War hero: Jim Troutt saved Gen. Westmoreland s life in Vietnam
ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Jim Troutt of Lincolnville is a retired Army veteran. He knows what it's like to be spit upon and defamed for doing his duty and doing it well.
He was sent to South Vietnam in June 1965, and was the only man in his unit to return alive 13 months later.
He received the Bronze Star on May 21, 1966.
The tall soldier had a commanding presence and was a born leader. In South Vietnam, he served as a platoon sergeant for troops with a mission to provide road security. He commanded a fleet of armored personnel carriers.
One day as they were traveling down the road on a mission, an entourage of military personnel came up behind them. General William Westmoreland, who was overseeing the entire military operation in South Vietnam, was in the lead car.
As he began to pass, Sergeant Troutt and his crew stood up and waved for him to stop. He did, but the next vehicle went on around him and was blown up before their eyes.
Westmoreland knew the commander saved his life, and he didn't forget it. The last night before Jim left South Vietnam to return to the United States, Westmoreland invited him and several others to supper.
Jim was considering re-enlisting and wondered where he would be stationed if he did so.
He was told he likely would be sent back to Vietnam as a military adviser. He felt if he did that, he wouldn't make it out alive, so he decided to quit the Army.
He was discharged in Vietnam and transported to Hawaii with a planeload of other men to be debriefed.
After they left the airport, they were shocked to encounter people who were protesting, calling them names, and spitting on them. They changed into civilian clothes and burned their uniforms.
Upon returning to the United States, no crowds were there to welcome them home. Jim felt humiliated and depressed.
A history of service
The commander's service in Vietnam was the culmination of 11 years in the military.
An Illinois native, he entered the service in 1955 just shy of his 18th birthday. After basic training, he was sent to Fort Riley to become a part of The Big Red One and was placed in the honor guard by the officer in charge.
They led parades, were in charge of hoisting and lowering flags on the base, did guard duty, and went to military funerals. They also marched when government or military officials arrived on base.
While at Fort Riley, Jim met Patsy Haefner of Lincolnville. They were married in September 1957, at St. John's Lutheran Church, while Jim was home on leave after six months in West Berlin.
In Germany, he guarded the last living war criminal from World War II.
Patsy joined him in West Berlin for two years. They were the only young couple on the base.
"We enjoyed being in the military," Patsy said. "We had a lot of interesting experiences."
They returned to the United States and Fort Riley. After Jim was sent to Vietnam, Patsy returned to Lincolnville to live.
According to Jim's letters home, the first few months weren't so bad, although danger was a constant companion. He received $35 a month pay, which wasn't bad considering he had no place to spend it.
He got gift boxes from home regularly. He and his fellow soldiers received so many goodies they gained weight between missions.
On Dec. 20, 1965, Jim wrote his parents while out in the field, expressing thanks for their prayers.
"I do a bit of praying myself, even though I have been at war for the past two Sundays," he said. "God's house is a church, but it can also be any place you happen to be at the time."
The thought of his wife and small daughter back home gave him the courage to face each new day with hope and the desire to live.
He said he wasn't affected by the anti-war propaganda which was spreading throughout the United States.
"I was given a job to do and I was doing it to the best of my ability," he said.
Jim's unit was stationed just seven miles from a Viet Cong stronghold. Snipers were a constant problem.
One time, while he was out on reconnaissance, his unit came under attack and many were killed. Replacements arrived frequently, and by the end of his service, his unit was replaced three times.
Back to the military
After returning to the States, Jim became a civilian and was reunited with his wife, Patsy in Kansas. He represented the military at funerals for deceased soldiers in Marion County and surrounding areas. He said he felt lonesome because nobody wanted to talk about Vietnam.
He said he felt rejected, sometimes even by fellow veterans.
He had recurring nightmares. Once while hunting with relatives, he instinctively crawled under a tree in fear after hearing a gun shot.
He took a job as a loan officer with Liberty Loan Corporation in Derby and after two years was transferred to Springfield, Ill.
Despite his bad experiences as a Vietnam veteran, in August 1978, Jim decided to join the Illinois National Guard. On weekends, he trained military police reservists and riflemen. He also served as a security guard at a community college.
In May 1987, he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves, where he continued as an ROTC instructor in marksmanship and map reading.
"We felt proud to be in the military," Patsy said. "Our friends and neighbors expressed a lot of patriotism."
Jim finally retired from the Armed Services on Sept. 9, 1996, as sergeant first class.
He had served 25 years, nine months, and 13 days.
Jim and Patsy moved to Lincolnville in 1997 to take care of Patsy's father, Ted Haefner. Following his death several years ago, they continue to reside there.
They have four daughters: Tammy, 41, Springfield, Ill.; JoLana, 35, Little Rock, Ark.; Jennifer Woods, 33, Lincolnville; and Tiffany, 30, Lost Springs. They have four grandsons.
Jim has spoken to high school students from time to time in support of the military.
Patsy believes things will be better for Iraq War veterans than for Vietnam veterans.
"I see our country more determined not to make our guys feel like that again," she said.
