Scope and Contents

Less than one linear foot of personal correspondance, photographs, Purple Heart and Bronze Star Awards, and books detail Arthur Van Puymbrouck's military service in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division.

Biographical / Historical

Arthur J. Van Puymbrouck was born in 1945 in Duluth, Minnesota. Van Puymbrouck was accepted into the Air Force on a delayed entry when he was drafted. The draft board would not wait for the Air Force delayed entry so Van Puymbrouck joined the US Army, beginning a two year service contract. He attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Dix, New Jersey from 30 October 1967 through March 1968, at which point he transferred to NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. In June of that year, Van Puymbrouck returned to Ft. Dix as a Squadron Leader until he was shipped to Vietnam ranked as a Staff Sergeant (SSG) Squadron Leader for 1st Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. On 21 January 1969, Vanpuymbrouck became the Ammunitions Chief for Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) of the 2nd/12th/25th Infantry Division.

During his service, Van Puymbrouck received the following medals: Bronze Star with V, four Purple Hearts, National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. In 1969, Van Puymbrouck was discharged from the US Army as a Staff Sergeant E-6. He then served as a police officer in Seattle, Washington, for over 25 years until his retirement.