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Full Name: Johnny Dean Jessen
Spouse: Geneal Bird
Children: Corey, Amy, Nikki
Branch of Service: U.S. Army, 26th Engineering Battalion, American Division
Time Served: April 23, 1969- April 22, 1971
Training: Basic Training—Fort Ord, California, AIT Training—Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Awards or Medals: Army Commendation Medal
Where Served: Chu-Lai, Vietnam
Deceased: Yes, November 9, 2007
Where Living When Entered Service: Boneta, Utah
Drafted or Volunteer: Drafted
Spouse: Geneal Bird
Children: Corey, Amy, Nikki
Branch of Service: U.S. Army, 26th Engineering Battalion, American Division
Time Served: April 23, 1969- April 22, 1971
Training: Basic Training—Fort Ord, California, AIT Training—Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Awards or Medals: Army Commendation Medal
Where Served: Chu-Lai, Vietnam
Deceased: Yes, November 9, 2007
Where Living When Entered Service: Boneta, Utah
Drafted or Volunteer: Drafted
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In September 1969, I landed at Saigon Bay in South Vietnam; from there I was taken to my permanent company HHC Company 26th Engineering Battalion Americal Division in Chu-Lai. . My duty was to clear the jungle of foliage, build roads, and build landing zones, which were called LZ’s
I had been in Vietnam about three weeks when I came down with Malaria, so I was sent to the Camron Bay Hospital where I was packed in tubs of ice to break the fever. I was there for about three weeks, which was my first stay. The next time I visited the hospital I was building a road just outside of Chu-Lai when I hit a land mine with my D7 Dozer and blew the tracks out from under it. After I was released from the hospital I was sent to another LZ. While we were there the Mountain Yards were having trouble with the North Viet Cong raiding their village. The troops were sent to build berms around the village and secure it. While on the dozer, clearing foliage in the jungle, I took a bullet in the leg, just below the knee, from a sniper.
My tour in Vietnam lasted one year. I flew out of Camron Bay and went home for 30 days. I was so glad to be home and see my family. After that I was sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama, to finish my tour of duty. I only had five months left. I received an honorable discharge on April 22, 1971. I did not want to wait around for a flight home, so I bought a car and a suitcase and drove, seeing a lot of country along the way.
I was a Private when I was drafted into the Army and a Specialist E5 when I received an Honorable Discharge. “I would not take a million dollars for the experience I had in the Army, but you couldn’t give me a million dollars to do it again!”
I had been in Vietnam about three weeks when I came down with Malaria, so I was sent to the Camron Bay Hospital where I was packed in tubs of ice to break the fever. I was there for about three weeks, which was my first stay. The next time I visited the hospital I was building a road just outside of Chu-Lai when I hit a land mine with my D7 Dozer and blew the tracks out from under it. After I was released from the hospital I was sent to another LZ. While we were there the Mountain Yards were having trouble with the North Viet Cong raiding their village. The troops were sent to build berms around the village and secure it. While on the dozer, clearing foliage in the jungle, I took a bullet in the leg, just below the knee, from a sniper.
My tour in Vietnam lasted one year. I flew out of Camron Bay and went home for 30 days. I was so glad to be home and see my family. After that I was sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama, to finish my tour of duty. I only had five months left. I received an honorable discharge on April 22, 1971. I did not want to wait around for a flight home, so I bought a car and a suitcase and drove, seeing a lot of country along the way.
I was a Private when I was drafted into the Army and a Specialist E5 when I received an Honorable Discharge. “I would not take a million dollars for the experience I had in the Army, but you couldn’t give me a million dollars to do it again!”