Joseph Raftery Jr.: Demolition Specialist

By John Hanley, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

I met Joe at the Tinley Park VFW which is close to his home and a little more convenient for him. Joe has been active with the VFW for many years having served as Commander of the Orland Park Post as well as a member of the Worth Post of the American Legion. 

Joe was born and raised on Chicago’s southwest side and attended St. Rita Grammar School as well as St. Rita High School where he went on a basketball scholarship. He received basketball scholarships to both St. Rita and Brother Rice but his mother was working at the monastery at St. Rita so she “encouraged” Joe to go to St. Rita,. If he got into any trouble at school, his mom was the first to know so he couldn’t really hide too much. 

After graduating, Joe started working for the Santa Fe Railroad. While working for the railroad, in September of 1966, he received his draft notice to report for duty in the U.S. Army. He received his Basic Training at Fort Campbell in KY. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, MO and received his advanced training as a combat engineer. Training included bridge building, clearing areas, and general engineering. He was also trained in survival, mobility and counter mobility. 

In January of 1967, Joe shipped out to Southeast Asia and landed in Saigon Vietnam. After some in-country training, he was sent to the area of Pleiku in central Vietnam. He was assigned to the 4th Engineering Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division. Joe gained the added responsibility of being a demolition specialist and a promotion to Specialist 5. He was asked by the unit Captain if he would like to have this job. Joe said sure as it paid a little more money; after all Joe was to be married when he got back to the states after discharge. 

One of the jobs Joe was responsible for was “sweeping” the road every morning. This task meant that Joe walked along the road with a headset on while carrying a metal detector to find land mines. Once he encountered a mine, he was responsible for exploding it. He would often have to use what he referred to as a Bangalore torpedo tube. He would have to assemble an explosive charge within one or several connected tubes. This weapon was used to clear obstacles that would otherwise require him to approach directly. It was also referred to as a pole charge. 

Joe was also assigned to destroy a stockpile of ammunition that was confiscated from the enemy. Joe dug a hole in the ground and buried the ammunition then set a C-4 charge. Before he detonated the charge, he got behind a tree for some protection. But when it exploded, he was hit with some shrapnel in his hand. Joe was treated for the wound and asked if he wanted to be awarded a Purple Heart. Joe declined this award as he felt it was his own fault for the injury.

Joe’s unit of combat engineers was always the second one in; the infantry was the first in setting up a fire base clearing a perimeter. His combat engineers would then set up different types of defense such as trip wires and claymore mines that would go off if the enemy tried to attack or breach their line.  

After serving in Vietnam, Joe was set to return to the states. He flew home from Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. The flight returned to the states via the Philippines, Hawaii and finally landed in Seattle, WA. 

The greeting at the airport in Seattle was less than welcoming. War protesters were there to yell and scream and even spit on the servicemen returning from war. Joe stayed in Washington for maybe another week, then it was on to Chicago and family. He arrived at Midway Airport and took the 63rd St. bus a few miles to his parents’ home. 

Joe did marry his girlfriend, Patricia Lubben, at his childhood church, St. Rita; they honeymooned in the Pocono Mountains. After the honeymoon, it was back to Fort Leonard Wood for a little while before being transferred to Fort Sheridan near his home. While at Fort Sheridan, he worked as a draftsman and helped with surveying; he also worked cleaning up files and storing various drawings. 

After being discharged, Joe returned to his job at the Santa Fe Railroad. He would work for them for another 30 years before retiring. Unfortunately, Joe’s wife Patricia passed away almost twenty years ago leaving their four children, Joseph John, Kevin, Jennifer and Sean in Joe’s care. After retiring from the railroad, Joe went to work as a furniture salesman for JCPenney in Orland Park. About 2 years ago, love came back into Joe’s life and her name is Kate Sibley. 

Joe’s health has been affected the last several years from having been exposed like so many others while in Vietnam to the chemical Agent Orange. Joe is currently being treated at Hines VA for these and other health issues. 

I assured Joe that we cannot make up for the way he was treated on his return to the states many years ago. But he will finally get a hero’s welcome courtesy of Honor Flight Chicago.