Lawrence Vaillancourt: Combat Field Medic

By Victor Maurer, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Specialist 5th Class Lawrence Vaillancourt served as a medical records clerk and combat field medic attached to the 503rd Aviation Battalion in Germany during the Vietnam War. Born at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital to Marie and Chester Vaillancourt, he was raised in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago as the youngest of four boys.

Mr. Vaillancourt’s mother and father met in Chicago, while his father was working for the CTA. His mother was the daughter of Italian immigrants from Napoli, and his father was of French descent. As a young man he had moved from Massachusetts to Canada to take advantage of land grants for settlers in what was then Canada’s remote Western frontiers. Mr. Vaillaincourt’s father was a part of Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment within the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during World War I. His father-in-law, Nicholas Galatte, served during World War II in the South Pacific. Mr. Vaillancourt inherited a strong sense of patriotism and service which led him to enlist in the U.S. Army.

“There wasn’t much in the history books about Vietnam. It was just a place on the map.”

After Mr. Vaillancourt graduated from Austin High School in 1964, he volunteered to serve in the US Army. His father had always told him, “if you want to see the world, join the military and let them pay to have you go there.”So he enlisted in the US Army in June, 1964, and he reported to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  After AIT training, Mr. Vaillancourt returned to Fort Knox as a medical records clerk at the Ireland Army Hospital. He received a letter of commendation from his commander there, for steadfastly protecting company medical records from unauthorized access. 

In 1965, after one year of service in the United States, PFC Vaillancourt was called in by his Lieutenant  who explained to him that he had two sets of orders. One was the tour of Europe he had requested when he enlisted and the other was an undesirable reassignment. To accept the tour of Europe meant a 36 month enlistment. So he accepted the Europe option and was honorably discharged from the Army with a rank of PFC. He immediately re-enlisted for three more years, eventually reaching the rank of SPC/5 and earning a second honorable discharge in 1968. 

“It was really just luck of the draw.”  

Vaillancourt arrived in Europe in 1965, and was stationed at Fliegerhorst Army Kaserne just outside of Hanau, Germany. He was assigned to the medical records department where he supported 3 flight surgeons with four fellow GIs from his group out of the six who were assigned there. They lived in the old German WWII army barracks during that time, providing immunizations, running the dispensary, and handling all of the medical records as assigned. Vaillancourt’s specialty was giving immunizations. At the time, a simple penicillin shot was not so simple. It was a multi-step process to get the shot made up from sterile water and powder, and was administered in the hip. Because physical activity improved the prognosis after a shot, Vaillancourt recalls, “giving a shot was the only time you could tell an officer to do exercises.”

In time, men coming in need of immunization shots would come asking for him. “I must’ve been good,” he said. 

In 1967, Vaillancourt’s unit was disbanded and he was reassigned to the HHC 23rd Engineer Battalion. He was promoted to section chief, assuming responsibility when his supervising doctors were not there. 

Vaillancourt’s deployment ended in 1968. When he got off the plane in New York City, he kissed the ground and was met by some of his relatives but with little fanfare. He lived with his parents during their lifetimes in Wisconsin, helping his mother to cope after the death of his father in 1969. He moved to Chicago and became one of the first male students at Rosary College (now Dominican University) in 1971. Vaillancourt graduated in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and a greater prize, his wife Nicolette who he had first met as a student.

Vaillancourt continued on to seminary school at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo, Ontario, where he would receive his Masters in Divinity in 1978, thereby continuing on his path of service in a new and different vein. Vaillancourt had always had a strong belief in God, and even took the opportunity while in Germany to attend a religious retreat near Berchtesgaden (high in the Alps, and best known as the site of Hitler’s Eagles Nest). Vaillancourt credits one of his pastors for helping him find the ministry as a profession. Vaillancourt retired from pastoral work in 1996 to focus on family, but continues to serve God in his daily life.

When asked about his service, Vaillancourt reflects, “Everyone should serve. It teaches discipline, purpose, and a sense of accomplishment. I grew as a person in those four years.” He has a drawer full of Christmas cards from a family that he met in Germany; long time friendships and memories that have sustained him throughout his lifetime. 

Over the years, he has been encouraged to see popular attitudes shift from the chilly reception he and his fellow servicemen received to a warmer and prouder welcome. “I’ve been thanked more for my service in the last few years than in any of my life before,” he said. “The men and women who get out of the service now can walk a little taller than we could. That was taken away from us.” He takes particular delight in current servicemen and women thanking him for his service. “You paved the way for me,” they will often say. 

“I wonder why some people were selected to be sent to a battle zone and I wasn’t. Why not?” 

Vaillancourt feels proud of his service to his country, and isn’t done serving yet. Whenever given the opportunity, he speaks about his experience, and those of his peers. “It gives me a sense of pride to be able to say something to praise those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lie quietly in their graves so that we can live free,” he said.

“I am proud to be a veteran,” Vaillancourt said. Lawrence Vaillancourt lives in Westchester, Illinois with his wife Nicolette. He is looking forward to participating in Honor Flight #97, and thinks everyone ought to listen to Kate Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America.”  

Thank You Mr. Vaillancourt for your service. Enjoy your Honor Flight and day of honor in Washington DC.