Scope and Contents

Less than one linear foot of selective service orders, award certificates, discharge papers, 33 letters home, information papers on separation from Vietnam and an excerpt on chapters from Gene Stanley Groves' personal journal document his service tour and experiences in Vietnam, 1971. The correspondence describes the events that took place while training at Fort Ord, California and his tour. Dates of materials are primarily from 1970-1972.

Biographical / Historical

Gene Stanley Groves (Pampa, Texas) joined the United States Army on January 19, 1970 in Amarillo, Texas at the age of twenty. He completed training at Fort Ord, California in Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st BCT Brigade, Platoon 2, and completed US Army Engineer School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He served in Vietnam from August 1970 until August 1971 with LOH 101st Airborne; Troop C, 16th Air Calvary, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion Headquarters. He was wounded in action on March 4, 1971 and received the Purple Heart. On May 5, 1971 his pilot's aircraft was shot down near Vi Thanh, Chuong Thien Province and defense was maintained until being extracted from the dangerous area. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat. Groves received an honorable discharge as a Specialist 5 in the United States Army on January 1, 1976. During his service he was awarded the: Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Department of the Army Certificate of Appreciation.