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John S. Raschke - Vietnam War
John S. Raschke grew up on a farm near Geneseo, Illinois, and enlisted in the Army in 1966. While in training to become a medic, he volunteered to attend the Engineer branch's Officer Candidate School. Following language training, he served in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam as an advisor, assigned to MAC-V (Military Advisory Command-Vietnam). Raschke spent 1969-1970 advising South Vietnamese army units on engineering and infantry issues, becoming immersed with their culture and way of life.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Jumping off a helicopter.
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Life on the farm
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
MAC-V advisor in Vietnam in 1969-70
Transcript
Photos
Caption
Preparing for a military career. John Raschke at age 7, on the farm in Edford Township, Henry County IL.
Where:
Farm in Edford Township, Henry County IL
When:
Age 7
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
SGT John Raschke as a Medical Training Center cadre at Ft. Sam Houston, TX, in the Fall of 1967.
Where:
Ft. Sam Houston, TX
When:
Fall of 1967
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Newly minted 2LT John Raschke with a proud mother at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia in August, 1968. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Ft. Belvoir, Virginia
When:
August, 1968
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
1LT John Raschke stands outside his “hootch” while serving on Advisory Team #73 in Vi Thanh, in Chuong Thien Province, Vietnam in November, 1969.
Where:
Vi Thanh, in Chuong Thien Province, Vietnam
When:
November, 1969
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
1LT Raschke, while assigned to Military Advisory Command, Vietnam (MACV), on the right, rigging explosives to blow up a helicopter rocket pod which was jettisoned when the craft was hit by ground fire. He supported ARVN units in the Mekong Delta region.
Where:
Mekong Delta region of Vietnam
When:
Spring of 1970.
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
1LT Raschke, on the left, with blasting cap in his hand, rigging explosives to blow up a helicopter rocket pod which was jettisoned when the craft was hit by ground fire. Note the characteristically flat terrain of the Mekong Delta region.
Where:
Mekong Delta region
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
1LT John Raschke while on TOC (Tactical Operations Center) duty while serving on Advisory Team #73 in Vi Thanh, in Chuong Thien Province, Vietnam in early 1970.
Where:
Vi Thanh, in Chuong Thien Province, Vietnam
When:
Early 1970
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Captain John Raschke receiving the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam while stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri in the fall of 1970.
Where:
Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri
When:
Fall of 1970
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Major Raschke receives his diploma from Army’s Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth Kansas in December, 1982.
Where:
Ft. Leavenworth Kansas
When:
December, 1982
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
LTC Raschke en route to Guatemala August 1991. He served in the Illinois Army National Guard at the time, commanding the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery, headquartered in Rock Island Illinois.
Where:
En route to Guatemala
When:
August 1991
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
LTC John Raschke, Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery, December 1991, Geneseo, Illinois. He was attending the St. Barbara’s Day Ball, St. Barbara being the patron saint of artillerymen.
Where:
Geneseo, Illinois
When:
December 1991
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo