Legersky, Michael J.   SP5    MOS 62L20   Ser.No. RA 11 881 921

Enlisted Army:  Mar 67

Thailand Service:  19 mos.    Jan.68 - Mar.69 & Nov.69 - Mar.70

C Co, 809th Engr Bn at Camp Raum Chit Chai near Nakhon Phanom (NKP)


  Duties:  Operated Dozer, 290 Bobtail, Drove Fuel Tanker and Water Pumper 

Truck; humped a shovel when needed.

  I was a squad leader in Earthmoving Platoon.


  Born in Apollo, Pennsylvania, currently residing at:

          221 East Hyman Ave., Aspen,Colorado  81611


  I enlisted in the Army while I was still in High School, under the

Delayed Enlistment Program (couldn't wait to get all those medals).

Two weeks after graduation, I found myself on a train headed for 

Ft Jackson, S.C. and Basic Training.  While there, I requested an 

MOS in heavy equipment.

  After basic, I was sent to Ft.Leonard Wood, Missouri where I completed

advanced training as a heavy equipment operator.  Following graduation 

from Engineer School, I was assigned to Ft.Bliss, Texas - 6th Artillery 

Training Battery? - where I worked in the motor pool.  After a short 

time maintaining trucks that needed no maintenance, I requested transfer 

to S.E.A.(still wanted those medals.)  

  In December'67, I recieved orders for Thailand.  I arrived in Thailand 

January'68, and ended up at Camp Friendship and 44th Engr Grp awaiting 

further orders.  After three days, I was assigned to C Company, 809th Engr 

Battalion.  At that time, C Company was located about 60 miles north of 

Korat at a small road camp called Puyin Com (unsure spelling), I mean

out in the middle of nowhere! 

  Being driven into the camp, I thought I might surely get a medal or two 

out of this place!  I was given the job of fuel truck driver,and two or 

three times a week, drove to base camp and back and kept the equipment 

fueled up.  While at this camp, I was introduced to Singha, Mekong, Leaping 

Deer, etc.  When the rains came, we lost a dozer in mud, and work on the 

road was slow.  

  After maybe three months, the camp was closed down and C Company was 

moved up to Sakon Nakohn and Camp Raum Chit Chai.  Our C.O. was Captain

Randolf Guenther, West Point man and a great officer.  C Company worked 

on the road from Sakon Nakohn to well past Kilo Marker 180, linking up 

with D Company.  

  By this time, I forgot about medals and just wanted to wash off the

dirt each night and hit the NCO Club.  I cleared some jungle with a dozer,

drove water trucks, and pushed 290's in the pit.

  After 14 months, I was sent state-side to Ft Stewart, Georgia, where I 

attended NCO Leadership School.  With only six months left in the Army,

I requested transfer back to Thailand, it came through,and I ended up right 

back in C Company, 809th! 

  March 10, 1970 - ETS.  Happy day and sad day.  Said goodbye to all my 

wonderful Thai friends, my G.I.buddies, and then off to Travis AFB for final 

discharge.  Guess I got the medal, too.  The Vietnam Service Medal - that I 

am proud of to this day!          

  After I was discharged from the Army, I went to work in the coal mines as 

was accustom in my family, where I worked on one of the first Longwall machines 

to be installed in the United States.

  I was married in 1971; later divorced.  We have one son that is 29 yrs.old.

He is a Navy veteran. 

  I have worked in construction, logging, and mining over the years.  I am

currently working in the service industry.