I was at Dong Ha, South Vietnam when it was rocketed one morning in July 1969 by the North Vietnamese Army.
The attack occurred on the day before I was to depart Dong Ha and report to El Toro, California, for discharge from the Marine Corps after four years active duty.
I ‘d just exited my hooch, when I heard the nearby Dong Ha airstrip being hit in quick succession by three rockets.
Then I saw a fourth rocket to my front, about 50 feet above and beyond me, moving from port to starboard and decelerating.
I dropped to the deck, it exploded – and I was ready to leave Vietnam.
At El Toro, I observed Marines fresh from Vietnam, like myself, about to be discharged with stress-related impairments.
A few walked around in a daze.
One pounded his head on his pillow while others moaned at night.
Some were jumpy, and I was pretty uptight, myself.
However, it was good to meet Cpl Jimmie Courtney, who I’d gone through boot camp with at Parris Island, SC four years earlier.
Following my discharge, and in uniform, I went to the LA Airport and booked a flight to Honolulu.
You know, Vietnam was a very unpopular war, and Vietnam veterans were sometimes treated poorly upon their return to the United States.
But, no one disrespected me at the airport.
In Honolulu, I boarded an Aloha Airlines flight to Kaua‘i to return to my wife, Ginger (Beralas) Soboleski, born and raised on Kauai, and our daughter, Michelle, at home in Lihue.
Then on August 1, 1969, Ginger greeted me in the carport of 3221 Jerves Street and we’ve been together ever since.
It took a while to adjust to civilian life, but I’ve no complaints.
To the contrary — the VA has assisted me with health care, a home loan, educational benefits, and compensation for being a disabled Vietnam veteran.
And, best of all, if 17-year-old Hank Soboleski from Naugatuck, Connecticut had not joined the Marines, he would not have had the good fortune of marrying Ginger in faraway Hawai‘i.
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Hank Soboleski has been a resident of Kauai since the 1960s. Hank’s love of the island and its history has inspired him, in conjunction with The Garden Island Newspaper, to share the island’s history weekly. The collection of these articles can be found here: https://bit.ly/2IfbxL9 and here https://bit.ly/2STw9gi Hank can be reached at hssgms@gmail.com
I love this story. Congratulations for making it home to a good life.
Wonderful story! Out of so much darkness, into light and life and love.
Thank you for your service in the US Marines Hank.
Thanks for your service Hank.
Did you know that Jerves Street is named for William C. Jerves, of Hanamaulu Kauai ( my uncle) who died in Europe in 1945 while serving this country in WWII.
Good to remember William C. Jerves.
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2014/10/26/lifestyles/lihue-plantation-camp-a-street-names/
My older brother went into the Vietnam war. We were still young yet. He’s retired and living in a care home in California. He was one of the officers assigned a command post to the military base. Just to guard everyone going in and out. That was his job.
He went to Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi. Just like you see in TV. He traveled the world. I never really got to see him a lot. But he is in California living in a care home now.
Military took care of him. His wife left him. Along with his kids. So just him now there.
I’m very proud to read your story, Hank. I salute you for your brave and honorable service. I too served as a demolition specialist in Germany in 1961 to 1964 when the Berlin wall was being beefed up. Tried to reenlist and serve in Vietnam with my brother but no can do…would be returned to Germany. Hope to meet you around Thanksgiving.
Welcome home brother! I lived on Kauai late 70’$ and early 80’$. Wonderful times and great surf! I knew a couple of Vietnam veterans. Ross nuclear Neville a helicopter pilot,And Mr. Miller who was a VW mechanic. Great guys! My father was a Navy corpsman for 30 years and last base he was at was El Toro USMC air station. Blessings and Aloha!
Great story Hank! Thank you for sharing. I was at Yankee Station on a Destroyer off of the coast of Vietnam protecting aircraft carriers as they flew sorties. As you said it wasn’t a popular war but locals were respectful to those who served.
Thank you for your story. I have many relatives and friends who fought in Vietnam. God bless all of you.
Thank you. My father in law recently an x marine enlisted at 16 and was with the 3rd marine 2nd mountain battalion. He started at Da Nang, 3 purple hearts. Never talked about Veitnam and he loved to talk.
Love your story appreciate your service my dad served 1968 qauang nam province two tours KIA miss him every day.