Well the day finally came where we learned of our next assignment. There were basically two options, Germany and Vietnam. We all know the odds on favorite, Vietnam, but hoped we would get Germany. As fate would have it I was going to Vietnam.
I was now a trained member of an armor crew and I was ready for regular duty with the Army. My reassignment to Vietnam was not received very favorably. Vietnam was an unpopular wars and for many of us the purpose of the war was really unknown. I had a few decisions to make over the next few weeks.
My next assignment was actually to the Army Overseas Replacement Station in Oakland California. This was the gathering point from where deployment to Vietnam took place. Unfortunately, I do not have my orders to the replacement station.
But before Vietnam I had a two week leave where I was potentially saying my last goodbyes to my family and friends. My PMOS was a combat MOS and in Vietnam a combat MOS saw combat.