Where did you serve and what did you do?

Twenty-four years total service in Air Force. Cam Ranh Bay Vitenam 1968. Called back to Air Force Active Duty right AFTER 9/11/2001 and served one more year active duty. Four years total Honorable Service DD-214 Received Second DD-214 Honorable Discharge Fuel Specialist refuling Aircraft on Flight Line Air Police Hanscom AFB Bedford, Masss Total Service Five Yearts Active Duty 19 years Reserve Status..

How are you Still Serving?

By keeping the memory of a 19 year old Navy Hospital Corpsman, Alan R. Gerrish, alive. Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for trying to save a gravely wounded Marine while serving with the 3rd Marine MP Battalion just south of Danang Airbase. My Best Friend while we were growing up together. An attempt of North Vietnam Regulars to penetrate Danang Airbase required portions of the 3rd MP Battalion to respond AS BACK UP for South Vietnamese Troops who were given the primary responsibility to repel the NVA. When South Vietnamese Troops saw U.S. Marines coming as their Back Up the Vietnamese then THREW DOWN THEIR WEAPONS and RAN FROM THE BATTLEFIELD. LEAVING MARINES THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPEL THE NVA. Alan R. Gerrish saw a wounded Marine go down and did not hesitate to respond to provide medical attention. While running towards the wounded Marine a NVA Hand Grenade went off which peppered Alan’s Legs with shrapnel. His wounds, at that time, were serious, but not lethal. Alan then chose to disregard his own wounds and used his elbows to drag himself to the location of the wounded Marine. Although Alan could have taken cover in an open Foxhole near where he was wounded and taken care of his own wounds. And without any loss of face for doing so. Alan then used his Elbows to drag himself to the loction of the wounded Marine. Who was under fire from an NVA Sniper at the time. Upon reaching the Marine, Alan used his own body to try to shield the Marine from the incoming fire and began First Aid. While providing the First Aid, Alan then received three AK-47 rounds in his Lower Torso. Alan, knowing the severity of his own wounds, STILL REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIS OWN WOUNDS and continued to provide First Aid to the Marine. Finally Alan sucomed to his wounds. But before doing so then used his last bit of strength and completely THROW HIMSELF OVER THE WOUNDED MARINE to further protect the Marine. When other Marine Units were able to take out the NVA Sniper, they then reached the position of Alan and the Wounded Marine. Alan was still completely draped over the Marine. Alan was then taken to an In Counry Aid Station where his wounds were found to be too severe to be treated in the field. He was then Stabilized and transported to the Hospital Ship “Sanctuary” which was moored off the coast of Danang Airbase. Alan lived two weeks, without Kidneys and his Small Intestine, which had both been destroyed by the Sniper Rounds. Alan DIED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1968—JUST TWO DAYS SHORT OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS TWENTIETH BIRTHDAY. I know that all the above information is completely correct. Because when I returned from Vietnam myself, I went to see Alan’s Father and Mother. I was given one of Alan’s Dog Tags which I now wear as a commemoration of our friendship. I was also given a copy of Alan’s Navy Cross Citation which spells out everything that I have previously told in this “STILL SERVING TODAY information.

Why do you do it?

Because Alan R. Gerrish was my Best Buddy and I know that if the situations were reversed, Alan would have done the same thing for me. I will never forget our friendship. THEY SAY THAT IF A PERSON’S EVENTS ARE KEPT ALIVE BY OTHERS HE WILL NEVER TRUELY DIE. So I tell Alan’s Story to whomever will listen to it. Every chance I get. I hope that you will see fit to keep Alan R. Gerrish alive by keeping his memory alive in VFW records. I HAVE NO PICTURES OF ALAN R. GERRISH TO SUBMIT TO THE VFW. I HOPE THAT ALL THIS TIME THAT I TOOK IN COMPILING THIS INFORMATION WILL NOT BE IN VAIN!!!