High School

James Rademacher had just graduated high school at the age of 18. He was madly in love with his sweetheart Mary Ann. In fact, he was considering asking her hand in marriage. In November of 1966 he received his draft notice. After passing his physical in Detroit he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training. He went on to Fort Polk, Louisiana for AIT. From there he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for more training in his area of specialty-- driving Armored Personnel Carriers.

Jim wrote many letters home during his time in Vietnam. The first letter he wrote was to his girl, Mary Ann.

May 22 San Francisco

"Well I made it out here OK and seen some pretty country... And I remember that you said keep looking to the future and it really helped and I hope you do the same. Because when I get back I am going to make you my wife. And the happiest wife on this earth. I know it's hard to keep from crying, because I feel like crying now. But that won't do any good. I still have to stay a year so keep smiling as much as possible. And believe me I will be back to marry you. "

Jim went on his first real operation with the Charlie Company on June 19 of 1967. When asked about this operation, he choked up and had a difficult time recalling the events of that day. When I suggested taking a break from the interview he seemed very relieved. The wait was well worth it too because after about an hour, and some home-cooked chicken, Jim was ready to share the details of his experience.

He explained that Larry Lukes, a good friend of Jim's, tripped a booby trap near his head that failed to explode. He went on to say that not a minute later he looked up to see his other buddy, Kenny Frakes, floating by in the water badly wounded. Not knowing what to do, Jim crawled to the steep bank of the stream, reached in and grabbed Frake's arm. He explained how Frakes was heavy, and the bank of the stream formed a bad angle, making it especially difficult for Jim to hold on. "I knew at that moment that the 2nd Platoon was in big trouble," Jim informed me. He said the Viet Cong fire wasn't the familiar POP POP POP, instead it was a continuous and overwhelming roar.

Jim decided that from this point he would read me a part of the letter he wrote to Mary Ann shortly after this operation.

"The

...