SERVICE Spotlight A Marine helps his own Vietnam veteran turns to DAV for help with lasting effects of war Dennis Reichert, Vietnam veteran By Matt Saintsing D ennis Reichert struggles daily with what he experienced in Vietnam. Memories of fierce combat haunt the Marine, as do images of the weapons, flak jackets and canteens stacked row after row, each representing an American injured or killed on the battlefield. Reichert enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966, after one year of college. He was motivated to go to Vietnam after learning about the plight of South Vietnamese civilians. “I read the stories in the paper, and I was going to try to save people from being enslaved by communism,” he said. “That’s the main reason I enlisted in the Marine Corps, to save South Vietnamese.” After boot camp and infantry training, he got his wish and found himself in South Vietnam, not far from the North Vietnamese border, which proved to be a dangerous area. “The enemy would come straight over the border, or they would go west through Cambodia and Laos,” recalled Reichert. One day, in particular, stands out as especially traumatizing. While passing through the coastal city of Huế, Reichert noticed a distinctive stench filling the air, becoming more horrid with each passing step. As his element turned a corner, he saw the source of the smell: a dead body that had been steamrolled by tank treads. “That was my first time smelling and seeing real death,” said Reichert. It would not be his last. Going on patrol, coming into enemy contact and calling in air support became routine occurrences. To keep eyes on enemy movement, the noxious herbicide Agent Orange was sprayed to clear the area of vegetation. “ In my heart and mind, I feel like I won a battle for this individual.” —Michael Franko, national service officer 6 DAV MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 | DAV.ORG
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A Marine helps his own
Matt Saintsing
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