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James Ehlers
Vitae
Picture
"Đông Hà, 1968", 4.875" x 7.75", Engraving, 2018
​Thomas, Marine, Vietnam
​

Well by then oh I had learned long ago that every time somebody dropped a stripper clip the bulk loadable magazine, I’d pick it up. I’d find empty bandoliers and empty strippers and I’d pick them up until I literally humped 500 rounds. There’s no way I was going anywhere without my bandoliers. I had four loaded magazines and my loose bandoliers.
 
I don’t even know how long it lasted. From when I began to fire to when I stopped, it couldn’t have lasted more than two or three minutes at the at the most. That training worked - slow, accurate pick your target, hit it, go to the next one. I just finished with them and that’s when I got shot. I got shot through the lower right leg. I pushed myself off of the [armored car] and I landed on my face. I just knew I had to get away from the armor so I started pulling myself on my elbows and my hands. Everything stopped working. I just remember pulling my Ka-Bar off my side and running it upside my flak jacket, cutting the stuff loose, and by then I could pull myself. I had my flak jacket on but I didn’t have all this other crap dragging on the ground beside me, and I went for the ditch.
Using storytelling and art, EVAC bridges the gap between civilians and veterans by educating the public about life in the military.

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  • Home
  • About
  • Portfolio
    • View All
    • By War Era >
      • World War II
      • Korean War
      • Vietnam War
      • Peacetime
      • Desert Storm
      • Iraq/ Afghanistan
      • Virtual Exhibition Women in the Military
  • CATALOG
  • Letters of Support
  • EVAC Project Vitae
  • News
  • Contact