U.S. Army   Vietnam War   Griffith, IN  Flight date: 08/18/21

By George Mills, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Ed, or Turtle as everyone refers to him, is 76 years young and grew up in Lombard, Illinois with his only sister, June.  In 1967, he was working for a music company and received his draft notice for the Army.  He took this challenge on by himself, since none of his friends were interested in entering the military with him.  He was assigned to Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  After completion of Basic, he was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for artillery training.  

Everything was moving quickly as he was being prepared to be sent to Vietnam. After artillery training, he was given just a three day leave to return home to Lombard. During that leave, his girlfriend at the time, Chris, who later became his wife, had everything planned for them to get married. Ed (he had not received the nickname of Turtle yet) was reluctant because he knew he was headed to Vietnam. So he told Chris if “I make it back then we will get married.” 

After his leave, Ed flew to Clark Field in the Philippines and then to Vietnam.  As soon as he landed, he was assigned to a combat artillery group with the Army 1st Infantry, known as the “bloody red one.” He spent the next year living in the jungle with only an occasional day in a tent with a cot to sleep on. During his combat time in the field, different units would pass by and ask for volunteers to help them in the missions. Ed and his good buddy, Leonard Catfish O’Kelley,  did what everyone says you should not do – they volunteered! 

Because of their willingness to volunteer and put themselves in harm’s way, which they did many times, Ed received the Bronze Star.  Ed humbly says he still doesn’t know why he was awarded this high honor, but when his Captain said “I am putting you in for the Bronze Star,” he was not about to argue. We are sure the Captain knows more about this story than Ed is telling us.

In recalling his days and nights in the jungle, Ed says “When it rained that is when we took a shower!”  While in the Jungle, he remembers constant ambushes with artillery, ground fire and the sounds of Huey helicopters.  For the entire time there they ate only C-Rations.  After eight months in the jungle , he finally received R&R (Rest & Recreation) for five days. They were sent to Tokyo where they could let out their frustrations of the past eight months.

During his time in Vietnam, the only communications with his family were letters he received. They were usually delivered  during dinner time and were a welcome break from the jungle. When his tour was over, and he had thankfully survived, he was assigned to Fort. Bragg, NC.  Before reporting there, Chris and Ed got married as he had promised.

At Fort Bragg, Ed and Chris lived in a trailer camp of mostly GI’S. It was here that he received a promotion to the rank of Specialist 5.  Ed is proud of his service, but in the past ten years he has been diagnosed with Agent Orange and has had to  have three ribs removed along with part of his lung and is on 100% disability.  Ed says “everyone knows when we were brought back we were treated like the enemy,” so he feels good that his fellow Vietnam veterans are finally getting their  due!  

After the service, Ed and his wife Chris proudly raised five children, Eddie, Lisa, Joe, Nick and Pete.  Today they enjoy fourteen wonderful grandchildren.  When asked why everyone now calls him Turtle, he explains  “when our children were little, and because there were so many of us, we would go camping with friends. We were always the last family to get set up and the last family to leave.” Thus their friends nicknamed him “Turtle.”

Ed explains their move from Lombard to Griffith, IN came right after the service when he answered an ad for a job in East Chicago, IN. He remembers telling Chris that “I don’t even know where that is!” But fifty-four years later, they still live and enjoy living in Griffith. Ed worked one year as a pipefitter before taking a job with a grain elevator in Hammond as a mechanic.

Being disabled has allowed Turtle plenty of time to pursue his hobbies which include working on old engines.  He also serves as Chaplain for VFW Post 9982. 

Thank you for your service, Ed.  Enjoy your Honor Flight day with your fellow heroes!