My name is Evan Francis, and I am a Vietnam Veteran.

My father served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, China-Burma Theater during WWII.

My father spoke very little about his war-time experiences other than an occasional disparaging remark about Asian cuisine; apparently his way of commenting on the negative effects of war. One uncle, my father’s brother, served in the U.S. Army Artillery and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke of his war time experience to me. Another uncle, my mother’s brother, served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a medic but did not see front line duty; he also never spoke of his war time experiences.

In 1962 I enlisted in the U.S. Army “Airborne-unassigned”; I wanted to be a paratrooper. By enlisting “unassigned” the U.S. Army recruiter seized the moment and designated me for AIT as a Light Weapons Infantryman at Ft Gordon, GA after my Basic Combat Training at Ft Knox, KY. After AIT I went to Ft Benning, GA for jump school and after graduation to Ft Campbell, KY with the 101st Airborne Division, the unit I had asked to be assigned to. Upon arriving at Ft Campbell, Post Personnel saw that I had a high score in my military tests in the area of mechanical aptitude and decided that I would be a truck mechanic, assigning me to the 801st Maintenance Bn.
Upon arrival at the 801st they found that I could type which at that time was a skill in short supply so they reassigned me as their Company Clerk; an MOSI performed in for one year. From there I went on to U.S. Naval Justice School, Newport, RI by direction of the Ft Campbell Staff Judge Advocate for court reporter’s school, serving as a court reporter for General Courts-Martial for the next year and a half. The Staff Judge Advocate, Col Reid Kennedy felt that I was officer material, talked me into re-enlisting for three years and helped me gain entry to Infantry Officer Candidate School, Ft Benning, GA. I knew at that time that upon graduation from Infantry OCS that I would be in Vietnam within six months after graduation and that is what happened.

1962 to 1965 – Enlisted, E-1 – 5, 101st Airborne Division, Ft Campbell, KY.
1965 to 1966 – Infantry Officer Candidate School, Ft Benning, GA
1966 to 1968 – Infantry Officer, 2LT – 1LT, 54th Mech Inf, Ft Knox, KY; A Co, 2nd Bn, 502nd Abn Inf, 1st Bde, 101st Abn Div, Republic of Vn; Basic Tng C.O., Ft Campbell, KY

My wartime experience made me more appreciative and thankful for those who have gone before us in service to our great nation and my responsibility to do my share in service to our country. The greatest fear was losing a soldier under my command in combat. Being away from my wife and children was the worst part though. I came home by a military transport in September 1967, landing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH and then going to the Dayton airport for a flight home.

I did not have any negative experiences at that time. However, during GI Bill education at a local college and in civilian life after discharge in March 1968, I did have a few experiences where my being a veteran and my service in RVN were not well received; in all such events I clearly voiced my pride in being a veteran and having served in RVN where we did not lose the war but instead, U.S. politicians quit the war and deserted our South Vietnam allies. I am the last one on the right with a 101st cap in front of the 101st Airborne memorial.

Today I am semi-retired, working three days/week in the private sector, defending product claims for a plastics manufacturing company.
~ Evan Francis, Vietnam Veteran, 101st Airborne

We are grateful for Evan sharing his service and story with Comes A Soldier’s Whisper, where we are all connected.

Veteran Tributes: www.facebook.com/ComesASoldierswhisper

My Passion Is Sharing Veteran Stories: jennylasala.com/

‪#‎ComesASoldiersWhisper‬ ‪#‎VietnamWar‬ ‪#‎History‬