Photo By Cpl. Tyler Brock | Spc. Gene Rouse, a track vehicle mechanic, assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st...... read more read more
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GOLDEN, Colo – On March 29th, every year, we honor those who served in the Vietnam War. One of those men was Spc. Gene Rouse, a retired track vehicle mechanic, assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, on deployment status with 4th Infantry Division, will gladly share his story with anyone willing to listen about his adventure in Vietnam.
Rouse was drafted in 1966 when he was 25 years old. Along with many other draftees, the Army called upon Rouse to help meet the demand of sending 100,000 troops to Vietnam as ordered by former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
"The way I looked at, I owed it to my country. I figured, it was my duty, like it or not," said Rouse. "Looking back on it, I wouldn't trade it for the world."
On Aug. 16, 1967, shortly after being drafted, Rouse boarded the U.S. Naval Ship General Nelson M. Walker and embarked on his journey to the Southeastern Asian country of Vietnam.
When Rouse departed, he had to leave his wife, Joan Rouse, in Boulder, Colorado, with her parents. After having a death in the family just three days prior, Joan said the last thing she wanted was to say goodbye to her husband.
"I just didn't know what I was going to do without him in my life because he pretty much was my life," said Joan.
Nevertheless, Rouse got his hands on a reel-to-reel audio recorder. The recorder enabled him to create audio recordings of himself while in Vietnam and send them to his wife. Joan said the recordings ensured her he was okay.
Likewise, as with many Soldiers at the time, Rouse said he was fascinated by Vietnam's culture, people, and terrain. With his 35mm film camera, he extensively documented his time in a foreign country. Rouse photographed it all, from rice patties to a dog named "Rex," a stray adopted by Bravo Troop, 2-1 CAV and recognized as the company mascot.
Rouse also said his images displayed the difficulties of the work in "Nam," as many Soldiers referred to the rugged country. Rouse said he and his fellow Soldiers often had to recover military vehicles because the environment was treacherous.
One day, Rouse said he noticed his hand had swollen up with an infection. Taking the advice of his leadership, he went to the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku, South Vietnam. Late one night, while receiving care, the hospital from Vietnam communist troops came under fire. 122mm rockets hit the hospital during the attack. Ten Americans were injured in the attack and one Vietnamese national was killed, according to Stars and Stripes. Rouse said he was recovering when he heard the very distinctive sounds of the rockets coming closer to his room. Luckily, he could walk away without any further injuries, but the same could not be said for his M16 rifle, which Rouse said was destroyed in the attack. After assessing the damage, Rouse was able to complete his recovery at another hospital.
In July 1968, Rouse said he finally received his orders to return home. Yet, before he embarked homeward, he had to have a picture taken with all of his fellow battle buddies and Rex, of course.
Joan said she could not have been any more excited to see her husband back home. She had saved every letter, every tape, and picture that Rouse sent her, but, understandably, she was ready to have him home safe and sound.
These days you can find Rouse doing what Rouse loves, working on old cars or admiring his gun collection in their home in Golden, Colorado. If you ask Rouse about the Vietnam War, he will tell you it only made his relationship with his wife stronger.
"I married a good woman," said Rouse. "Our marriage got stronger because of it."
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| Date Taken: | 01.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2022 17:12 |
| Story ID: | 417307 |
| Location: | GOLDEN, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, With Love from Vietnam, by CPL Tyler Brock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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