Wayne Chalker

   Name: Wayne Chalker
   Location: Maine
   585th from: July 67-July 68j
   Job in 585th: Driver/Arms Room
   Hobby:



I joined the Army on 6February 66 at Ft. Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY and was shipped to Ft. Dix, NJ induction center. From there I was flown to Ft. Hood, Texas where I became an 11B20 with the 1/41st Infantry (Mechanized), 2 Armored Division. I took my basic with the 1/41st, advanced infantry training, and two week jungle training. In addition to humping the bad lands with the 1/41st , I was trained as a small arms specialist.

In July 67, I received orders for RVN. At Bien Hoa, RVN 92nd Replacement Center, I fully expected to use my infantry skills I had been honing for 1 1/2yrs, but was told they are desperate for truck drivers up north. The next day I found myself in the 585th TC compound.

SFC Small told me I was going to learn to drive a truck; I had just gotten my car license at Ft. Hood just a few months previous. After driving around the company compound a few times and backing up once without hitting a bunker, I was told truck #4 was my baby.

Not long after, someone did some research and found out the infantry did a great job teaching me all about small arms. I was then assigned to the 585th arms room. From 7/67 until we shipped north in February 68, I spent about 2/3 of the time taking care of weapons, and 1/3 of the time driving #4 and taking turns on the gun truck.

In Phu Bai, I turned my arms room responsibilities over to Jesse Penalver from Texas and took up #4 taking rides to Hue, Camp Evans, Quang Tri, and DaNang.

When it came time to leave in 7/68 I found out I was being shipped back to Texas-Ft. Hood. I said no way and asked to extend for six months and take advantage of the six month early out they were offering then. I also told my Grandmother in NYC of my plans. She said �no way� too and got her one star general friend in the Pentagon to change my orders to the Army Pictorial Center in Long Island City, Queens, NYC. Capt. Hall called me into his office, and said I don�t know how you did it and showed me my change of orders where I would be an hour from my house. It was a no brainer.

I was discharged 7February 69 and returned to civilian life.

After being discharged, I was a Police Officer with the Nassau County Police Dept., NY for 11 years. During my career with the PD, I learned the electrical trade during my days off. I moved to Maine in 1983 after retiring from the PD. In 1985, I became a U.S. Customs Agent working the northern border here in Maine. During this time, I had a part time electrical business.

In May 2004, I retired from Customs and am now doing my electrical work full time.

I like to work with wood, travel, cross country ski, and try and find as many former 585th guys as possible.

E Mail: Wayne at [email protected]



Return to previous page