STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of 1LT Jack Downing, U.S. Army (1968-1973)

I was living in Casper, WY, and received my draft notice. I was to report to my Draft Board in San Antonio, TX. I got my physical in Denver, Colorado, and reported to the Draft Board. I decided to see what kind of deal I could get if I joined the Army, Navy, or Air Force. I chose the Army and went to OCS; I reported to Fort Dix, NJ, and began my Basic Training. I excelled in the training and was awarded “Trainee of the Post.” I then went to AIT, followed by OCS. After OCS, I went to Jump School and then the Special Forces school at Fort Bragg. Then to Vietnam, where I was attached to the First Air Cavalry.

I was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens, Massachusetts when I returned from Vietnam. I was on the ORT committee, instructing snow skiing. During night training, I broke my right leg, resulting in a 23 months stay in and out of military hospitals, four surgeries, and consequently, shortening of my leg by 1.5″ and a crooked deformity at the break site. The shortness of my leg resulted in restrictions of jumping from aircraft and, consequently, my desired career path, so I separated from the Army on February 23, 1973.

The biggest operation was when the First Air Cav went into Cambodia. My platoon went in with 28 men and came out with 12. I saw quite a bit of combat, and those experiences have left a great impression on me. Some negatively and some positively. Negatively, it kept me from getting to know my fellow men too closely as they could be KIA at the next conflict. What I learned that has impressed me most is the ability to prioritize my life and taught me the value of life and what was more important.

My platoon and another one were in Cambodia and were checking out a series of hooches that ended up having bunkers under them. We received fire from three sides and took on heavy B-40 rocket fire, where several of my men, including myself, were wounded. Upon withdrawal from the complex and counting heads, the other platoon had one man missing. I let four other men back into the bunker complex to find him. It was totally dark and required flares to be dropped from the aircraft overhead to be able to maneuver. We expected to take fire, but for some reason, the gooks withheld any encounter. We didn’t find the man that night, but two days later. He had been wounded in combat, captured by the NVA, strung up on a tree, and shot in the head.

I was on top of a firebase on Nui Ba Ra in III Corp along the Cambodian border. It was New Year’s night, and at midnight, I was surrounded by thousands of flares and gunfire out in the jungle. It looked like I was surrounded by hundreds of birthday cakes, and all the candles were lit at once.

My worse memory was on May 28, 1970, when I was involved in a large firefight in a bunker complex in Cambodia. Everyone in a squad of my platoon, and a squad of another platoon, including myself, were wounded – mostly by B-40 rockets. Upon retreating, a head count was made, and one man from the other platoon had been wounded and left inside the bunker complex. I lead a group of 4 volunteers back into the complex, in complete darkness due to night, to search for the man. He was found two days later, tied to a tree with a single gunshot wound to the head.

I continue to be disturbed by the events on May 28, 1970, in Cambodia, where over 24 men were wounded in a skirmish inside a bunker complex. After withdrawing from the area, a head count was made, and one man from the 2nd platoon was missing, Anders, the machine gunner. I led four men back into the bunker complex in the dark to search for Anders. After about 15 minutes, I was recalled by the Company Commander as he was concerned we might lose more men searching for Anders. That event has troubled me since May 28.

I served with the Special Forces and First Air Cavalry. In Vietnam, there was not a single man under my command that was killed. Several were wounded, but no one was a Line 1.

I was put in for a Silver Star for actions on May 28, 1970, in Vietnam, but it was downgraded to a Bronze Star with a “V” device. It represented a heroic action in combat.

Emmett Wilson III was a good friend and combat leader. He had a very positive attitude.

James Wright, Captain and Company Commander of C Company, 2/12 First Air Cavalry. He was very conscientious, and after the war, he maintained contact with several of the men under his command and kept us informed as to the benefits of the military as well as events that periodically take place in units I had been attached to.

Emmett Wilson III – Good friend, outgoing personality; In touch

James Wright – good leader, in touch

Dan Polowy, good friend, RIP

“DOC” Teddy Thompson – Friend, can’t locate him

Mick Moynihan – good friend, in contact

Russ Berry, medic – good friend, in contact

We were in Cambodia. We had to cross a wide stream without getting wet. I found a large tree and hoped to fall it across the stream and walk across. After hours of cutting, placing C-4 in the notch in the tree I cut and blasted it, the tree fell parallel to the stream and not across it. I received many hoots and laughs from that experience. We all ended up getting wet in the stream.

I was trained as a geologist before being drafted, and after my service, I continued to work in the oil industry. I worked in several areas around the world, primarily Scotland, England, S. Africa, Egypt, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, and India. I retired in 2011 and moved from Houston, TX, to Bulverde, TX.

It has taught me how to prioritize and what is important in life. What I miss most is the friendships I had with people who shared the Vietnam experience with me. I also liked the regimentation and accountability. Finally, I enjoyed some of the experiences I was exposed to in Vietnam. And quite frankly, the flow of adrenalin in a firefight.

Don’t be afraid to volunteer for different assignments and step out and do different things. Don’t wait for someone to tell you to do something; if you see something that needs to be done or fixed, do it!

It has given me the opportunity to reminisce and reflect on times in my life that had a lot of influence on who I am today.