Vietnam War Veteran
Roger Gill
Interviewed by:
Will Campbell and Garrison Guzzeau
1965
2017
"I was always one that, put the welfare of my men ahead of most everything."
~ Roger Gill (13:13)
Name:
Roger Gill
Date of Birth:
1945
Branch of Service:
Army
Dates of Service:
1965 - 1993
Location of Military Service:
Fort Sill, OK
Fort Lewis, WA
Fort Hood, TX
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Residence at Time of Interview:
Eastham, Massachusetts
Roger Gill's Story:
The stereotype of some veterans in our society is not always the whole story. While some may not look back on their service in a positive light, others may take home their fondest memories from their time in the military. Roger Gill brings a new perspective on the experiences of a Vietnam veteran. He grew up on Cape Cod fixing cars with his father. At the time he was drafted, Roger Gill was married with one child and twins on the way. While able to get a deferment until the twins were born, he decided it would be best to get his service out of the way. But being pulled into the Army in 1965 would be the start of Roger Gill’s 28 years career in the armed forces.
Before entering Vietnam, he trained with a group of soldiers in Fort Lewis, Washington. It is here he met Sergeant McNerney, a winner of the congressional medal of honor, whose dedication to his troops would rub off on Roger Gill. From an air conditioned office in Nha Trang, Roger Gill would disperse air support to troops in the field. Working a 12 hour night shift, he would be responsible for briefing other members of the headquarters for the following shift. The commanding officers and fellow soldiers he met were as big a part of his service as the wars he took part in. While not always able to give the troops what they needed, the troops he did command were his number one priority. From visiting the troops he supported in the field, to the connections with his officers and friends at boot camp he continued to maintain relationships during and after the war.
At the end of the Vietnam War he continued to serve in the reserves and National Guard. After his service he was most excited to see his children for the first time and be reunited with his family. Roger Gill continues to encourage others to support the military and is proud to have served. Even now, he continues to support our troops through reunions and groups to help other veterans with their return to civilian life. His message to student’s today is to live life hate free and focus on helping their local communities.
Even after the Vietnam War, Roger Gill continued to serve in the reserve and National Guard, maintaining his relationships with the people that he met along the way.
David H. McNerney was Roger Gill's commanding officer in boot camp and inspired him to put the welfare of his troops above all else.
First Sergeant McNerney won the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam.
Roger Gill often gives others a copy of Honor in the Valley of Tears.
The documentary tells the story of the men of A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division, who suffered great losses in a lesser known battle in Vietnam. Roger Gill wishes to spread the story of the brave men he trained with under Sergeant McNerney before his time in Vietnam.
By the end of Roger Gill's military career in 1988, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
