Royal Hettling was assigned to the 483rd security police squadron canine unit stationed at Cam Rahn Bay Air Base from 1970 to 1971. Service dogs were used in Vietnam for scouting, sentry duty, mine/tunnel detection, and water patrols. During his tour, Royal and his dog Thunder went out at night to patrol camp perimeters, fuel dumps, and other areas that the Viet Cong often targeted.
In this raw, unfiltered interview, Royal recounts his experiences in Vietnam and how that has motivated him and his fellow veteran brother Charlie to establish a Vietnam history museum in the small town of Minneota, Minnesota
Royal and Charlie are both featured in the Postcards documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIjTTtoPH_A
Chapters:
0:00 "We weren't old enough to have a beer."
0:40 Introduction
5:55 Pepper
9:33 Attack on the Base
13:17 Thunder
15:45 Sentry Duty
36:36 Conversation with Vietnamese maid
40:37 "Thunder was my dog."
51:36 A Need for Closure
58:01 Going Home
Postcards is an award-winning series showcasing the arts, history, and cultural heritage of western Minnesota and beyond. Funding for Postcards comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
To watch more Postcards visit https://www.pioneer.org/postcards/ or https://video.pioneer.org/show/postcards/
Pioneer PBS is a viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. Support our mission and become a member at https://www.pioneer.org/supportpioneer/
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