Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
6:03 | When General William F. "Buck" Kernan was a young officer going into Vietnam, he was hoping to be assigned to the 101st Airborne and he got his wish. Soon he was in command of Tiger Force platoon, a group of hardened specialists who operated in the deep jungle. There was no training that could completely prepare you for that. It was an evolutionary learning experience.
Keywords : William Buck Kernan Vietnam Bien Hoa 101st Airborne Division I Corps North Vietnamese Army (NVA) A Shau Valley jungle Tiger Force counter insurgency booby trap Punji Stick Improvised Explosive Device (IED) infection cellulitis Cam Ranh Bay Tactical Operations Center (TOC) S3
General William F. "Buck" Kernan's biggest heroes are the troops and NCO's that helped develop him into an effective leader. He feels privileged to have served with the Rangers. They are still the role models for the rest of the Army and that is why they lead the way.
What should a young man who wants to become a Ranger expect? General William F. "Buck" Kernan knows. They will learn what the Rangers stand for and have accomplished and they will will develop the skills to carry that forward. It is a life you will miss when it's over.
General William F. "Buck" Kernan never intended to join the Army but the GI Bill beckoned and he followed. Once he was in, he was determined to be a Ranger. He was also determined to get to Vietnam before it was all over. He was mentored in his career by both generals and sergeants and he carried forward their lessons.
When he was serving outside the Ranger Regiment, General William F. "Buck" Kernan thought mostly about getting back. When he did return, he began planning the operation in Panama that became known as Just Cause. After an unusual jump with the softest landing he ever experienced, he witnessed the courage and good judgment of two young Rangers.
