Vietnam - 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery, 9th Infantry Division
I was notified by the draft board to report by Oct. 7, 1968 to Fort Knox, Kentucky for nine weeks of basic training. Three weeks into basic training, the Army had a "Family Weekend" so Fred and Mary Jancigar graciously drove Rita from Cleveland down to Ft. Knox to visit me. Seven weeks into basic training I was the first person to shoot expert on the rifle range in our company so I was granted a weekend pass. Off I went to Cleveland to visit Rita. After basic training , I was transferred to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, for nine weeks of artillery training. I came home for Christmas and got engaged to Rita on Dec. 24, 1968. After Christmas I returned to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to continue artillery training. I came home to Cleveland for a short leave in February before going to Vietnam. Flew from Cleveland to L.A. and stayed with Jim & Jean for two days in Pomona. Jim got up late and I almost missed my flight from L.A. to San Francisco. A short Bus ride from San Francisco to Travis Air Force Base was all that remained.
Left for Vietnam on March 9, 1969. I was assigned to the "9th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade", "C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery Regiment" in the village of Tan Tru in the Mekong Delta. I was assigned to a 105mm Howitzer Battery. The first gun I was assigned to was the old Split Trail designated the M101A1. The Battery then received the new lightweight M102 Air Mobile Howitzers later in my tour of duty. During the twelve months that I was in Vietnam my time was shared between being on the gun crew, being a sniper, and also a forward observer in the field with the infantry.
Split
trails 105M was our first gun
Later we fired the lighter airmobil 105M
I received two Presidential Unit Citations with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Civil Merit Award and the Vietnam Service Medal. I left Vietnam on March 15, 1970, arrived back in Cleveland on March 21, 1970. Rita and I were married two weeks later on April 4, 1970. On April 6, 1970 we drove to Ft. Knox, Kentucky where I was assigned for two months. I was then assigned temporary duty to train the National Guard and Reserve on the basics of artillery at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Upon arrival in Pennsylvania Rita and I could not find a place to live off base so I drove Rita back to Cleveland. I searched for a place to live for two weeks. Rita then joined me in Pennsylvania where we remained for two months, when I was again reassigned by the Army to Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Rita and I remained at Ft. Knox until October 7, 1970 when I was mustered out of active duty. I returned to civilian life joining Honeywell on October 15, 1970 where I remain today, 32 years later.
Firing in the "Plain of Reeds" with the Navy supporting us
Prepairing for a night ambush on the "Hunter Killer Team"
Select the link above to read about a REAL AMERICA HERO
His family still wonders about the fate of WILLIAM EDWARD SKIVINGTON JR.
PFC Skivington Jr. served with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade
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