Specialist Santiago Vasquez was 19 years old when he was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam. He would serve in the 9th Infantry Division 3/39th Regiment near Dong Tam during 1968 - 1969. While in Vietnam his platoon was mostly tasked with setting up night ambushes on enemy patrols and encampments. He talks on being new to the platoon, his first firefight, an ambush he will never forget, and coming home. Spc. Vasquez was awarded with a Bronze Star with V Device for his bravery in combat when his squad was ambushed on patrol. After that day, Santiago would never see one of his friends again.
Santiago flew back home to New Mexico after his tour, got his degree, and retired as a social worker with the state. He takes a lot of pride in being the first in Roswell to organize a group for local Vietnam Veterans years after the war, around the release of the movie Platoon in 1986.
His story is the first of a series by Huntstache History called "Operation: No History Left Behind". A project with the intent of recording and preserving the stories of our Veterans who have seen combat in our nations conflicts and wars.
If you are a veteran, or know a veteran, who would be interested in doing an interview, please shoot me an email.
To all veterans, from Huntstache History, THANK YOU and Welcome Home.
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