Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
2:45 | Andy Boyko's experience as a Marine made a lasting impact on not only him, but on some of the men he served with. He reflects on the legacy of the Vietnam War, and the Vietnam veterans. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Keywords : Reflection Vo Nguyen Giap leadership
Andy Boyko immigrated to America at a very young age, and growing up he knew he wanted to be a United States Marine. He describes some of the training he received after he enlisted in 1964, and how he was able to share these stories with the others who were there with him. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
In 1965, the first Marines were landing in Vietnam and that fall Andy Boyko would be one of them. Stationed at ASP-1 (Ammunition Supply Point), he was tasked with protecting the ammo dump as American forces began to set up in country. After a few months, he’d get some of his first incoming, and then the war would take a serious turn. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Andy Boyko was one of the first troops in Vietnam, but by the time he'd go on his second tour, the entire war had changed. The fighting was fiercer, and the enemy more intense. He describes the tenacity by which the VC and NVA fought against the Americans. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Vietnam veterans all remember the intense weather they experienced in country, especially during Monsoon season. Andy Boyko describes the trials of trying to stay somewhat clean in the unforgiving rain. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Not only did they have to deal with the immediate threat of enemy soldiers, the system of booby traps laid across the region was incredibly saturated and dangerous. Andy Boyko describes the disbelief from the higher ups that the area was as dangerous as they had reported. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Andy Boyko was assigned to operate the demolitions, so that meant he was face to face with a lot of danger. He let his Corpsman do the honors of detonating a charge one day, but as luck would have it, the charge didn't go off, so he was the one who had to fix it. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Any Marine will tell you the appreciation and respect they had for their Navy Corpsmen. Andy Boyko did, and he shares the sort of relationship they had in the field. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Andy Boyko got to witness the strength of American air superiority when an AC-47 circled above. Affectionately known as "Puff the Magic Dragon," or Puff for short, these aircraft rained down ammunition and anyone within it's line of fire would know what it was. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
One of the notable controversies of the Vietnam war was the reported failures of the M-16 rifle platform. Andy Boyko's Marine experience featured both the M-14 and the M-16, and he gives his thoughts on using the rifle in the field. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
Andy Boyko came home from Vietnam twice, but the second time, the entire culture had shifted. He still had some time left owed to the Marines, and he describes the following weeks of breaking down and packing up. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/)
