Mike Hartman was deployed to Vietnam when he was eighteen, and served in a direct combat role with the Marines. In this interview he recalls some of his experiences in direct combat, including the story of how he was wounded.
Ten times better than any big city. People in the military like the West Texans. They enjoy West Texans being around them. They would rather fight alongside a West Texan than fight against one. I had to drive up to Abilene and take my test in Abilene and was shipped out from there also. I went ahead and joined up, and next thing I knew I was there. That is the way I looked at it. You should do your duty and be happy about it.
American stood for strength, and it did. I went there and I went there. You did what you were told when you were told to do it. Especially being in the Marines, you did what you were told when you were told to do it.
You just did what you were told, when you were told. My training was pure hell. I mean sixteen weeks of boot camp, then you got out and went to infantry training regiment, and … What do you think?
There was nothing to think about. Did you receive any training on the subject? Yeah, we did. We got back around to it. What I mean by that is, Vietnam culture, or history, or how to distinguish between the civilians and the enemies? And if you did, you always had somebody around you at the same time that was a marine also.
