I was a Vietnam veteran, class of 1966/67, and I was elected the commander of Lloyd Spetz Post 1 in Bismarck, North Dakota. At that time, it was the 15th or 16th largest Legion post in the world. My military career ran from May 1960 to May 2002. Active-duty and reserves in the Air Force from 1960-1965, active-duty Army from 1965 - 1968, and Army National Guard and reserves on and off until final retirement in 2002. I retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 with eight Military Operational Specialties. I was a medic in Vietnam (awarded the Combat Medical Badge) and also served as a Medical Research Specialist with a Special Forces Unit at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
First Vietnam veteran to be commander of major American Legion post
January 29, 2024
About the author:
Mike Thompson is 81 years old and is currently an award-winning photographer and writer. He has written a winning western novel, "The Turbulent Trail," an award-winning stage play with three Vietnam veterans talking, "Ashes Are Ashes," two award-winning short western screen plays, " Younger and Faster," and "Just the Way I Told 'Em," and lyrics to a country-western song, "Cowboy's a State of Mind," recorded and an award-winning CD of that song by J.R. Dunn and The Lost Frijoles Band. This partial list does not include other books and audio books. The latest award-winning photograph is "Springtime in Texas." He has also worked in stage and film productions. Too much more to list.
