thedrifter
02-05-06, 11:50 AM
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Vietnam vet finally gets medal
By ADRIENNE ZIEGLER/Staff Writer
BARSTOW -- Thirty years ago in the thick of the Vietnam War, as United States troops took cover during an attack on their convoy, Sgt. John Loomis dragged a Marine who'd been hit to safety. When he felt the burning in his leg, Loomis didn't realize at first that he'd been shot.
"He told me to go back and get his rifle. I went back to get it and that's when I got hit," he said.
Finally, after a long patient wait, the 60-year-old retired Marine received his purple heart medal for those wounds Friday at the Marine Corps Logistics Base -- Barstow.
Loomis, a Barstow resident, was unsure about the exact number of medals he's received but guessed he received about 30 other ribbons and medals during his 30 years in the military, including the meritorious service medal for distinguished non-combat achievement.
Recently, Loomis discovered he needed to be able to prove that he was wounded in war to receive disability, which is important now because he's had several heart attacks. For Loomis, waiting for his purple heart was not a major issue until now, especially since so many people were injured or killed everyday while he was there.
"Everybody's dying, so you're not worried about a purple heart," he said. "A lot of people didn't want to get them."
Many Marines felt those that gave their lives needed to receive the award first.
"We thought that they should be the representatives of the purple heart," he said.
Loomis said the 30-year wait was probably due to the high number of troops injured during the war. There were so many, in fact, that the government couldn't keep up with all of them at the time, Loomis said.
"I think it's because so many people were wounded and so many people died," Loomis said. "Sometimes you'd be hit more than once in a day. ... It's a big back up.
Loomis spent 1963 to 1993 in the Marines, serving his country worldwide in Lebanon, Iraq, Columbia, Panama, as well as three tours and three extensions to Vietnam.
His most spectacular stories however, are those from Vietnam where he was an Ontos loader and gunner. The Ontos was a Marine anti-tank vehicle with six 106-millimeter rifles mounted on top.
While in Vietnam, his chopper was shot down during take off. He was ambushed on a convoy near the demilitarized zone. He was captured, shot in the back, shot in the leg and blown up, but most importantly, he's survived.
In 1969, Loomis was labeled missing in action for about three months. He said a convoy of 189 troops rode near the demilitarized zone to deliver supplies and troops. Only three of those Marines marched back out, he said. Loomis was one of the lucky ones that day.
"They estimated a force of 4,000-5,000 Viet Cong hit us," he said. "That's when, as they say, all hell broke loose."
After escaping the attack, Loomis hid out near the ambush site with the other two survivors for four days. He was captured then by Viet Cong forces for a few hours before another group of Marines came to the rescue.
"As Charlie would sneak by us, we'd take care of them if they'd seen us," he said. "They grabbed us for a little while, but our guys got us right back."
Col. Steven Thompson, commander of the base, presented the purple heart to Loomis during a ceremony Friday, as his proud family watched.
"He finally got it," said his oldest daughter, Debbie DeCampos. "He does deserve it and now he can wear it. He really wanted that. He's been patient."
For Loomis, the stories of war still resonate in his mind, and the horrors he's seen will probably never leave his memory.
"It's been a long time," he said. "But it's always in your head. You never forget it. ... I've seen enough to last me the rest of my life and now these young kids are seeing it again."
But for now, the honor of finally receiving his award is enough.
"Makes me feel like I'm a Marine again," he said. "I'll always be one till the day I die."
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or adrienne_ziegler@link.freedom.com
Vietnam vet finally gets medal
By ADRIENNE ZIEGLER/Staff Writer
BARSTOW -- Thirty years ago in the thick of the Vietnam War, as United States troops took cover during an attack on their convoy, Sgt. John Loomis dragged a Marine who'd been hit to safety. When he felt the burning in his leg, Loomis didn't realize at first that he'd been shot.
"He told me to go back and get his rifle. I went back to get it and that's when I got hit," he said.
Finally, after a long patient wait, the 60-year-old retired Marine received his purple heart medal for those wounds Friday at the Marine Corps Logistics Base -- Barstow.
Loomis, a Barstow resident, was unsure about the exact number of medals he's received but guessed he received about 30 other ribbons and medals during his 30 years in the military, including the meritorious service medal for distinguished non-combat achievement.
Recently, Loomis discovered he needed to be able to prove that he was wounded in war to receive disability, which is important now because he's had several heart attacks. For Loomis, waiting for his purple heart was not a major issue until now, especially since so many people were injured or killed everyday while he was there.
"Everybody's dying, so you're not worried about a purple heart," he said. "A lot of people didn't want to get them."
Many Marines felt those that gave their lives needed to receive the award first.
"We thought that they should be the representatives of the purple heart," he said.
Loomis said the 30-year wait was probably due to the high number of troops injured during the war. There were so many, in fact, that the government couldn't keep up with all of them at the time, Loomis said.
"I think it's because so many people were wounded and so many people died," Loomis said. "Sometimes you'd be hit more than once in a day. ... It's a big back up.
Loomis spent 1963 to 1993 in the Marines, serving his country worldwide in Lebanon, Iraq, Columbia, Panama, as well as three tours and three extensions to Vietnam.
His most spectacular stories however, are those from Vietnam where he was an Ontos loader and gunner. The Ontos was a Marine anti-tank vehicle with six 106-millimeter rifles mounted on top.
While in Vietnam, his chopper was shot down during take off. He was ambushed on a convoy near the demilitarized zone. He was captured, shot in the back, shot in the leg and blown up, but most importantly, he's survived.
In 1969, Loomis was labeled missing in action for about three months. He said a convoy of 189 troops rode near the demilitarized zone to deliver supplies and troops. Only three of those Marines marched back out, he said. Loomis was one of the lucky ones that day.
"They estimated a force of 4,000-5,000 Viet Cong hit us," he said. "That's when, as they say, all hell broke loose."
After escaping the attack, Loomis hid out near the ambush site with the other two survivors for four days. He was captured then by Viet Cong forces for a few hours before another group of Marines came to the rescue.
"As Charlie would sneak by us, we'd take care of them if they'd seen us," he said. "They grabbed us for a little while, but our guys got us right back."
Col. Steven Thompson, commander of the base, presented the purple heart to Loomis during a ceremony Friday, as his proud family watched.
"He finally got it," said his oldest daughter, Debbie DeCampos. "He does deserve it and now he can wear it. He really wanted that. He's been patient."
For Loomis, the stories of war still resonate in his mind, and the horrors he's seen will probably never leave his memory.
"It's been a long time," he said. "But it's always in your head. You never forget it. ... I've seen enough to last me the rest of my life and now these young kids are seeing it again."
But for now, the honor of finally receiving his award is enough.
"Makes me feel like I'm a Marine again," he said. "I'll always be one till the day I die."
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or adrienne_ziegler@link.freedom.com