Patrick MorelloVietnam War: U.S. Army

Rank: E-5 HHB108Artillery Unit1968-1970

Before the ArmyBefore the Army

Patrick was born in New York, in 1947.Patrick was born in New York, in 1947. In 1966, Patrick lived at home in California In 1966, Patrick lived at home in California

at the age of 18. at the age of 18. He lived with his parents and six younger He lived with his parents and six younger

sisters. sisters. He was living a relaxed life, going around He was living a relaxed life, going around

doing simple odd jobs. doing simple odd jobs.

ApplicationApplication

Patrick applied for the Air Force in 1966.Patrick applied for the Air Force in 1966. The Air Force paid the most money. The Air Force paid the most money. Unfortunately, Patrick had bad eyesight Unfortunately, Patrick had bad eyesight

from an incident as a child. from an incident as a child. The Air Force declined his application. The Air Force declined his application. Patrick knew he would eventually be Patrick knew he would eventually be

drafted into the army.drafted into the army.

ArmyArmy Patrick did not wait Patrick did not wait

long to be drafted, he long to be drafted, he was drafted in 1968.was drafted in 1968.

He was sent directly He was sent directly to Basic Training.to Basic Training.

After B.T. he was After B.T. he was sent to Fort Stewart, sent to Fort Stewart, Georgia Georgia

Then to he was sent Then to he was sent to Vietnam as a to Vietnam as a replacement.replacement.

Vietnam BaseVietnam Base

Patrick went to Patrick went to Vietnam and stayed Vietnam and stayed there for 1 year.there for 1 year.

At the base, the At the base, the soldiers lived in soldiers lived in underground sand-underground sand-bag bunkers.bag bunkers.

They were located 7 They were located 7 miles from the miles from the demilitarized zone.demilitarized zone.

Unit BackgroundUnit Background

Patrick was ranked E-5 in the HHB108 Patrick was ranked E-5 in the HHB108 Artillery Unit.Artillery Unit.

His group was not a really well defined His group was not a really well defined group.group.

The soldiers were transferred into and out of The soldiers were transferred into and out of the base constantly.the base constantly.

The soldiers would be in one position for a The soldiers would be in one position for a few weeks and then be switched to a new few weeks and then be switched to a new position.position.

Patrick's JobPatrick's Job Patrick helped keep Patrick helped keep

the guns in good the guns in good working order. working order.

The soldiers The soldiers controlling the guns controlling the guns would report back to would report back to Patrick at Patrick at Headquarters.Headquarters.

He would help direct He would help direct them to where to aim them to where to aim the fire from the the fire from the bunkers. bunkers.

Guard DutyGuard Duty

When Patrick or the other soldiers were on When Patrick or the other soldiers were on Guard Duty:Guard Duty: They set off sirens and alarms in the bunkers.They set off sirens and alarms in the bunkers. The Vietcong would send rockets and missiles The Vietcong would send rockets and missiles

over the fences. over the fences. The Vietcong tried to destroy the guns on the The Vietcong tried to destroy the guns on the

base.base. The Marines were stationed nearby and The Marines were stationed nearby and

helped protect the base. helped protect the base.

MonsoonMonsoon

Vietnam was a center for Monsoons.Vietnam was a center for Monsoons. Monsoon season lasted 3-4 months of the Monsoon season lasted 3-4 months of the

year.year. Monsoons consisted of rain and wind up to Monsoons consisted of rain and wind up to

150 mph. 150 mph. Everything on the base turned to mud.Everything on the base turned to mud. Nothing would stay clean, which made the Nothing would stay clean, which made the

living conditions really bad. living conditions really bad.

Almost an Early ReleaseAlmost an Early Release

President Nixon was considering getting rid President Nixon was considering getting rid of the department Patrick was stationed in. of the department Patrick was stationed in.

Although, Patrick's commanding officer had Although, Patrick's commanding officer had never been to the base in Vietnam.never been to the base in Vietnam.

The officer persuaded Nixon to keep The officer persuaded Nixon to keep Patrick's department because of that fact.Patrick's department because of that fact.

Every soldier wanted to go home but the Every soldier wanted to go home but the only way was to be shipped home, in a body only way was to be shipped home, in a body bag.bag.

