Veteran's History Project - Allen D. Wolfe

Allen D. Wolfe

Specialist 5

U.S. Army

Vietnam

Editor's Note: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

In late 1966, Allen Wolfe was doing just fair, he said.

He had graduated from Scottsbluff High School and was living at home and seeing a young lady. He and his girlfriend had a long-time relationship, but it fell apart about then. Allen thought the best thing for him to do was to get away from the area for a while – do something different, real different.

He met with the Army recruiter in Scottsbluff. He wanted to be in the Army. At the time the Vietnam action was heating up. The recruiter explained all about the Army – where he would go, what he would do, as far as the recruiter knew anyway.

Allen signed up. He was all set for basic training then on to wireman's course at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. After finishing a physical exam and the battery of aptitude tests, Allen returned home from the induction center in Denver.

In a few short days, he was notified that it was time to go. The flight route was first to Chicago, then to Dallas, then on to El Paso, Texas. A military bus waited to take Allen and others to Fort Bliss, Texas. (This place is anything but blissful!). The bus stopped and the new people were greeted by the welcoming team. They were delivered to the in-processing station. A significant amount of paperwork had to be completed first. There was a chance to talk to other young men who had just graduated from basic training.

Next, the new men were marched away to a clinic for some shots, then the barber shop where they were provided a fine haircut and then off to the clothing issue point. This was a very long building and the inside was a long hall. In the middle is quite a stack of supplies, all sorted into bins. There is an aisle between the bins and a countertop that goes the length of the building, a left and right side. Civilians stand at the bins, ready to help – kind of.

The recruits are first handed an olive-drab duffle bag. They are told to open it and start walking the line at the countertops. The people at the bins then put clothing and equipment in the bags. If it pertains to sizes, the recruit is allowed to talk so the clothes he or she gets fit. In not much time, the duffle bag is full. It has several sets of uniforms, three pair of boots and shoes, hats, and equipment the young people are amazed at. In the end, the bag ways about 80 pounds and it was hard to close, there was so much stuff.

Once that was finished, get outside and in a formation with your duffle bag at your side. When the group was finished, they were to toss their bags on a deuce and a half and were taken back to their quarters area.

After waiting for a few days for other trainees to arrive, there were enough new people to start a training Company. They were going to the "hill." (The "hill" is on every basic training post. It's a statement about heading for the tougher place.) Allen was at the back of the truck, with about 50 others. All scared, curious and following each bit of instruction they were provided. Allen said that when the truck stopped in a paved lot, close to some two-story buildings, he looked out and saw a belt buckle. The Sergeant First Class, Manuel S. Schmall, was a huge man who had information for the trainees. SFC Clausen pointed to the men and Allen and said: "you will grab your bags and hit the ground running. You will follow this man to that building. Don't quit running till you get to the barracks! Don't drop your bag! MOVE!"

Their drill sergeant awaited their arrival. He was Staff Sergeant Henry M. Eubanks. (Allen Wolfe has an uncanny ability to recall entire names.) Eubanks told the men to move themselves to the upper floor of the building. Do it quickly! He said. Allen commented that he hadn't worn off the first hurry!

The men were soon familiarized with their new situation. They were assigned a foot locker and a wall locker. Here's how you roll your socks, here's how you fold your shirts, here's how you hang stuff in the locker and the hangers will be two fingers apart, clothing sorted correctly. Here are two padlocks to secure your things. Got it? Good.

Outside each of the two-story barracks was some form of additional training element. It could be the horizontal ladder, a pull up bar, or a low-crawl pit. At the barracks where Allen lived was a low crawl pit. The low crawl is a movement where the trainee is prone on his belly. He has to move from the start point to the end and back by crawling on his elbows and knees and toes of his boots. This was to be done every time they left the building and when they returned to it. It was frustrating when the men walked out each morning with good shines on their boots and clean uniforms then get them messed up right away. It is also the end of January in west Texas. Cold and windy with lots of sand blowing as well.

There would be no walking in the Company area. The pace was double-time, in formation. He actually liked the drill and ceremony training. At the mess hall, each trainee had to sound off one of four sets of initials. Those drafted called out: "US!" Regular Army enlistees: "RA!" National Guard: "NG!" and Enlisted Reserve: "ER!" Then grab a tray and move through the line. When the guys had a little time to themselves, the rumors about going to Viet Nam swirled around. In formation, if the drill sergeant caught a trainee chewing gum, the trainee would be called out and marched to the nearest telephone pole. The trainee was then to put his gum on his nose then lean into the pole without the use of his hands. While at the pole, in that position, the trainee was say loudly: "I will not chew gum in formation" for 40 minutes or so.

There was a problem in marching in formation. The guy marching in front of Allen could not get the left-right-left and was always a little behind. This caused Allen to have to step on the guys heels on every march. Allen had no trouble with the training. He adjusted, learned team-work, and graduated in eight weeks. At the end, he thought he might go AWOL, but changed his mind.

The next movement was to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Here, for about eight weeks, the guys learned to climb 30-foot poles, string wire and repair existing wire. They set commo systems on the ground. During the training, one exercise was to climb the poles and remain atop them. The men would then pass a ball to each other as they sat on the poles. One guy fell. He did get back up and resumed training.

The next stop was at Fort Gordon, Ga. Here, Allen learned to use a teletype machine and further communication infrastructure training. He attended jump school here. And after six weeks, he had orders for Southeast Asia ... Vietnam. The orders called for temporary duty. He was with the Strategic Communication Command (SCC) attached to the 802nd Engineers Company.

Once "In-Country," he and his group were to establish the framework for communication systems for a battalion so its subordinate units could talk on telephones rather than by radio. The work was dangerous there. Allen and others found long sticks that were not of telephone pole thickness. Much of the time, the wiremen would climb poles while being shot at. Combat wasn't so much fun. He didn't care for being an unarmed target, on a pole.

With luck, Allen was transferred to Camp Casey, Korea. Still with SCC, he was attached to a signal company. He continued working on telephonic elements and teletype use. He was there for 13 months and was a chief operator for most of the time. While deployed he kept in touch with home by letter writing and phone calls. He was not afforded leave while there abut did get a chance to see some USO groups. One was highlighted by Bob Hope.

The food there was good, but every meal contained chicken. They were very creative in camouflaging it and spicing it, but it was still chicken. The men – Army and Air Force – lived in Quonset buildings. He did get a chance to see the country in Korea.

In time, all this had to come to an end. Allen was provided orders to fly back to "the world." After re-deploying to Fort Bragg, N.C. Allen was sent on to Fort Hood, Texas, and to a signal unit that was part of the 1st Armored Division.

He was ready to leave. He was paid for some unused leave time and paid for travel to Scottsbluff, Neb. After the separation physical, he was out of the Army. Allen did stay in touch with several of his buddies. In time though, that all lessened and contact was lost.

Allen got involved in the mining business in Wyoming and Utah for many years. He used the GI Bill to help with some education and buying a house. Sadly, Allen suffered a stroke and lost his sight. He is a resident of the Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff.

Good job Specialist Allen Wolfe, and thank you for your service!