Doc Melson's Place

These pages are dedicated to the members of the Fifth Infantry Division (Mechanized) who fought in the then Republic of Vietnam; a conflict which was never really classified as a declared war, but as a "Police Action".

This conflict was to tear this nation apart politically for a period of approximately 12 years, was to be the undoing of a US President, and gave impetus to the "Peace Movement " of the 1960's and early 1970's, along with the myriads of marches on Washington, civil disobedience, the shootings at Kent State, and the first "television war" this country ever experienced. It is a conflict that still affects many lives to this day, both of the combatants and their families. Due to this, the casualty count of that war was and is countless.

The Vietnam conflict was to be an enormous test to this nation, but much more so, it would be a test to the courage and humanity of our American fighting men who were to go there in answer to their country's calling.

These pages are about one such unit of men. It is the story of the American fighting man as seen through the eyes of one of their medics.

I am that medic. Over the many years since I have returned from my personal experience in the then Republic of South Vietnam, it has been my wish to present the story of my unit there; the Fifth Infantry Division, as seen through my own eyes. There was a very human side to what occurred in those battle grounds in Vietnam both in my unit and in many of the American units that fought in that war. There were many levels of experience that are not talked about as a matter of course.

This story is a story of "Doc" and his men; it is in many ways a reflection of the human condition at war, sometimes heroic, at times only too human. At times a glorious thing to behold as men sacrificed much for their friends, but at other times; a sad reflection of the anger and violence that war engenders in a man's heart. In sum; a story of humankind and it's strengths and frailties in this mini-cosmos called war.

This story is in a great part due to the efforts of the men of Charlie and Alpha Companies 1/61st who made sure that "Doc" was kept alive to help their buddies and thus made it possible that this "Doc" was able to return home and remember the sacrifices made by so many in his past.