On Vietnam Veterans Day, a Story of Loss, Struggle, and Hope

Florencio Aguayo thought he was leaving the horrors of struggle behind him when he left Vietnam greater than 55 years in the past. Little did he know the struggle wouldn’t go away him.

March 29 is Vietnam Veterans Day, designated for many who served throughout the lengthy, bloody marketing campaign that price the nation greater than 58,000 troopers. But for Aguayo, who suffers from post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD), loss of life and destruction from Vietnam is a every day reminder.

Aguayo, 75, was drafted into the Army, serving from 1968 to 1970.

“I was drafted, and I couldn’t have been happier in my life,” Aguayo advised Military.com. “Because I didn’t know what I was going to do in life or what was going to happen. I thought, You know, this is a good thing.”

After finishing basic training at Fort Ord, California, and advanced infantry training, Aguayo received his MOS: 11 Bravo, combat infantry.

Sitting in his home in Big Sur Valley, California, Aguayo reflects on his time with the 25th Infantry Division’s 27th Regiment, better known as the “Wolfhounds,” a tough, gritty unit that was rarely unleashed in the face of danger. He has served in both A Company and C Company and their unit still comes together for annual meetings.

“I don’t know if it was because we were pretty brave or very aggressive toward the enemy, but, yes, we had a reputation,” Aguayo said. “But on the time, I did not know that I used to be entering into there and would see some of the issues I did. It was actually fascinating.”

As an infantryman, Aguayo was no stranger to frequent firefights with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, often engaging with the enemy three times a week. He recalls plenty of instances when he was lucky to escape with his life.

“The first thing that came into my mind was, ‘Lord, get me through this night, and I’ll be yours in the morning,’” Aguayo said. “I prayed to him many, many, many times.”

Injury and Loss

On Sept. 18, 1968, Aguayo’s unit, on patrol close to Fire Support Base Mahone, ventured into unruly territory nicknamed the “Hobo Woods.” It was plagued by booby traps. Enemy forces attacked, and a firefight ensued, killing 4 troopers and wounding 4 others.

“That night was very, very scary,” Aguayo recalled. “You gotta be scared, or you’re crazy. Otherwise, you just push forward. I tried picking up one of my buddies, but it was useless…he was gone. It got to the point where we were missing a man, and we couldn’t find him. We had to go back to find him. And we found him. It was just the idea of ​​carrying him back…it was very intense.

I think that’s one of the hardest things, having to take your buddy’s body back to the chopper. Those are the memories that are very tough.”

Aguayo served in Vietnam for 10 months until he was wounded on Dec. 28, 1968. Two days earlier, he had attended a special USO Christmas show featuring legendary comedian Bob Hope. It was one of his fondest memories from Vietnam. But the good times would soon end when Aguayo’s unit was assigned to multiple hot landing zones (LZ’s) and was left to fend on its own when their helicopter ditched them to refuel.

“What are we gonna do now? We were told to return to base camp, but when we returned to base camp, we were hit with rocket fire,” Aguayo mentioned. “We ran for cover. One of the rockets exploded behind me and got shrapnel on my left leg, on the back of my butt, and a few in my back. When I was running for the bunker, the other rocket exploded in front of me, and I could see the shrapnel coming towards me like a black line flying towards my chest. Bang.”

To this day, Aguayo still has shrapnel lodged in the back of his legs, and several fragments in his chest.

“During the winter, it feels like it’s stabbing me, and when the summer comes along, it feels like it’s trying to come out of me,” he said. “It’s weird.”

Struggling After War

After the navy, bodily and psychological accidents took a toll, zapping Aguayo of empathy and emotion. He shut off the skin world, turning into remoted and distant.

“You close your heart. You don’t touch your heart after that. And it feels like there’s a dark cloud over your heart,” Aguayo mentioned. “You don’t have pity for anything. You don’t care what happens.”

Despite dwelling a productive life, constructing a 30-year profession with General Motors, Aguayo could not shake the haunting photographs of Vietnam.

“I had a lot of trouble going through PTSD,” he mentioned. “The doctors kept saying that nothing was wrong with me.”

Aguayo struggled with psychological well being points for till many years lastly receiving assist via the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2003. Through group remedy, he was in a position to join with different Vietnam veterans who understood the PTSD struggle. He nonetheless attends periods each Thursday, bonding along with his fellow brothers and sisters in arms.

“The only person who can understand is another vet. You do need help to get through it,” Aguayo mentioned. “That really helped me because things were getting pretty rough. I was planning on taking my rifle to the garage, and I wasn’t planning on cleaning it. But I was able to make it through.”

Semper Fi & America’s Fund Lends a Hand

As a disabled veteran, Aguayo did not fairly really feel protected in his dwelling within the rural California desert. But via the Semper Fi & America’s Fund and the LCpl Parsons Welcome Home Fundthe Vietnam veteran obtained free modifications and enhancements to his dwelling, offering the safety he wanted for peace of thoughts.

“They’ve been very helpful to me. They took care of my front door because one of my neighbors was robbed. They said, ‘Oh, sure, we’ll do that.’ My patio was falling apart, and they helped me replace that too, along with my compressor for my air conditioning,” Aguayo said. “They’ve been fantastic.”

The Semper Fi & America’s Fund has helped more than 2,700 Vietnam War veterans, filling gaps in resources the VA and other organizations can’t provide. The foundation works specifically with Vietnam veterans, providing the support they need, especially as they age.

“There are a few more things that I could use help with, like replacing my water heater, because it’s about to go,” Aguayo said. “But man, Semper Fi & America’s Fund is so nice, you simply need to look and discover them. Otherwise, I do not know what else I might have completed as a result of I could not afford to make these enhancements to my dwelling.”