In continuing with our “View of a Veteran - Freedom is Not Free” series we had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Robert (Rob) G. Rottkamp.
Name: Robert G. Rottkamp (Rob)
Birth Date: 2/21/1947
Hometown: Garden City, L.I. New York
Current Town: Southeast Brewster, New York (since 1974)
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Specialist 5
The Beginning
Why did you join? Drafted in July of 1967
Why did you pick the service branch you joined? I didn’t pick I was Drafted. When I finished College (Mechanical Engineering) in 1967 I was pretty sure I would be Drafted as Vietnam was going full bore and my Draft Board was desperately trying to make quotas. I went down to the Navy recruiter and took the Navy examination, passed with flying colors and was placed on a 10 week waiting list, during that timeframe I received my draft notice to appear for service in the United States Army at that time the wait list for the Navy did not prevent you from being drafted.
Do you recall your first days in service? Yes vividly did my basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. We went down there by train from Penn Station and were housed for the six-week Basic training in dilapidated WWII Barracks that we had to make do in, dilapidated as they were!
Experiences
Which war(s) did you serve in? The Vietnam Conflict
Where exactly did you go? Everyone that went to Vietnam was assigned to an Infantry Division and then by their MOS (skills). My primary MOS was a machinist, my secondary MOS was Vehicle and Tank Recovery. I was assigned to the First Infantry Division (the Big Red One) in Di An Vietnam.
Do you remember arriving and what it was like? Yes, we flew from San Francisco via Alaska on a Flying Tigers huge four-engine Jet aircraft with a load or around 300 G. I.s. It was a 16-hour flight with one brief stop to refuel in Alaska. We landed at Bien Hoa airport in Vietnam and we were shuttled quickly off the plane as there were some rockets coming in on the far end of the airport…..we were all terrified as the ground vibrated every time one landed. The runways were a marvel of engineering as the airport was made of huge square blocks of concrete which when damage could be removed and replaced very easily. We were all now off the plane and our baggage (one FULL duffel bag each) were stacked in a Huge triangle pile on the side of a building in the mud, the pile was at least 30 high and just like a full flow faucet it started pouring rain and the bottom 2 rows of duffels bags started sinking lower and lower in the mud we all stood there staring at them hoping that our own bag was not at the bottom, in addition, we bore the stares of the seasoned looking Soldiers who just stared at us and shook their heads as they loaded on the sitting plane (in minutes) doors closed, it spun around and it took off with a giant roar. We were IN Vietnam for better or worse!
What was your job/assignment? I was assigned to the Big Red One as previously stated specifically to the 701st Maintenance Division in Di An (which is in Southern Vietnam) basically in the Delta. Everyone in the 1st Infantry Division upon arriving in Vietnam must go to “Jungle School” which is an advanced Infantry Training school where go on real sorties into the Jungle during the night and day and learn from in-county experienced veteran soldiers what war is like in Vietnam and the deadly resolve of our Vietcong enemy . This school was put in place was because we were losing way too many green soldiers in their first couple of months in country. It did not take long to change you from young street boy to a fight ready soldier.
Tell me about a couple of your most memorable experiences. I had many since, besides my machine shop duties, I ran convoy to and from our Base Camp in Di An to our sister Camp Lai Khe every three days. This was roughly a three-hour journey through enemy territory. I drove a 5-ton wrecker with three spare Tractors (Trucks with no trailers attached). The convoy did NOT stop for any reason so when a loaded Deuce and one half or Tractor Trailer combo broke down, I had to quickly hook it to my 5 Ton wrecker or break the Trailer from the Tractor and hitch one of the spare Tractors to the Trailer and keep moving. Minutes were like hours and when you in the open and alone you were a sitting duck. I received special permission to carry a 38 special Colt revolver so I could shoot out the window of my wrecker while driving since it was impossible to shot the M16 and handle the wrecker at the same time…. This drove the officers crazy since they were the only individuals who were issued handguns (45 auto’s). In addition to this, I was always assigned a partner (shotgun passenger) who had an M16 for added firepower.
Were you awarded any medals or citations? Yes, everyone who served honorably received I believe it was called a Vietnam Merit Award, I was also awarded the Soldiers Medal for Bravery for action not involving the enemy. I was also awarded the 1st Infantry Division Soldier of the Month Award for July 1969.
