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Ramiro (Ram) Chavez
I arrived at the induction center in San Antonio, Texas on April 15, 1967 and after several major medical examination concerning my eye sight, I was assigned to For Polk, Louisiana for basic training. I still remember my drill instructor, Sgt. Peterson, I believe, I remember running upstairs carrying a foot locker full of equipment out of pure fear. Because ten weeks later, when I was in better shape, I had a hard time carrying the same foot locker downstairs. I remember two other fellow Corpus Christians, Robert Ochoa and Martin Gloria, Robert was killed in Vietnam about five weeks after we arrived in Vietnam. Martin is back in Corpus Christi.
At the end of basic training I was assigned to the United States Medical Training Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. I arrived sometime in June and I was very happy to come home. Corpus Christi is only 142 miles from San Antonio. I will never forget that hot August summer that we stood in formation as the names were called out of those going to their next duty assignment. I think every four or five were assigned to Vietnam and the fifth medic was assigned to other duty station throughout the world. I remember the only feeling I felt, yet I was in formation with at about a thousand men who had just completed medical training.
My orders were to report to Oakland Army Deport, Oakland, California in September 1967 and I would depart to the Republic of Vietnam. But first let me tell you about the day I left home, Corpus Christi, Texas. SMU was playing football and one of by best friends and fellow high school graduate was coming off the bench to win the game. Ines Perez is only five feet, four inches and he were playing at a major Texas university. Hurricane Buella was also out in the Gulf of Mexico and it would soon arrive on the Coast Bend of Texas, near my hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Once again, Robert Ochoa and I arrived in Vietnam at the same time and we were assigned to the 90th Replacement Battalion at Bien Hoa or Tan Shut Air Force Base, I think. We spent a few days there and on the morning roll call, Robert departed for the 9th Infantry Division, and that was the last day I saw him alive. I was assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade during the afternoon roll call. I arrived at the Brigade Headquarters and received refreshed combat training and orientation, before being assigned to the medical company, Co. C, 7th Support Battalion.
There are many friends I want to remember in this webpage. I would never wish the year I spent in Vietnam to my worse enemy, but I would never exchange it for anything in the world. Because that one year in Vietnam taught me more about myself and gave me the opportunity to help other human beings. I want to remember, first my good friend, Paul Alaniz, United States Marine Corps killed in action, May 12, 1968, Harvey Lynn Cooley my replacement on May 1, killed on May 6, 1968 and I replaced him on May 6, 1968. I returned because I was ready to return to the main base upon my completion of my combat duty. When Harvey Cooley was killed and his body came to the Battalion aid station and I saw his body, I knew that I had to go back to my company, D. Company, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. Robert Ochoa, we were drafted and left for basic training and to Vietnam together, killed on November 21, 1967.
Rodolfo Arturo Vasquez (CHICO), Sgt, Jose Aguon, PFC. Raymond George Witzig, Sgt. Charles Frank Mc Gowen, and Harvey Lynn Cooley, and the men of Co. A, 4th Ballation, 12th INfnatry KIA on December 6, 1967.
Otis Wells, Freddie Wampler, Lt. Wayne Smith, Sgt. Cavalo, Sgt. Federico Sotello, Sgt. Grover, Pasqual Hernandez, Dennis Looker, Robert Wild, Ken Kussey, Richard Grover, Saul Garcia, Delgado, Lundy, Angel Flores, Don Blair,Carl "Shorty: Thilesen, Paul Walters,
To my platoon leaders, Lt. Wayne Morris, Co. A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, Lt. Wayne Arlen Smith D Company, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, and to my company commander, Captain James Dabney, D Company, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry.
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After 40 years the US Army awards Ram Chavez the Silver Star Meda for action on May 7, 1968, with Co. D, 4th Bn. 12th Inf. under the command of Capt. James F. Dabney. The Silver Star was presented on November 1, 2008 at the Congressional Veterans Summit in Corpus Crhisti, Texas by Gen. Ben Hodges.
Since Vietnam, I have taught music education, received a Master's of Science in School Administration, been a Middle School Administrator, have served the community. Most recently, I was the staff director of the Texas Senate Committee for Veteran Affairs and Military Installations under the Chairmanship of Texas Senator Carlos F. Truan, Dean of the Texas Senate. I am very proud of my life and career, but the burden I have carried for my fellow brothers in battle has been hard. I hope this website will tell you how I have felt for 35 years
Musician, Educator, Community Leader, Legislative Aide, and family man.
As a young musician, I played with name bands of the Coastal Bend of South Texas, taught music education at the Junior High and High School, Found the Veterans Band of Corpus Christi, worked as a school administrator at a middle school, served the community in many worthy projects. I have served as President, chairman, or commander of many organizations in the music field, the veterans community and the public community
I would love to hear from you.
Ram Chavez
My Favorite Links
The Veterans Band of Corpus Christi |
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