REFLECTIONS of
VIE TNAM
HONORING OUR LOCAL VETERANS
Photo by Harry Gerwien
Johnny Golden’s military life began on July 24, 1969, when
he was inducted into the U.S. Army in Richmond. By the beginning of 1970, he would find himself in the jungles of Vietnam where he would spend 10.5 months of his 11.5 month tour in combat in the bush. After layovers in Hawaii and Guam, he arrived in Vietnam in January of 1970. He describes the airport as a “crude structure of steel beams and cobalt.” He talks about the bus ride to Long-Bien and seeing “fields that once harvested crops ... charred and piles of ashes and rubbish replaced homes. Large craters indicated the aftermath of artillery and mortar attacks.” After he arrived in Long-Bien, Golden was assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Division, B-Company. His final destination was Bien-Hoa. His first combat assault with his company was a day of many firsts: first combat assault, first helicopter ride, first ambush, first Soldier killed. “We had a safe landing, no problems, until we hit the jungle. [We] ran into an ambush in heavy jungle and engaged a company sized enemy unit. Cavalry field artillery soon pounded their position and heavy cobra fire swept down putting pressure on them causing them to withdraw,” he says. “It was totally chaotic, bullets were whizzing, there was screaming ... and a cry rang out for the medic. Someone had gotten shot ... we sustained one casualty. Our point man had gotten shot and died.” Top Photo: Grunts to the end. Mr “E” and Mr “G” Golden went on to Middle Photo: “In the bush. ‘Bro’ John” earn the Air Medal for participating in over 50 Bottom Photo: “I’m working too hard! (ha! ha!) Back on combat aerial flights, a the ‘LZ’”. ‘LZ’ stands for “landing zone” where Golden spent time in between missions in the jungle. Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement, a Combat Infantry Badge, and two Army Commendation Medals for Heroism. His unit was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and a Valorous Unit Citation. In one incident for which Golden received a heroism medal, his Battalion of 11 men was assigned to operate in the field for 30 days. They went 27 days without making any contact. In less than one hour on the 28th day, five men were dead and three injured. Golden was instrumental in arranging the medical evacuation (MedVac) for the casualties and the injured. After 10 months and 15 days in the bush, Golden got some good news. He was receiving a 30-day reduction in his tour. He would be home in time for Christmas, 1970. “The war in Vietnam made me more aware and appreciative of the little things in life: hot meals, a shower and sleeping in a bed,” he says. “I had no idea I could go through what I had and survive.” He was discharged in July of 1971. In September of that same year, Golden started as a housekeeping aide with the Department of Veterans Medical Center in Hampton. He retired as a Quality Assurance Specialist with the VA 37.5 years later. Currently, he chairs the Hampton Clean City Commission. He is very active in his church, the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple, and with the veterans’ community in the area.
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