By John Montesano
The Fox Valley Breakfast Club Herschel Luckinbill Veteran of the Month for October 2021 is Richard Bee.
Rich was born October 15, 1947 in Aurora. His father died of cancer in 1962. Being one of six, he quit school to work and help pay the bills. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in August 1967. Rich’s first tour in Vietnam was February 1968 to February 1969. He spent his first year at a fire base in Blnh PhU’O’c Province with the 9th Infantry Division, 60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Battalion Mechanized, Bravo Company, 3rd Platoon, the Bunny Platoon. Rich had been in Vietnam only for three weeks, when during a mine clearing operation, a command-detonated land mine was set off underneath Rich’s APC (armored personnel carrier) and blew him 60 feet in the air. He landed in a muddy field, which saved his life. Nine others on the APC were not as fortunate and did not survive the blast. Rich does not recall the blast or what he did for the next few months.
“It’s something that makes you grow up quick and I mean really makes you grow up. You learn quickly that making friends was either non-existent or very hard because you’re here today and gone tomorrow. The turnover of people was just unbelievable. You get someone assigned to your platoon and you don’t even know the name; and in a couple of days from now, they are gone. So, you don’t even put in the effort to try to learn names. You just try to ensure if you have the knowledge to keep them alive; and keep you alive.”
Rich was in some of the fiercest battles during the TET offensive in February 1968, including fighting in the streets of Saigon, Vietnam. He experienced his unit being overrun on three occasions: “Total devastation,” he said. “You grow numb to things.
“I saw so many horrific things and I do mean horrific. It’s just hard to fathom.”
One of the few comrades that he had gotten close to, died in his arms, a result of friendly fire. Another time, while on patrol at night after curfew, he fired on someone who looked to have a weapon, in a place where it was reported that there were no friendlies in the area. It turned out to be a young civilian. Those two incidents stuck to him like none of the others. “You try to put it in the back of your mind; to compartmentalized it. Some times you can but many times you can’t,” he said.
Rich sought help for his PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). He developed a drinking problem, that he carried into civilian life. Eventually, he stopped drinking and is sober to this day.
In 1970-1971, Rich reenlisted and was back in Vietnam in the Mekong Delta with the 34th Engineer Brigade; 1971-1974 in Wildflecken, Germany, with the 54th Engineer Brigade, 1st Infantry; 1974-1978, at Ft. Riley, Kan. with the 34th Battalion, 1st Infantry Division.
Rich received an honorable discharge in March 1979 and returned to Aurora. During his service, he received’ the Combat Infantryman Badge, a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against a hostile force, and the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.
In 1979-1987, he worked for Sealmaster Bearing in Aurora as a supervisor. In 1989-2010 he worked for Ballco Mfg. in Aurora as a maintenance manager.
Rich is retired and lives in Aurora with Bonnie, his significant other of 32 years. Together they have six children from previous marriages and 13 grandchildren. They enjoy camping at Wood Haven Lakes Campground 50 miles west of Aurora. Rich is a car-show buff. He owns a 1957 Chevy, that has received numerous awards.
Rich’s oldest son is an Army veteran and served in Desert Storm. His oldest grandson is in the Army and his nephew is in the Air Force. Rich had uncles in the Army (Korean War), Air Force, and Navy.