Central Nebraska Veterans Home – Kearney, Nebraska
Saturday May 16th, Cheyenne, WY (Day Five) 
State Coordinator: Bill “Mongo” Luft NE
Locations:
Begins in Cheyenne, WY, rides through North Platt and Kearney, before ending in Grand Island, NE
Daily Participant Bio: Don Jenkins
USMC 1962 to 1966 – enlisted
I was in boot camp when the Bay of Pigs happened.
I went to communication school at MCRD San Diego and later went to 2nd/5th at Camp Pendleton in 1963, being trained to be a forward air controller. That’s when Pres. Kennedy was killed.
Jan. 1964 we were sent on a normal 13-month overseas tour which ended up in Vietnam for 6 months. We then returned to Camp Pendleton.
We were at Camp Pendleton for 3 months then returned to Vietnam as a raider battalion flying from a carrier in land on missions. We did this for 6 months then moved in-country at Phu Bai in 1965, where we were the most northern US troops. While in Phue Bai, we flew from there to any point in the north half of South Vietnam. I was always assigned as the FAC for whichever company went on a raid, to call air strikes and medical evacuations. I went on the first wave every time.
In March 66, I was told I wasn’t to go on anymore raids, it was too close to my discharge date. One day my Sgt came to me and said, “There’s a chopper coming in for you, get on it and get the f**k out of here!”
I landed at Travis Air Force Base when I was involuntarily extended for 6 months. I spent the first month in the Balboa hospital with hookworm, then went to 29 Palms Calif. where I was a weightlifting instructor. I was discharged July 17th, 1966.
I had a brand new 1966 Triumph 650 Bonniville when I was discharged. It was a 2-day ride home to Coos Bay Oregon. I got stopped two times for speeding but only got one ticket 3 miles from home.
2014 was my first ride with the NVAR. A good friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I asked Ruben If he had ever ridden his Harley to Rolling Thunder, and he said no. I told him I wanted to buy his bike and ride to the wall, which I did with the NVAR.
Thank you, Don.
Agenda:
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie, Cheyenne, WY (6:30am)
North Platte Veterans Memorial, North Platt, NE (12:55pm ETA)
Central Nebraska Veterans Home, Kearney, NE (4:15pm ETA)
American Legion Post 300, Grand Island, NE (6:30pm)
Thank a veteran today,
Thank You – Sitrep Admin
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