Fred Aurback, U.S. Army

I am proud to be an American. I am proud to have been able to answer her call. My story does not contain any descriptions of firefights or battles; there are no heroics and nothing that would make a story line for a movie or even a television sitcom like "MASH." Nevertheless, this is part of my story.

As a Distinguished Military Graduate from ROTC at Hardin-Simmons University, I received a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps of the United States Army. I wanted to go to dental school, but the Vietnam War was escalating and the Army needed me; dental school would have to wait. I reported for my first duty on June 10, 1966 at Fort Sam Houston where I went through my "basic" training and receive further training as a medical supply officer. After Ft. Sam Houston, I was sent to Fort Hood, Texas where I was the Adjutant for the 47th Medical Battalion and the Medical Supply Officer for the 1st Armored Division. Patricia and I had dated for three years and "long distance" dating was not working well, so on June 9, 1967 I married Patricia Cates. We had discussed the imminent possibility of Vietnam and had come to the conclusion that should. I receive orders for Vietnam then she could finish her education while I was gone ... lf I didn’t receive orders, then she could finish her education wherever I would be stationed.

On Sept 1, 1967, I received notification that I was ordered to go to Vietnam. The location in Vietnam was to be determined on arrival in the country. We went through all of the emotions one would expect of a newly married couple in a forced separation. Patricia enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University to begin the second semester beginning in January, 1968, and I took some leave to be with her before leaving for my assignment. H-SU allowed Patricia to live in the dormitory after I left and she stayed busy finishing her degree in English and secondary education. On the morning of February 12, 1968 Patricia took me to the airport in Abilene before going to classes and we began a year of separation. I landed at TanSaNhut Air Force Base outside of Saigon during the Tet offensive of 1968. (Looking back, 1968 has been labeled the bloodiest year of the war.) The landing was made under "blackout" conditions and as we left the plane, we could hear the sounds of war in the distance. The first night "in country" was a long sleepless night. The next morning I boarded a plane for the trip up North to QuiNhon, a coastal city and home of the 67th Evacuation Hospital where I was to become the Medical Supply Officer.

The 67th "Evac Hospital" had been a barracks for the Air Force and it was to my job to finish the conversion from barracks to a fully operational 400 bed hospital and to maintain the hospital supplies and manage the Vietnamese personnel that worked in the hospital as civilian employees. The hospital was located on one end of an airstrip. The entire year I was there we were under a state of alert so no one could leave the base except on official duty. Just about every night the airfield came under mortar fire, but the hospital never sustained any hits or direct attacks. This was most likely due to the fact that we had North Vietnamese and Viet Cong prisoners of war receiving treatment in the hospital.

Some personal observations made during my year in Vietnam. These are my opinions and they may not be shared by my brothers in arms. Even though it was 'nice' for me, I believe the one year tour of duty in country was detrimental to the war effort. The units were in a constant state of flux with replacements coming and experienced soldiers going home.

War is a horrible condition of mankind. I learned that there are no civilians in a war zone. The "collateral damage" of destroyed property and injured women and children and civilians in general are a part of war. The women and children of Vietnam were utilized by the enemy as weapons and part of the war effort against us. It was not unusual for a child to be seen with a weapon. It was not uncommon for a Vietnamese "civilian" to work in a job during the day and fight with or otherwise aid the Viet Cong during the night. In fact, one of the civilians that worked for me as a secretary in the supply office was stealing penicillin from the hospital to give to the VC. One day, she was arrested by the Military Police and escorted from the hospital grounds; I never saw her again.

There was no "front-line" as there had been in previous wars. This was a new kind of war against a new kind of enemy. If there was such a thing as a "safe place" in Vietnam, I was there. I was fortunate. We had wonderful, gifted physicians and nurses. We had gifted surgeons of all types and they did the best they could to alleviate the pain and suffering of the wounded brought to our hospital for care. I saw the ravages of war and heard the cries of the wounded. The chaplains assigned to the hospital were very busy. In addition to helping with the spiritual needs of the patients they held regular Sunday services in the hospital chapel. I remember Easter Sunday attending a sunrise service on the beach. Hospital personnel, and patients that could, gathered to celebrate the Resurrection morning. The area was secured by Military Police both on land and in gunboats out in the water. An unusual setting but it made for an Easter morning I'll always remember.

During the year I was in Vietnam, I was promoted to the rank of Captain and received the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service for my time at the 67th Evacuation Hospital.

One of the most tragic moments of my time in the service came after I returned stateside to assume the command of the hospital company of the 28th General Hospital at Ft. Meade, Maryland. Having just returned from Vietnam, I reported for duty just a few miles from our nation's capitol and was told not to wear my uniform off post and/or into the District of Columbia due to the anti-war sentiment and the possibility of creating a disturbance. Welcome Home! In general, I do not believe that Americans fully appreciate the price that has been paid for our freedom. In like manner, we as Christians do not fully understand or appreciate the price that was paid for our salvation through the death of Christ on the cross.

The wars of mankind will continue; there will be more suffering and more death and destruction. The outcome of these wars is still uncertain. But we, as Christians, know that the spiritual battle is over. .... The war has been won and we are victorious in Jesus.