| Jeffrey Gerst - Active Member |   | Address: Raymond, New Hampshire
Email:
Dog(s) :FINK - 100M
Branch: Army
Unit(s): 50th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs (An Khe) , 48th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs (DaNang)
War(s): Vietnam
| | Biography:
In August '70 this 19 year old FNG arrived in An Khe with the 50th IPSD supporting the 4th Inf. Div. My first dog, Caesar (number unknown) was KIA shortly after. VDHA member Billy Barnes was headed home and gave me his smart and off-leash dog Fink (100M). In October '70, as the 4th headed stateside, Fink and I were sent to LZ Hawk Hill with the 48th IPSD supporting the 23rd (Americal) Div. I earned my Purple Heart a month later, in November '70. The 48th relocated to Da Nang
in May '71. I surrendered my faithful companion Fink to a new dogman (name unknown) before my tour of duty ended in July '71. My Vietnam service has without question altered me irrecoverably, in many ways (mostly not favorable!) and I am just now beginning to accept and confront how much my personal behavior has been affected. It's very, very hard to believe that what happened 38 years ago continues to haunt me in the present. |
|
