Ron Oakes Part 1

Ron Oakes was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in March 1949. After briefly attending junior college, he enlisted in June 1967 and received training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Camp Pendleton, California. He then received instruction in the Vietnamese language before being sent to Vietnam. Once he arrived, he was trained as a radio operator and assigned to a squad in the 27th Marine Regiment in the Da Nang area, soon becoming his platoon's radio operator, and saw extensive combat experience. When the 27th was rotated home, he was reassigned to 4th Marines at Quang Tri, and operated between Quang Tri and Hue before being sent inland toward Khe Sanh. While in this area, he contracted dysentery and was sent to a hospital ship where he spent a month aboard a hospital ship before being returned to his unit. When his tour was over, re was sent home and discharged in 1969.
Note: He later enlisted in the Army National Guard, and while with them pulled security for the Atlanta Olympics and was just young enough to be sent to Iraq. This story will appear in Part 2.

[@jiffy399]

Amazing memory, thanks Ron.

[@kennethprice5628]

Welcome Home brother, you done good...72 yo Navy Veteran

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

Such an amazing account....great interview....one of the better interviewers.

[@BlueWaterSTAX]

Thanks for your service Mr. Oaks

[@bryanfrombuffalo7685]

Great interviewer....doesn't over talk. Ask great questions..ty 4 ur service❤

[@ericgibson2079]

Thank you Sir and thank you for the interviews. God Bless You and Yours for ever.

[@kimmaston3353]

Great story teller! Thank you for your service ❤

[@cogwap359]

Thank you. A well told biography and interview.

[@larsporsena7115]

Great guy. Great interview.

[@WaltWilliams-no6rc]

40:04 40:16 40:35

[@WaltWilliams-no6rc]

40:56 40:57

[@WaltWilliams-no6rc]

41:09 41:17 41:17

[@jimbowie4454]

Welcome home and thank you for your service !! I have much respect for our service members !!

[@ericgibson2079]

You totally missed the ambush details after the hole in the ground dude. The guys trying to tell a story, he gets all the way into it and you just cut him off the end.