Curt Lance

curt lanceCURT LANCE

U.S. Army 1967–1970 U.S. Army 1967–1970

Iwas born in Ohio in 1948. In 1952, my family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, due to health problems my father was experiencing. In high school I was a member of the North Phoenix High School JR. ROTC program, and then ROTC for Iwas born in Ohio in 1948. In 1952, my family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, due to health problems my father was experiencing. In high school I was a member of two years in College. In early 1967, my older brother, the North Phoenix High School JR. ROTC who was married and had just had a baby girl, got program, and then ROTC for two years in reclassified in the draft, and he moved a lot higher College. In early 1967, my older brother, up on the draft list. I enlisted in the U.S. Army to become an X-ray technician. I was sent to Fort Bliss Texas in July 1967. Trust me when I say, “it was 120 in the shade and no shade!!.” who was married and had just had a baby girl, got reclassified in the draft, and he moved a lot higher up on the draft list.

Following Basic I was promoted to PFC and sent to Fort I enlisted in the U.S. Army to become an X-ray technician. Gordon GA. for AIT, except that this Advance Individual I was sent to Fort Bliss Texas in July 1967. Trust me when I say, Training was Combat Infantry and not X-ray. I was platoon “it was 120 in the shade and no shade!!.” Following Basic I was guide here and graduated as a weapons expert. I then promoted to PFC and sent to Fort Gordon GA. for AIT, except spent three weeks at Fort Benning Georgia. for leadership that this Advance Individual Training was Combat Infantry school. Following completion, I returned to Fort Gordon and not X-ray. I was platoon guide here and graduated as a and helped finish another AIT group as a Drill Corporal. In weapons expert. I then spent three weeks at Fort Benning December 67 I was given leave and returned to Phoenix to Georgia. for leadership school. Following completion, I enjoy the holidays with my family. returned to Fort Gordon and helped finish another AIT group Just after the new year in 1968 I received orders to as a Drill Corporal. In December 67 I was given leave and report to Oakland California for deployment to Vietnam. I returned to Phoenix to enjoy the holidays with my family. arrived in country on January 11, 1968 and was promoted Just after the new year in 1968 I received orders to report to Specialist 5 and spent the next seven days in Jungle to Oakland California for deployment to Vietnam. I arrived in School, and after a few more days, was assigned to Charlie country on January 11, 1968 and was promoted to Specialist 5 Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Brigade (Black and spent the next seven days in Jungle School, and after a few Lions), 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One). more days, was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, The Tet Offensive began at the end of January, and it 28th Infantry Brigade (Black Lions), 1st Infantry Division was made exceedingly clear that this was not a “Police (Big Red One).

The Tet Offensive began at the end of January, and it was made exceedingly clear that this was not a “Police Action,” as it had been portrayed in the states. For the next 10 plus months I watched 32 of my unit perish and 50-plus more get medically evacuated back to the states. I was part of an infantry platoon and a weapons platoon during my time there, and I can say that there were few hot meals, even fewer hot showers, and that everything you owned was saturated in red clay. Some of us survived the monsoons, the jungle, ring worm and leeches.

On September 13, 1968, during the Battle of Loc Ninh, Division Commander Major General Keith Ware, a holder of the Medal of Honor, was killed supervising a combat operation my unit was involved in. His Huey UH-1D had been shot from the sky by RPG fire.

In October 1968, while on a Search and Destroy mission I was knocked concussively into a tree and was partially paralyzed. I was sent to the 24th Med Evac Hospital at Tan San Nhut Air Base and sent home from there.

I finished my military service at Fort Lewis, and upon completion joined the Bellevue Washington Police Force. Not finding this a career path, I spent the next 45 years in management in the Auto Industry. I retired in 2011 and moved to East Wenatchee. I celebrated my 50th Wedding Anniversary with my wife Shirley on June 20th, 2019. We have one daughter, who is married to a fine man, and we have two grandchildren of whom we are extremely proud.

Curt’s story was proudly submitted by himself.

Action,” as it had been portrayed in the states. For the next 10 plus months I watched 32 of my unit perish and 50-plus more get medically evacuated back to the states. I was part of an infantry platoon and a weapons platoon during my time there, and I can say that there were few hot meals, even fewer hot showers, and that everything you owned was saturated in red clay. Some of us survived the monsoons, the jungle, ring worm and leeches.

On September 13, 1968, during the Battle of Loc Ninh, Division Commander Major General Keith Ware, a holder of the Medal of Honor, was killed supervising a combat operation my unit was involved in. His Huey UH-1D had been shot from the sky by RPG fire.

In October 1968, while on a Search and Destroy mission I was knocked concussively into a tree and was partially paralyzed. I was sent to the 24th Med Evac Hospital at Tan San Nhut Air Base and sent home from there.

I finished my military service at Fort Lewis, and upon completion joined the Bellevue Washington Police Force. Not finding this a career path, I spent the next 45 years in management in the Auto Industry. I retired in 2011 and moved to East Wenatchee. I celebrated my 50th Wedding Anniversary with my wife Shirley on June 20th, 2019. We have one daughter, who is married to a fine man, and we have two grandchildren of whom we are extremely proud.

Curt’s story was proudly submitted by himself.

Fromrecognizingourbravemenand womentorememberingthosewe havelost.Wehonorandthank allwhohaveserved.

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