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Full Name: Danny Boyd Thacker
Spouse: Vallorie Marshall
Children: Clayton, Darell, Misty, Jared, Bobby, D.J.
Branch of Service: National Guard
Time Served: February 1970-1976
Training: Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Awards or Medals: Expert Marksman Badge withRifle (M16) Bar and Grenade Bar
Where Served: Camp Williams, Salt Lake City, Utah, the Uintah Basin, Red Cloud Loop in Vernal, Utah, Yellowstone Road, Altamont, Utah
Deceased: Yes, April 2000
Where Living When Entered Service: Altamont, Utah
Drafted or Volunteer: Volunteered
Spouse: Vallorie Marshall
Children: Clayton, Darell, Misty, Jared, Bobby, D.J.
Branch of Service: National Guard
Time Served: February 1970-1976
Training: Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Awards or Medals: Expert Marksman Badge withRifle (M16) Bar and Grenade Bar
Where Served: Camp Williams, Salt Lake City, Utah, the Uintah Basin, Red Cloud Loop in Vernal, Utah, Yellowstone Road, Altamont, Utah
Deceased: Yes, April 2000
Where Living When Entered Service: Altamont, Utah
Drafted or Volunteer: Volunteered
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In 1969, the United States Government decided to join in the Vietnam War effort. Thousands of men were going to be drafted. For the draft, the government drew out dates of the years, and if your birthdate was drawn, you were drafted. Nov. 9 was drawn as #80; I was definitely going to war! I had a wife and two children at the time and I worried about leaving them half-way across the world. Vearl Tucker, who was Captain Tucker in the National Guard, had been my shop teacher. He had four openings in the Guard so he grabbed four of us Altamont boys that would have ended up in the draft. My wife and I always appreciated that kindness. I was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Basic Training, where, after only two weeks, I was promoted to platoon leader because of my physical abilities and leadership skills. We trained using M-16 Rifles, hand grenades, and hand to hand combat. I was there for four months.
We then went to Camp Williams, which is just south of Salt Lake City, Utah, where we were trained in equipment operation, bridge building, and riot control. While at Camp Williams I ran a Cat D7E Dozer. My C.O. watched me up on the hill moving dirt and he thought I would tip over, but he said, “Boyd always managed to have control, even in difficult terrain.”
I was part of the Operating Engineers Battalion in Vernal, Utah, which was based out of Camp Williams; Vearl Tucker was my Commanding Officer. We stayed closed to home, unlike a lot of the guys who were sent to Vietnam. Our job was to build roads, build bridges, and any other road type projects that needed done. I operated a Caterpillar D7E Dozer the most. I also operated an HD 16M Dozer and a scraper. We built the Yellowstone Road and the Red Cloud Loop. I had to carry my M-16 Rifle with me at all times. I thought that was a little strange since the fighting was in Vietnam and I was in Utah, but I never went anywhere without it. I was also a Transport Driver. I would haul the dozers, crane equipment, etc. around from one project to the next.
Because I joined the National Guard I was on call for the next 6 years. Every summer I spent 2 weeks serving and one weekend every month. I received an Honorable Discharge December 18, 1975. I was always proud to serve my country, but I always wondered what it would have been like to be on Vietnam soil.
We then went to Camp Williams, which is just south of Salt Lake City, Utah, where we were trained in equipment operation, bridge building, and riot control. While at Camp Williams I ran a Cat D7E Dozer. My C.O. watched me up on the hill moving dirt and he thought I would tip over, but he said, “Boyd always managed to have control, even in difficult terrain.”
I was part of the Operating Engineers Battalion in Vernal, Utah, which was based out of Camp Williams; Vearl Tucker was my Commanding Officer. We stayed closed to home, unlike a lot of the guys who were sent to Vietnam. Our job was to build roads, build bridges, and any other road type projects that needed done. I operated a Caterpillar D7E Dozer the most. I also operated an HD 16M Dozer and a scraper. We built the Yellowstone Road and the Red Cloud Loop. I had to carry my M-16 Rifle with me at all times. I thought that was a little strange since the fighting was in Vietnam and I was in Utah, but I never went anywhere without it. I was also a Transport Driver. I would haul the dozers, crane equipment, etc. around from one project to the next.
Because I joined the National Guard I was on call for the next 6 years. Every summer I spent 2 weeks serving and one weekend every month. I received an Honorable Discharge December 18, 1975. I was always proud to serve my country, but I always wondered what it would have been like to be on Vietnam soil.