Thomas W Chatburn III

Thomas W Chatburn 111
Merrill, Oregon
Died at the Battle of Loc Ninh Plantation
Panel O8E-Row 035

I remember the day I arrived at Recon and was assigned to my tent, I opened the flap and walked in ,not a word was said, everyone just looked at me. Then someone started to tell war stories and how new guys never make it, how they make the new guy walk point and the new guy has to go out alone at night ,by this time I had enough and wanted to go home, I was scared. Then they started talking about Battles and how bad it was, this whole thing was getting worse and I didn't know what the truth was and what was not. Then I look up and at the far end of the tent I see this guy smiling at me ,then he waves me to the end of the tent ,tells me to sit down ,he tells me" not to worry the guys are just trying to scare you.” Then he told me to stick with him and he would show me what to do and I would do alright then. We went to the field I did stick with Thomas and he did show me what to do, I never forgot that and the next time a new guy came, I was the one smiling at the end of the tent.

This picture of Thomas is how I remember him that day.