Page 78 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine
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Jack Bearden
A Real Roller Coaster Ride
by Jack Bearden
began to get a little time at Ft. McNair. I attended a
more challenging. Congressional Medal of Honor
In the fall of 1968, presentation at the White
I was informed House for four soldiers. Shortly
by the lady at thereafter, I witnessed the
the draft board, huge antiwar protest “March
“Don’t register on Washington” Nov. 15, 1969.
for the spring On one hand, I had observed
semester.” In heroes; on the other, I saw the
December, I got my opposite – great animosity. I
draft notice. After was ordered to stand with fixed
two physicals. I bayonet to protect our post - in
was called up on my own country.
April 6, 1969, to
report for duty The roller coaster ride
and was sent to continued. My commander
Fort Bliss, Texas, believed that everyone should
for basic training. see some combat, so, four
months after my transfer to
At completion, I
I (Military Occupation Specialty) McNair, I received my orders
was given an MOS
was born in Lubbock
for Vietnam. While home
in March 1947. Shortly
afterwards, we moved to the
I married Debra Webb from
went to Fort Ord, California,
farm near Lamesa where both of 11B1 which is infantry. I on leave in December 1969,
of my parents were teachers for AIT (Advanced Individual O’Donnell.
in a small rural school. Life Training) where I was selected
seemed pretty simple. I went on to be sent to be part of the I left for Oakland, California
to graduate from Lamesa High Honor Guard in Washington on January 15, 1970. From
School in 1965. By that time, the D.C. Oakland, I was flown to
war in Vietnam was escalating, Viet Nam to become part of
and I knew someone who was It was an emotional season the Third Infantry Americal
killed there. America was in of my life. For one thing, it Division. From division
a state of turmoil. President appeared that I would not be headquarters, I was flown
Kennedy had been assassinated going to Vietnam, and more to Duc Pho, company
in 1963, anti-war movements importantly, I had fallen in headquarters, and then out to
were common, and a cloud of love with the girl I would later Fire Base San Juan Hill where I
rebellion was growing among marry. I was not selected for joined Charlie Company. Our
youth. the Honor Guard and was AO (area of operation) was
transferred from Fort Myer, primarily where the Ho Chi
After high school, I enrolled at Virginia to Fort McNair, Minh Trail entered Vietnam
Texas Tech but changed schools Washington D.C., and placed in from Laos. We would spend a
a couple times to further my the engineering department. month at a time on patrol in the
rodeo career – first Cooke jungle before returning to the
County College in Gainesville Two memorable and conflicting fire base for a few days.
and later Sul Ross. My life events occurred during my
78 Senior Link
