Mark Paloolian - Recon By Fire: Fighting with the 1ST BN 5TH (MECH) Infantry in Vietnam

RECON BY FIRE

Fighting with the 1ST BN (MECH) 5TH Infantry in Vietnam

2019 Mark Paloolian. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information and retrieval systems without written permission of the publisher.

Published by Hellgate Press

(An imprint of L&R Publishing, LLC)

Hellgate Press

PO Box 3531

Ashland, OR 97520

email: info@hellgatepress.com

Interior & Cover Design: L. Redding

Back cover photo: Sunset over the Mekong Delta by M. Paloolian

Cataloging In Publication Data is available from the publisher upon request.

ISBN: 978-1-55571-939-5 (paperback); 978-1-1-55571-940-1 (e-book)

Printed and bound in the United States of America

First edition 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

RECON BY FIRE is the personal story of US Army Infantryman Mark Paloolians personal experiences in the 1960s Draft Army including his induction, training and time as a working Infantryman on the ground in Vietnam jungle combat, and what he faced upon his return to civilian life as the America he had left reacted to a volatile changing world. Mark captures great emotion in his colorful writing...His take is from the view of a slightly naive young American not yet jaded by the political or business world. His descriptions of human emotions are vivid. He takes us through physical scenes and situations from panic and terror to out and out laughter. Our understanding is much enhanced by his careful use of photographs from his personal collection taken throughout his time in uniform. This is more than a personal memoir: It is a documentation of a piece of American Expeditionary History many of the era passed through. Marks writing style is easy to read and draws you in from the first. I highly recommend it for all ages, starting from the high school level. It is a piece of history not to be missed.

Stewart Crane, Reno, NV; Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Books about the combat experience in Viet Nam can give some readers reason to pause, or even pass right on by. But, Mark Paloolians recounting of his Vietnam experience from 1966 to 1968 is an engaging and riveting read that anyone can enjoy. Mark is a natural story teller with a talent for creating compelling narratives.

Will McCarthy, Reno, NV; Artist,

Graduate from Humboldt State University

From Army Boot Camp to Vietnam, Mark Paloolian tells the story of being an APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) driver during combat operations in Vietnam. His first-hand experience helps the reader understand the danger and fear experienced by every soldier when out on patrol. Another great book on the sacrifices made by all the men and women who served in Vietnam.

Gary Lamoureaux, Pittsfield, MA; U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Vice President, Pittsfield Community College

An interesting and easy read...I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Vietnam conflict and war in general.

Bob Willour, Grass Valley, CA; U.S. Forest Service (Ret.)

Mark Paloolian takes readers from his college campus to being drafted into the US Army, to Basic Training and finally his duty in Vietnam. While at times very graphic and raw, Marks book also has humorous moments. [Its]...a wonderful example of what thousands of United States service men and women experienced during that time. Anyone interested in United States history and the Vietnam War will enjoy Mark Paloolian's account of serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Don Hartman, Davis, CA; Historian, Retired Instructor

RECON BY FIRE is the engaging account of a young soldiers tour of duty during the Vietnam War. The memoir recounts his experiences from basic training at Fort Ord in August of 1966, to his civilian return to Vietnam twenty-one years later. Each stage of his tour is described in a separate chapter, much like a series of short stories. The stories are told in a vivid manner and accompanied by photos that reinforce and enhance the narrative. For those who served in Vietnam, Recon by Fire should bring back a lot of memories. For those who didnt, it should give them a keen sense of what they missed.Well done, soldier!

Craig S., Toronto, Canada; Former University Instructor and Special Services Consultant

Having spent a number of years working in mental health at the VA, Ive heard many stories about time spent in-country memories, mostly laden with grief and trauma, of our veterans who served in Vietnam during the 60s and 70s. But nothing I heard in all those years comes close to the...very personal narrative of Mark Paloolian about the year he spent during the Vietnam war. Mark paints a vivid picture of events both terrifying and mundane that took place during his tour of duty, and punctuates many of his stories with personal photographs as well...Mark recalls in crisp detail his experiences from induction into the Army during the summer of 1966, to his flight home to civilian life in late spring 1968. And he then adds a bonus chapter about his return to Vietnam as a civilian tourist, 31 years later... profoundly insightful...an excellent read for anyone who wants to know what that period of our national history was really like!

Wendy McClave, CA; LCSW

RECON BY FIRE is an engaging personal story of the misery and monotony of the civil war in Vietnam between 1965 and 1973. Mark Paloolian recounts his 365 days in country as a United States Army draftee. Reading his vignettes are akin to sitting around a campfire listening to one story after another...Worth the read, it is an excellent concise description of the Vietnam war as seen, heard, smelled, and experienced by one of Americas unsung heroes who put his life on the line so the rest of us at home could enjoy the creature comforts and a good nights sleep knowing he was taking one for the team. Mark, thank you for your service to our country.

Bill Elliott, CA; Geologist

This true-life military experience is dedicated to the memory of John L. Lane (1942-2018), a former U.S. Army paratrooper who left us far too early. John was the ultimate patriot and served his country honorably for three years in the 1960s. His knowledge and skill would serve him well in later years as a civil engineer for the State of Nevada. It was an honor to be Johns friend for over fifty years. Rest in peace!

CHAPTER ONE
The Beginning

CHAPTER TWO
Advanced Individual Training, Fort Polk, Louisiana

CHAPTER THREE
Temporary Duty at Fort Knox, Kentucky

CHAPTER FOUR
The Republic of Vietnam: the Journey Begins

CHAPTER FIVE
In the Field and Bridge Security

CHAPTER SIX
The First Firefight and Adrenaline Rush

CHAPTER SEVEN
Injury and Death

CHAPTER EIGHT
A Lucky Break

CHAPTER NINE
Combat Mechanics

CHAPTER TEN
The Tet Offensive

CHAPTER ELEVEN
A Violent Year

CHAPTER TWELVE
Thirty-one Years Later: My Civilian Return to Vietnam

APPENDIX A
Vietnam War (1955-1975) Statistics

APPENDIX B
Military Draft Conscription Numbers (1917-1973)

In peace the sons bury their fathers,

but in war the fathers bury their sons.