VIETNAM MEMORY: Ron Orris served in the Army in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1965 and 1966. He was in a unit that disbursed the pay of troops coming in from combat in the countryside on their way to R&R.

His unit was very popular with the troops, Ron said. He had made friends with a Lt. Garcia on his visits, and Garcia brought him a gift on one occasion. 

“He would always come to our compound to get paid. He came in and said, ‘I have something for you,’” Ron said.

It was a simple crossbow, about three feet long and about the same width. It was made of a dense wood and was the weapon Hmong tribesmen used before the U.S. military armed them with M-16 rifles.  

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