SP4 Delbert Henze, 21-year-old radio operation (RTO), Company C, and a naive of Comfrey, Minnesota.  Del entered military service on August 8, 1969 and took his Basic Training at Fort Lewis, Washington, followed by AIT in October, 1969 also at Fort Lewis.

     By January 1970, Del was in Vietnam and was ultimately assigned to the 3-506 as an infantryman in Company C.  He eventually was promoted to SP4 and became Company RTO for Captain Robert L. Acklen during the Cambodia Operation.  Del recalls, "The RTO's were given a large change in codes and radio procedures, which was not unusual, but very extensive.   When we asked why this was necessary, we were told that our unit would possibly be fighting Americans who had deserted to the enemy and would probably listen in on our radio transmissions and translate to the enemy."

     The Currahees had spent the remainder of August 1970 at Fire Support Base BRICK, OPCON to the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.  During the first few days of September, the “Stand Alone” Battalion ran ambushes and conducted patrols in the last days of Operation TEXAS STAR, which terminated on September 5. TEXAS STAR had been a five-month 101st Airborne Division search and destroy operation within the Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces of I Corps in support of provincial pacification. Their primary mission was to maintain pressure on enemy forces operating within the AO, to deny regular and guerrilla forces access to the lowland population, to deny the enemy access to the rice harvest, and to assist South Vietnamese Government officials in meeting their pacification goals.

    On September, 2 1970, Del was wounded while carrying out a mission with his Charlie Company.  On this particular CA, they were airlifted into a hot LZ.   As the helicopters hovered over the area, the Currahees had to jump a short distance to the ground.  "After I landed and got myself situated with the radio," remembers Del, "I noticed that my arm was bleeding in the elbow area and my shirt was soaked in blood."  After the excitement of the landing settled down a bit, Del received first aid from the company medic and a "Dust-Off" helicopter was ordered to the LZ.   According to Del,  "I was medevaced to the rear area for a short time then ended up on the medical ship, Sanctuary, for three days.   Then I was told that I would be sent on to Japan for further treatment."

      Del stayed in Japan for approximately two months, where he received extensive treatment for this wound and also for a dangerous case of cellulites, which is a form of tissue infection.  Eventually, he was told that he would be going stateside for further recuperation.  Del recalls, "It was hard for me to have pride in what we stood for when we were treated the way we were on the flight into Minneapolis. We were told to change out of our dress greens and into our "civies" as soon as possible so as not to arouse the attention of war protestors."  Once stateside, Del finished the remaining eight months of his military obligation at Fort Hood, Texas.

      At the time he was drafted into military service, Del was engaged to his wife, Linda.  The two were eventually married and have enjoyed thirty-seven years together.   They had two sons--one died died at an early age.   Their surviving son, Chad, is now thirty-six years old.

     Del and Linda owned their own restaurant business for thirty-two years.  Del has even spent some time as a truck driver, and currently work in the food service department at a local college.   His hobbies include building street rods.   Del and Linda can be reached at henze@hickorytech.net.   They currently live in Mapleton, Minnesota.

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