The Christy Collection
Military Stories and Articles
My draft board selected me twice for service while I was attempting to get my college degree. The first time in December 1966, I was able to receive a deferment through the end of the school year. Then, in the summer of 1967, I received the next draft notice and reported on August 27th.
Which individual(s) from your time in the military stand out as having had the most positive impact on you and why?:
Several heroes had a positive impact on my ability to survive some of the heaviest battles by Marines in the Vietnam War. My Senior DI at Parris Island, S/Sgt Leroy Elliott, named me the second most deserving of promotion to PFC in my Platoon 138. The Honor Marine was a contract journeyman butcher and deservingly so! Promoted to Gunny Elliott, he was killed on May 8, 1967, at Con Thien. My first Platoon Sergeant in Vietnam was S/Sgt Guy Hodgkins, who was Killed in Action on September 3, 1966. He spent a lot of time with me discussing VC tactics he had encountered and what I could expect as a squad leader.
