Vietnam Veteran Robert Moxley Visits Yamhill-Carlton High School

          Robert Moxley was 18 years old living in Tigard, Oregon when he was drafted into the Marines, for the Vietnam War in 1968. He began bootcamp July 24, which went for 8 weeks instead of 12, due to his skill in the camp. He arrived in Vietnam Christmas morning and was told that he would be apart of the 1-9th infantry, also known as “The Walking Dead” infantry. At 19 while taking out a machine gun nest, he was shot in the head, however the bullet went through his helmet. After three months he became a Sergeant of 15 men, however, they often were killed so he rarely had all 15 men. He discussed that without his Flak jacket, he would be dead, as it protected him from shrapnel. Most of the combat he experienced was at night, and the only times that the men were “safe” from combat was when Monsoons were occuring, and it was nearly impossible to make any offensive moves. He was injured many times while he was in the war, and even pronounced dead at one point. His parents thought he was dead for over two weeks before they were notified he wasn’t. Moxley was awarded two purple hearts, a bronze star, and a Navy commendation for heroism. He worked for the postal service after his military service. For many years, he did not want to talk about his experience but now he feels that “people need to know what war is about”.