of 1967. Originally, Bob wanted to be an armor officer, but he ended up becoming an infantry officer instead. As a Second Lieutenant in Vietnam, he led a platoon as part of the 25th Infantry Division. Bob recalls his service during his tour in Vietnam until July of 1970. Thank you for your service, Bob, and welcome home!
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My brother-in-law was a platoon leader (Sgt) during his 20-month tour in 1970-71. (173rd Airborne). What he impressed on me was that once in it, you didn't mess around with all this self-doubt and questioning. It was kill or be killed. He was a street fighter in HS and on the wrestling team. He was the last survivor of the original platoon after the end of his hitch. As for prayers, he outfit shared one that I think was common at that time; "Yea, though I walk in the valley of darkness and the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for I am the evilest son of a bitch in the valley."
Retired Army with service in Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq…interesting hearing a previous generation serving as Inf Plt Ldr…something’s never change. Salute!
Thank you for your service!
My uncle was KIA in 67 at FOB Ann Margaret outside the village of Phu Hoa Dong when they were overrun by an NVA battalion. SGT Maximo Yabes was posthumously awatded the CMH for actions that night
The realty and the responsibility of being a 22 year old platoon leader in Vietnam was overwhelming. My greatest fear was not dying, it was screwing up and getting men killed.
Thank you for your service and welcome home! 🇺🇸
I totally understand that. I was drafted/enlisted and two years later I went to Infantry OCS. I was 21 years old when I was commissioned. The fear of doing something stupid and getting someone killed was a fear I had to live with each and every day. I can honestly say, I wouldn't wish being a 21 year old Infantry platoon leader on my worst enemy. I grew up, because I had a fantastic group of NCOs, who took care of everyone including me. I retired after 30 years of service, but I will NEVER forget being 21 and an Infantry platoon leader and those NCOs.
Thank you, LT, for your service in Vietnam.
A platoon leader Lt working on combat missions with the ARVAN s, you re lucky to be alive sir
@pauldeamer9581 do you think the ARVANS were not trained as well as the NVA and the Viet Cong?
@@usmc-veteran73-77 I was an infantry squad leader in the 1st Infantry Division in 1969/70. We had the misfortune of working with the ARVN in "Operation Dong Thien" (Progress Together). Can't address their training, but I've got a few things to say about their courage and willingness to fight, and none of them are complimentary.
@@wwb7091 that's a shame
This video tells exactly what running through most soldier's mind's when in their faced with the first firefight . The truth is nobody can honestly say how they will react until they have experienced it .
This soldier's story like so many other war veterans stories shows they are just ordinary men . They did their duty as their country ask them to do .
All veterans are heroes & our country is forever in their dept
Exactly. I remember my 1st contact. Training became instinct and reality. I didn't have time to be frightened.
My dad was with the 25th ID 1/8 artillery C battery and was in country around the same time this gentleman was. He sent me this video.
What is the relevance of your comment about you?
I was with C battery 1/8th artillery in 1970. If you don’t mind me asking,what is your father’s name?
@@tomstoutenour2985 Thank you for service and welcome home!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & YOUR TOUR OF DUTY IN NAM , LEADERSHIP & TAKING CARE OF ONES SOLDIERS ----- THE FUNDAMENTALS FOR A GOOD & RESPECTED OFFICER & WILLING TO TAKE ADVICE FROM SENIOR ENLISTED SOLDIERS IN HARMS WAY .
*** TO ALL WHO DID THEIR TOUR OF DUTY IN NAM ,
THANK YOU ALL !!!!!
As airman there with C130’s I was always in awe and guilty at the same time when transporting those guys but also realized that we were all in jeopardy at any place and any time. Thank You sir.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice! Welcome home too! 🇺🇸
Thank you for your service, sir. What a lot of life experience in a short time. And ain't it great how even in the most serious moments, you can still remember the funny stuff!
Thank you for your Service.
Great observations. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. As an Air base Marine, I always was in awe of the infantry. I had it so easy
Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸
Thank you for your service !
I was in the 23rd Infantry Division. The first ambush I was in was in Laos. But in that one and all the rest my first thought was how do I make those guys stop trying to kill my guys. Since I was an artillery officer I used artillery to make them stop. And I was always successful.
Thank you for your service and welcome home! 🇺🇸
10,000 names on the wall killed by friendly fire !!!! I served 1 yr in Vietnam with 25th Infantry Div 1965 to 1966
@@BenLewis-zi8wg I am skeptical of your number of killed by friendly fire.
@@1murder99 ck the records I was there
@@BenLewis-zi8wg You believe Hamas numbers ?
Thank you Sir
Welcome home Bob thank you for your service..I was in the 2/14th infantry bravo company from Aug 1968 till April 1969..was wounded two times and transferred to another unit in April..delta company 58th infantry a infantry security rifle company up in two core west of quy nhon we were patrolling the hills and guarding a large ammunition depot off highway 19 ..anyway remember the hobo woods and the rubber tree plantation very well also the Cambodian border tay ninh Saigon and vo cam Dan rivers…and black virgin mountain..welcome home..
Thank you for your service and welcome home! 🇺🇸
We stand on the backs of GIANTS🇺🇸
I didn't know this officer but was in the same division and a platoon leader as well a few years later at 21. I speak Vietnamese/Lao and Khmer and got my degree before getting drafted - it's a long story. Same locations Chu Chi, Husky and Bearcat , several rubber plantations to the Cambodian border. I had the high grades but wanted to be an 011a. Our last 3 KIA were all booby traps. Later did a tour as Mac-V to the final months of the war. Salt works for leaches as does alcohol. I had the same feelings about killing when I first got in country but after a few months I had my blood up -
Thank you for your service and welcome home! 🇺🇸
Commissioned officers are such gentlemen.
Not always....especially in the infantry. It's part of our mission to be hard, not nice. No one around me cared about killing in Afghanistan. We only cared about our own casualties. He was religious most I served with were not and our attitudes reflected this I believe.
I recall my platoon leader, good guy who stayed in touch long afterwards (agent orange eventually took him early), but the vast majority of patrols I was on were led by buck-sergeants or staff sergeants... nonetheless, the few infantry "LTs" I actually knew were heads up guys...
I’m sorry to hear about your platoon leader. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Welcome home! 🇺🇸
Awesome army I am an Indian
Welcome home Mr. Beisner.
Great analysis of the mind. Bless this man who was put this into predicament by the political powers.
Hua, I was told not to have anything on my person or on my uniform to identify where I was from or who I was even my weapons were not from America.
Charlie Company 1/5 mech 68-69 Welcome home Brother!🇺🇸
Thank you for your service and welcome home!
0thank you for your service bobby boy!! Xxx 💚💚 the wallstreet banksters!!👍🤑
Hazadous duty not knowing
Who the enemy were!
No wonder they lost.
That was a real - albeit useless - war; not drone warfare...
An evil war fought by slave soldiers against a peaceful people. Horrible.
For sure !! The communists never stop their wars against free societies.
The NVA and VC were not really that awful. I think you've been unkind to them.