Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:43 | Hamann admires a Cambodian colonel and his soldiers, whose sacrifice was felt throughout the war. The Rustics feel guilt and dismay following orders to vacate the region, leaving their Cambodian allies to face communist aggression without US air support.
Keywords : Colonel Um Ankle Biters reunion Case–Church Amendment cease fire Distinguished Flying Cross Allies Cambodia Kampong Thom Province Cambodia Rustic Forward Air Controller (FAC)
When Roger Hamann volunteers for special assignment in the US Air Force, he is sent to train in jungle survival and POW interrogation.
Upon his arrival in Vietnam, Roger Hamann is assigned to serve as a "Rustic", communicating with French-speaking Cambodian troops from the back seat of an OV-10. Though he flies dozens of combat missions out of his Thailand air base, one in particular still haunts him.
Hamann returns to the US to serve the remainder of his military time close to his home in Maine. Just days into a new job, Hamann - who was never wounded in combat - loses an eye in a carpentry accident.
