Vietnam stories? Here’s mine ...

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

By John Hatcher
Contributing Writer

Well, everyone is talking about Vietnam and, as if you would be interested, let me share my Vietnam story. It’s a story of some joy and deep regret.

I was a draftee. Not too many 22-year-olds were dying to get into the Army, much less go to Vietnam. I sorta’, kinda’ evaded the draft for a year by changing draft boards, first working in Birmingham and then working in Columbus, Georgia. Finally, however, Uncle Sam cornered me in Columbus and put me on a bus to Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

After basic training on Tank Hill at Fort Jackson, I was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas as an information specialist (since I had experience as a journalist). Well, I didn’t want to go to Fort Bliss, especially since a wonderful military installation was located in my home town of Columbus. With a two week leave after basic, I went home determined to use one of my many contacts to get diverted to Fort Benning so I could live with Mama. Fort Bliss was not where I wanted to go.

As I was waiting to meet with one of Columbus’ bank presidents, his secretary, Mary Futch, asked me, “Have you thought about calling Colonel Hatcher?” Well, I had not thought of calling him even though we carried the same last name, although not related to our knowledge. He and I had worked together at a distance in Columbus governmental affairs. He was deputy post commander and post liaison to Columbus city government and I was a staff reporter for the local newspaper.

Well, upon Mary’s suggestion, I picked up the phone and called Col. Hatcher. Naturally, being John Hatcher, I was put through to him immediately. I asked him the favor of being diverted from Fort Bliss to Fort Benning. He said if his installation had need of my Mode of Service (MOS), there was a good chance of getting diverted.

Long story short: I was diverted the very next day and assigned to the Allied Student Training Division, a support company for foreign officers in training at Fort Benning. I was assigned to write a monthly newspaper featuring the various officers in training.

I had it made in the shade. I had an eight to five, five days a week job. I only pulled KP twice, if my memory serves me well. I got off one hour early every day for physical training. I actually learned to run while in the Army.

The Vietnamese officers were some of the most precious and sensitive of all. I remember Major Quang. Although skilled in infantry, he was a loving Christian and loved to play the violin. On more than one occasion, I invited him to our church to play the violin and afterwards to have Sunday dinner with my mother and me. My Vietnam memories are limited to joyful friendships that ended after nine months. Major Quang was a sweet, precious man and I wanted to believe all Vietnamese people were just like him.

(Drum roll) One fateful day I got orders to go to Vietnam. It was an MOS levy. They wanted a writer at the war front. I did not want to go. My company did not want me to go. They submitted an impact statement pleading the case that I was more needed in the Army’s information program at Fort Benning than I would be needed in Vietnam.

(Drum roll) A couple weeks later, I was visiting my pastor and wife. A call came from Mama. She had just received the word that I had been taken off the levy and would remain at Fort Benning.

Happy? You better believe I was happy. I served out my time at Fort Benning living at home with Mama, eight to five.

However, 32 years later, I carry some deep regrets. Perhaps I should have taken the assignment to Fort Bliss. It certainly would have enlarged my world. And undoubtedly, I regret the successful efforts to get out of going to Vietnam. I missed a part of American history. I missed serving my country where the action was.

So, I suppose I could never run for office since all these strings were pulled for me. But today I wish no one had pulled any strings. I wish I had taken what had been dealt me straight up. On this side of my Vietnam memories I lay claim to Romans 8:28 — “We know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love him and are called according to his purpose.”

Our lives could run every day on the fuel of regret if we would allow such. What’s best is to be a child of God and live for him. He then takes all our regrets, mistakes, and failures and wondrously brings something good out of them.

That’s my Vietnam story.