Roy C. Raisor’s decision to enter the military did not begin with a plan to go to Vietnam. At the time, he was seventeen and functioning as the man of the house. His mother was preparing to marry Earl, and Roy felt that he was in the way. He decided that joining the Army could provide a solution.
The Army Becomes the Answer
Roy called the Army Recruiting Sergeant in Batavia, Ohio. Because he was under-aged, his mother had to sign for him. Roy was concerned that she would worry about him going to Vietnam because his older brother, Elmer, had already been transferred there. The recruiting sergeant assured them that Roy would not have to go to Vietnam because Elmer was already there and said Roy was likely to be assigned somewhere in Europe.
His mother eventually agreed and signed the papers. Roy explained that they were doing each other a favor. Joining would keep him away from the trouble he had frequently been getting into, while giving his family one less mouth to feed. It would also allow his mother to marry Earl without Roy feeling that he was in the way.
Beginning Army Life
The next morning, Roy went to the federal building to take his tests and physical. He was sworn in on the spot and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he would spend boot camp. His eighteenth birthday came while he was on KP, or kitchen duty. The winter training was difficult, and Roy discovered that being young and considering himself physically fit did not mean he was prepared for boot camp.
After boot camp, Roy went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for eight weeks of Army Intelligence
Training to become a lineman. He had asked for the lineman assignment because he remembered a telephone installer who had made an impression on him. Roy thought being outside and working with his hands would be a good job.
Germany Changes His Thinking
After training, Roy received orders for Bamberg, Germany, along with his friends Reed and Yackovich. Germany became an important part of his story because it changed the way he looked at service.
At first, Germany was good duty. Roy had good times with his friends and took part in field maneuvers and courses. But eventually, something began to bother him. He had started drinking heavily on weekends, and he realized that advancing in rank would be difficult while he remained in Germany because much of the rank was going to soldiers in the war zone.
Roy had been taught about patriotism by his parents and through school. He had learned about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the World Wars, and the Korean War. He had even considered making the military his career. Sitting in Germany and feeling that he was wasting his opportunity made him reconsider his service.
Choosing Vietnam
After Elmer returned to the United States, Roy began thinking seriously about Vietnam. He was seeing what was happening there through radios, television, and theaters. He knew that soldiers were being killed. He felt that he now had the opportunity to do his duty.
Roy decided to volunteer for Vietnam. He went to headquarters, spoke with the Recruiting Officer who handled transfers, and asked to be transferred. About a week and a half later, his orders arrived. He would take a 30-day leave and then head to Vietnam.
His friends did not want him to go. They believed he was making a mistake by going to fight a war that many people did not understand or support. Roy explained that he felt his country and families were making sacrifices, and he wanted to do something to help. He reminded them that he had originally planned to make the military his career. Most of all, he believed he was doing what he considered an honorable and patriotic thing in service to his country.
A Decision That Changed Everything
Roy’s path into the military happened in two stages. First, he joined while still under-aged, believing he would serve somewhere in Europe. Later, after his time in Germany caused him to reflect on his purpose and sense of duty, he made the decision to volunteer for Vietnam.
For more about Roy’s story and latest updates, visit his official website: Roy C. Raisor.
Get your copy of his memoir here on Amazon: Boy to Man in 365 Days.
