I'm in the Army Now

Carl James Stubbs 1964

I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Vietnam war. It was called a war and people were shooting at each other, but no war was ever declared. It was really a police action, but it sure seemed like a war. Well anyway, because I was on a mission, I received a deferment. When I returned, I was listed as 1A and even though I was a college student, I was to be sent to Los Angles, California to an enlistment center for a physical and mental test. All of those going from southern Nevada were to meet at the bus depot one morning.

There were three buses to transport us to California to a large facility for the testing. There were close to ninety of us on three buses. I wasn’t sure that I would even pass, because of my poor eyesight, and the orthostatic hypotension, which means I pass out if I stand at attention. The first night we were all put up in a hotel close to the testing center. I had someone who was supposed to be in the room with me, but never showed up. Many went out and got drunk.

The physical test was quick and we moved along quickly. There was a test for eyesight; they told me to keep my glasses on, and I shouldn’t worry, the Army would provide me with new ones. There was no test for hypotension, so I passed that part of the test with flying colors. Apparently, I passed the rest of the physical; I had two feet, two legs, two arms, two hands, one head, and a set of testicles. The physical was over and apparently, I had passed.

The next part took place in a classroom setting. Desks were set up in a large gymnasium, tests and pencils were passed out, and a moderator with a microphone started shouting out instructions. I think he was a frustrated drill instructor whose wife had left him, and he didn’t have any troops at home to yell at, so he was making the best of the situation. The test started up. It had a reading and math test along with what I thought might be a mental test.

Like I said, there were about ninety of us that went down to be tested. We all came back to Las Vegas, but only four of us had passed and were now perfectly eligible for the draft. I had no real desire to go to Vietnam, but it looked like that was where I was headed and quickly. Being somewhat of a coward when it comes to being shot at, the first thing I did was to go the nearest National Guard unit in Las Vegas. There they were happy to have me join, and so I received a uniform, boots and some other stuff.  What they wanted me for was to be a company clerk. No one there could type anything that came across the major’s desk. I had taken a type class in high school and was really good at it. I think that is why I was termed essential, and after taking an oath of allegiance to the government of the United States, I was a real soldier.

I soon found out that any connection between what I had seen or read about a soldier was not actually correct. The major worked at a casino in Las Vegas and his boss was the sergeant that I knew from Boulder City. His father was the reverend of the Community Church in Boulder. We were good friends in this unit of total misfits. We were supposed to be a supply outfit, but we had nothing to supply and nowhere to supply it.

This was also about the time of the Watts riots in California. The National Guard was called out to make sure that type of thing didn’t happen in Las Vegas. We were issued rifles and live ammunition and set up on certain streets to make sure that no one crossed over from the west into the other side of town. After things settled down, and we went back to turn in the weapons, we cleaned them, and then went to the armory. The usual statement was, “They aren’t clean enough. Take them back and do it over.”

I went back and started to clean my rifle again, and my new friend and sergeant said, “Just wait awhile, and we’ll go play a game of pool, and then come back and turn in the rifles.” So we did.

This time the person taking the rifles back said, “That looks better,” and he took the weapon and checked it off. I hadn’t done anything to it. I think it was just part of a game they were playing.

The unit went out into the desert to play war games. We arrived between Vegas and Lake Mead. We set up camp and then were all given different colors to wear on our uniforms. Then we were given instructions what to do. I was getting ready, and the sergeant came over and handed me a twenty-five-foot extension cord with a small box attached. I asked what it was for, and he said that with this I would not need to stand at attention, dig a fox hole or do any other job. I was just to carry this cord and small box around when I wanted to go somewhere, and if stopped, say that I was taking it to the sergeant.

The major thought that it would be a good idea to treat the troops to a beer. He sent me and two other soldiers along with a driver to a store to make a purchase. It was a great thing for me, because the only store on that road leading to the lake was a 7-11, which was my store. They cleaned me out of beer. We took it all back to camp, and almost everyone drank quite a lot. One of the sides won the little war game that we were playing. I’m not sure who. They were all pretty sad looking troops as we headed back. As a side note my store sold more beer than any other store in Las Vegas that month. As a reward I won free keg of beer. I gave it to my assistant manager. That may be another story.

Our unit was sent to Vietnam to do some real supply. In the meantime, I had broken my back in a car wreck and was no longer wanted in the National Guard. I ended up in the 2^nd Army reserve and never made it to Vietnam, which was totally alright with me.

I do have the utmost appreciation for those who fought and died and those that came home to a less than welcome homecoming. They protected me and my family and I am grateful.