VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO-WAWV) — Garry Hall’s four-man tank, along with five Marines riding on the back of the tank, were thrust into a chaotic and deadly attack by the North Vietnamese. After a long dangerous night, U.S. troops rescued Gary Hall, Charlie Tucker and John Rodriguez, all had suffered various wounds.
Hall also found out for sure that the driver Jimmy Jaynes had been killed.
“It’s one of those things that never diminished,” said Hall.
Hall and his crew members were treated for their injuries
“I was hit in the right leg. It’s hard to imagine I know but with all the chaos surrounding you the
pain didn’t enter into the picture until the next morning,” Hall remembered.
It took some time, but Hall recovered and after two months, he was shipped home, and went
to Vincennes University. An instructor asked him to tell the class about his time in Vietnam. He was proud of his service and accepted the offer.
But during his presentation a young lady asked, “How many babies did you kill over there?”
That was one of several encounters he had with people, who openly criticized his service in
Vietnam. Those things were probably hurt my soul more than the combat experiences did, because the way we were actually treated when we came home,” said Hall.
So for years, Hall kept his memories of Vietnam to himself.
Eventually, he attended a tanker reunion in D.C, and connected with other veterans. In 2007, he was reunited with John Rodriguez, his crew mate, they had not seen each other since ’68.
“We brought up a lot of all times of the short time that we spent together and he died two
months later,” Hall reflected.
He talked with his other crew member Charlie Tucker over the phone, but they never got
together and Tucker passed away in 2019
Now as for the five Marines who were on the back of the tank, Hall doesnt’ know what happened
to them after the attack.
But then, 30 years later, the fire team leader a Marine named Gil Hernandez contacted him. Hall learned that Hernandez was severely wounded in the attack. It was so bad, that he was put into a body bag, until a corpsman saw movement.
“He survived and he is still alive to this day. He’s a very productive individual, but he was never
able to hold a job again,” said Hall.
Sadly, Hall says Hernandez doesn’t know what happened to the other four Marines.
‘We don’t know and of course he doesn’t know and he doesn’t recall any names because
he’s lost all memory of that. I wish I had more details on whatever happened to the rest of the fire team, said Hall.
Garry Hall received the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He’s been married to his wife Donna for 55 years, and they have two children , and several grandchildren. He worked in the real estate business, and continues to support other veterans.
Without question, he is a proud American and a very proud U.S. Marine.