How did you get them? In addition to my duties with running convoy my other Service and Recovery assignment was an M88 Recovery Tank we were support for the 1st Air Cavalry and it was our mission to assist them in any way possible so when an M48 Tank was disabled, hit by an RPG Rocket or blow-up by a landmine we had the task of retrieving it and getting it back to base. In addition, we were basically “on call” for any accidents or need for support. In Vietnam, there were NO completely safe havens but the U.S. Base Camps were the safest place to be especially at night when 90% of the fighting and hostilities occurred…. The roads in the delta were lifted 15-20 feet high off the rice patties and were made of packed Laterite (which is like a thick clay material) this then was coated with Tar which made a pretty good road surface… the downside was that it was very slick when wet and normally it did nothing but rain, especially during the rainy season. Everyone and I mean everyone made every effort to get into the Base Camps prior to darkness. If you did not you were left on your own outside the camp basically in no man’s land. Every Base Camp closed their gates at darkness and the perimeter barb wire, and defenses were armed till daylight… there was no one going in or going out regardless of rank or position……. no exceptions….. Generally speaking, panic creeped-in when darkness was approaching and you were X amount of miles between you and the nearest Base Camp. One evening 3-4 miles outside of Di An a Deuce and One half canvas Cabbed Truck comes around a corner going way fast and ran head-on into an M48 Tank coming the other way. The tank went right on top of the truck instantly killing 1 of the 2 GI’s in the Truck, by a miracle of vast proportion the remaining soldier was still alive buried under the tank in an air pocket in the mud. We were called to assist and responded with the wrecker and the M88 Tank, our team was successful in getting the M48 Tank winched up enough to get the surviving soldier out alive. There was a Major present at the accident and he submitted the award.
What was life like in the service? “Three hots and a cot”, very regimented, the guys were great and we were all very proud to be doing Service for our Country. We worked full 12-16 hour days 6-7 days a week and were lucky if we got one day off every 2-3 weeks.
How did you stay in touch with your family? Mostly mail which was free for incoming and outgoing. Mail call was a life saver, my Mom and Dad would send me “care” packages from home containing goodies which we all enjoyed and share. I made the mistake once of sending back a tape I made not realizing that in the background the loud noises of war occasional gunfire and helicopters could clearly be heard and this put my Mom into a minor panic attack.
Where did you travel while in the service? My first year of service I did in Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Denver Colorado which was excellent duty working in the Machine Shop with Civilians. This is the site where they de-fused WWII Mustard Gas bombs and other ammunition from WWII. I also spent 3 months in Sacramento California working for the Secret Service prior to coming down on orders to Go to Vietnam.
What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers? You mean my Brothers…. Enough said!
After Service
Do you recall the day your service ended? For Vietnam Drafted Veterans your Service commitment ended after your tour in Vietnam if you were not close to the end of your 2-year commitment you could extend a few months over there and then you did not have to do any service related commitment upon your return. I was within 30 days of my 2 yrs. So I was Honorably Discharged upon my return.
Where were you? Landed in California (Fort Ord). I wasn’t expecting a “hero’s welcome” but was not expecting to be treated like cattle…. We didn’t even have a place to sleep, took a couple of days to process out and we were forced to sleep on bleachers…. Unbelievable. Finally got a processed-out and got a ticket to JFK.
What did you do in the days and weeks afterward? The Touch down at JFK was one of the greatest experiences of my life I will never forget that feeling of relief and excitement! I had called my parents to let them know what flight I would be arriving on. I was walking down one of the long corridors at JFK with other returnee’s, saw my Mom and Dad, they walk right past me then stopped turned around my Mom said OMG and ran to embrace me. I was back in the world. My normal weight is around 185 lbs. When I came back soaking wet my weight was 135 lbs and I was covered from head to foot in ringworms (which I got rid of by sprinkling the Army Foot Powder on me from head to foot after ever shower….. only thing that worked!)
Did you work or go back to school? Took two weeks off, my Mom made me turkeys until I couldn’t eat anymore. My family saved my life the public support was non-existent and very negative which shocked me I ditched everything related to the military and said and did nothing military related for 15- 20 years. I was really upset and embarrassed.
Did you make any close friendships while in the service? Yes but they had the same post-military experience and two did not have the strong family support I did, one went to drugs and eventually insanity, another drove his sports car off a cliff.
Did you continue any of those relationships? No
VFW Post 672 Service,
Why did you join the post? The biggest reason was my perception that the general public has come to realize that the Vietnam Vets did what they had to do the same as generations before we did and continues to do.
How has it helped you? My comrades at the Post are great, we all support each other and the Community.
Have you ever or do you hold a position for the post? I am currently the Senior Vice Commander at VFW Post 672, Brewster, NY
What is your favorite event/activity in the post that you participate in and why? I love the Memorial day Parade Ceremony, the Brewster Founders and Loyalty Day Celebration, Brewster Middle and High School Veteran’s day and the annual placement of our country Flags on our fallen hero’s graves at the local cemeteries.
Later Years
What did you go on to do as a career after the war? I joined IBM and this ended-up being a 40 years career as a Mechanical Engineer and Senior Project Manager.
How did your service and experiences affect your life? Made me grateful for what I have, learning how important family is, Freedom is not free. Made me the man I am today.
Is there anything you would like to add that we have not covered in this interview? God Bless America and all the Vets that gave their lives defending it.
I really think it would be beneficial for all our young people to be involved in something service or peace core related for a period so that they really understand and appreciate the freedom they and their families enjoy, and perhaps take for granted.
View of a Veteran - Freedom is Not Free is a series of articles that will feature a different veteran. Feel free to click here for more: "View of a Veteran" articles This project is run in conjunction with Brewster VFW Post 672 and Brewster HamletHub. You are invited to thank a veteran for their service by commenting on any of the articles.
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