Most Memorable MomentMost Memorable Moment

While Patrick was in the the service, his While Patrick was in the the service, his most memorable moment was when his most memorable moment was when his daughter was born. daughter was born.

He received a picture of his six month old He received a picture of his six month old daughter that he kept with him all the time.daughter that he kept with him all the time.

Patrick kept the picture with him and it Patrick kept the picture with him and it encouraged him to keep going on.encouraged him to keep going on.

Most Memorable MomentMost Memorable Moment

Another memorable moment Patrick had Another memorable moment Patrick had was when he first arrived in Vietnam.was when he first arrived in Vietnam.

When he stepped out of the plane, there When he stepped out of the plane, there was no air. There was so much humidity he was no air. There was so much humidity he could feel it pressing down on him. could feel it pressing down on him.

He did not know where he was going or He did not know where he was going or what he was being assigned to do.what he was being assigned to do.

Greatly Needed ReleasesGreatly Needed Releases Since they were always surrounded by the war, the Since they were always surrounded by the war, the

soldiers needed time away.soldiers needed time away. The soldiers in Patrick's unit had ways to have a The soldiers in Patrick's unit had ways to have a

release.release. One way they did this was going to USO shows.One way they did this was going to USO shows. They would also project movies onto a sheet of They would also project movies onto a sheet of

plywood.plywood. They even would occasionally take a trip to a town. They even would occasionally take a trip to a town. The soldiers would grab a beer and had singers The soldiers would grab a beer and had singers

who would put shows on for themwho would put shows on for them . .

Return HomeReturn Home

Patrick found it very depressing when he Patrick found it very depressing when he returned because there was nobody returned because there was nobody welcoming him home. There was no fan welcoming him home. There was no fan fair.fair.

He felt bad because no person He felt bad because no person congratulated him. congratulated him.

Not until later on did they discover that Not until later on did they discover that Patrick suffered from PTSD.Patrick suffered from PTSD.

MedalsMedals

Patrick received a few medals for his Patrick received a few medals for his service:service: NOSM GCMOLNOSM GCMOL VSM mkmm-14VSM mkmm-14 2 OS Bar2 OS Bar

He never received the actual medals, just He never received the actual medals, just the papers.the papers.

Thoughts On the WarThoughts On the War

Patrick questioned what he had Patrick questioned what he had accomplished while in Vietnam.accomplished while in Vietnam.

He did not feel like any difference had been He did not feel like any difference had been made. made.

After the Army left, the government just After the Army left, the government just took back over.took back over.

The same things are still occurring today as The same things are still occurring today as they were then.they were then.

What He Learned From War What He Learned From War

He learned things about himself from being He learned things about himself from being in the war.in the war. Patrick learned how to trust and how to Patrick learned how to trust and how to

survive.survive. In order for him to survive, he had to trust the In order for him to survive, he had to trust the

guys in his unit.guys in his unit.

Life After WarLife After War

Patrick had seen enough of the war and did Patrick had seen enough of the war and did not want to ever go back.not want to ever go back.

He did not like the violent nature of man He did not like the violent nature of man that he had seen in Vietnam.that he had seen in Vietnam.

He wanted to stay home and raise his kids.He wanted to stay home and raise his kids. Patrick said that “Bad things are harder to Patrick said that “Bad things are harder to

forget than the good things.”forget than the good things.”

After War BeliefsAfter War Beliefs

The violent nature Patrick saw made him The violent nature Patrick saw made him question his beliefs.question his beliefs.

He saw the way life was in Vietnam, and He saw the way life was in Vietnam, and questioned how his God would let this questioned how his God would let this happen.happen.

Against the WarAgainst the War

Vietnam was the first published war, and it Vietnam was the first published war, and it was shown openly to the public.was shown openly to the public.

Many people protested the war, and that Many people protested the war, and that discouraged the soldiers.discouraged the soldiers.

““Everyone should be the way they want and Everyone should be the way they want and you don't have to believe in the war and you don't have to believe in the war and what's going on, you just have to believe in what's going on, you just have to believe in yourself and your country.”yourself and your country.”

This is Patrick Morello

of the US Army's story.