Local Vietnam Veterans recall their experiences
Page 4 • Wednesday, November 6, 2013 • The Hammonton Gazette
VeteraNs, from?Page 1
on page 3.]
They were all airmen from Hammonton
assigned to the 355th Fighting Falcons (F100 Super Sabres Aircraft) at Phu Cat Airbase in the Republic of Vietnam. The
following Vietnam Veterans were participated in the interview at The Gazette. Their
names and duties are listed:
• William D’Agostino, flightline; aircraft
mechanic, hydraulic systems; Augmentee
perimeter guard at night
• John F. DeLucca, personnel headquarters CBPO (Consolidated Base Personnel
Officer), (New Arrivals Processing); Augmentee perimeter guard at night
tion Facilities Experimental Center, now
the William J. Hughes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center) Atlantic City and were then assigned to the
355th TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron)
“Fighting Falcons.” They were activated in
January 1968, according to DeLucca.
Before leaving for Vietnam as young airmen, all the men said they knew each other
from living in Hammonton.
“It was a small town. Everybody knows
everybody,” DeMarco said.
The bond they formed in Hammonton
only became stronger overseas, they said.
“We had people to talk to all the time. We
always found each other on the field, on the
flightline . . . if you needed something, it
was there,” Maimone said.
The tightness of the group made them
stand out, as did their status as National
Guardsmen.
“National Guard were better than the regular Air Force,” Pino said, drawing a knowing laugh from the other veterans at the
conference table.
Memories flowed about the heat, the
monsoons, the mortar rounds, machine gun
fire all night long, and ROKs (Republic of
Korea soldiers) helping to protect the base.
The men were sent to boot camp in 1968,
after President Lyndon Johnson activated
the National Guard. They went from Atlantic City to Myrtle Beach, South Car-
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Courtesy Images
William D’Agostino’s and
Sam Pino’s images from
their time in the service.
• Ricky DeMarco,
flightline; aircraft mechanic, engines
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