COUNTY LIFE
Army service as a ‘tunnel rat’ still haunts Vietnam veteran
Richard Blair, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War working as a “tunnel rat.”
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The life expectancy of a “tunnel rat” in Vietnam was three seconds. With such a statistic it is amazing Richard Blair survived 18 months scurrying through enemy tunnels, but today at the age of 75 he struggles with memories and health issues from his service.
The Vietnam War was the longest in U.S. history lasting almost 20 years from 1955-1975, however, the War in Afghanistan that began in 2001 may surpass it as it enters its 17th year. More than 58,000 American servicemen died, more than 150,000 were wounded and there are 10,000 missing.
Blair has the distinction of being the first Montague County serviceman from Vietnam to safely return home as recorded in the Montague County History Book. His transition back to normal life did not go smoothly before being gathered back home by his parents who helped him settle back in.
Nocona boy
Richard Blair was adopted at the age of five from Houston by Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Blair, who lived at Belcherville and later moved to Nocona. He attended school at Ringgold for seven years before transferring to Nocona where he graduated in 1963.
Less than a year later in 1964 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Blair didn’t let his parents know until he was already at basic training in Fort Polk, LA. After eight weeks he went to Hawaii for advanced infantry training, where he was attached to the 25th Infantry, Company B.
It was while at Fort Polk the Army took notice of his small stature and began to train and use him to demonstrate how a smaller man could take down a larger man. Blair proudly shows photos of himself demonstrating how to battle a larger enemy, and adds he didn’t mind because he had been small all his life and now it was helpful.
When asked about the draft and how he felt about the war, Blair says he was “okay” with going into the service, and running off to Canada was never an option.
“I didn’t know anyone even did that until I came back home. I wasn’t a draft dodger or anything. I followed orders and came out 18 months later as an E4,” he said.
Some 5,000 infantrymen left Hawaii on two ships heading toward Vietnam, escorted by submarines on all sides. Blair recalls they arrived at Saigon and went on a “deuce and a half” personnel carrier mounted with a 60-caliber machine gun.
“Before we really even got started they were shooting at us. All we had was our duffle bags, we had not been issued weapons yet. We hit the floorboards and hoped everyone was alright. That was my first day,” laughed Blair.
Read the full feature on this local Vietnam War veteran in your weekend News.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Montague County is inviting livestock producers, landowners and wildlife managers to participate in an upcoming online educational meeting focused on the New World screwworm, a parasitic pest that can have serious impacts on livestock and wildlife health.
The virtual meeting will be at 9 a.m. on June 23, via Microsoft Teams. Organizers say the session is designed to provide timely information about the biology of the pest, prevention strategies and best management practices for producers in the region.
The New World screwworm is known for its destructive larvae, which infests open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Left untreated, infestations can cause severe tissue damage and even death. Although the pest had been eradicated from the United States in the past and has now entered into Texas. Continued awareness and preparedness remain important for early detection and rapid response efforts.
“This program is intended to help producers and land managers better understand the threat and what steps to take if cases are suspected,” said Justin Hansard, from the Extension Service.
The meeting will cover several key topics, including, how the New World screwworm spreads; general livestock management practices; wildlife monitoring and surveillance considerations, participants will also have the opportunity to learn practical strategies for maintaining herd health.
How to Join the Meeting
The session will be conducted entirely online using Microsoft Teams, and participants can join in one of two ways by joining the directed link (recommended) or by copying and pasting the following link into a web browser and follow the prompts:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/275071149431328?p=mOH2bhAqSVgo3AgtMK
Join using Meeting ID and Passcode:
- Meeting ID: 275 071 149 431 328
- Passcode: u84hq3qX
Participants may join from a computer, tablet or smartphone. No Microsoft Teams account is required; users can select the option to join through a web browser. Attendees are encouraged to log in a few minutes early to ensure their device audio and video are working properly.
More information and fact sheets, can be obtained at our Texas A&M Agrilife Extension website: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/new-world-screwworm.
The program is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which continues to provide research-based education and outreach to agricultural communities across Texas.
The Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on June 23 at the office located at 607A Lindsey in Bowie.
Public comments and consent agenda open the meeting.
Discussions will include: Review of member notification of rate increase postcards and PUC letter regarding the increase; president’s report on employee unsigned contracts of employment; review of all expenses and update of scanners for meter reading, office systems and software.
An executive session is slated for a discussion of employees, followed by a return to open session for any action.
The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on June 22.
The agenda includes: Montague County Historical Commission to receive a distinguished service award; discuss returning unused funds to the state from the county attorney, district attorney and sheriff’s office; open sealed bids for base rock and budget workshop.
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