INTERVIEW WITH VIETNAM VETERAN ROBERT COURT part one
An Interview with Vietnam Veteran Robert Court
Editor's comment: Robert and Debby Court are lifetime members of the Seymour Community Historical Society and avid supporters of the museum. They have always attended exhibits and speakers on military topics. Several times it was mentioned that I would like to include an interview with a Vietnam Veteran in the newsletter and install it on the military kiosk at the museum. No one volunteered until several months ago Debby mentioned Robert was ready to be interviewed.
Robert, who was a medic, served in Vietnam for 14 months and often was under enemy fire. He was one of the first to land in Cambodia in 1970; his helicopter was shot down, he saved lives and had his life saved. While modest about his experiences, he answered every question and related a compelling story. I didn't realize the degree of his commitment until I read the book "Twelve Days In May" by Jerald Berry. It is the previously untold story of the 3-506th Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division. Thank you Robert Court for your distinguished service.
"I am a 1967 graduate of Seymour High School. In July of 1969 I received a notice that I was drafted and that I was to report in August. I went to Fort Campbell in Kentucky for eight weeks of basic training. It was a grueling time. I talked with some of the other guys that I went to school with and it sounded like they sure had it easier than I did. Three other guys from the Seymour area were with me, During the eight weeks of basics we were tested and I was picked to be a medic. I have no clue how that came about. I took a test and something must have showed up. Ironically, my first cousin, neighbor Earl "Junior" Court was drafted about when I was and he became a medic also. His tour was in Alaska.
I did my medical training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. While there I met Ira Culbertson, who lived near the base. His family originally was from the Seymour area. Culbertson Road is named after them. He was in World War II and the air force for 20 years and was stationed in San Antonio. He received the Seymour Times-Press and when he read that I was coming down there he came on base and found me. On weekends he would take me to his house for home cooked meals. I didn't know the man from Adam, but I was so thankful for what he did.
A.I.T. was eight weeks of medical training and then I knew I would be sent to Vietnam. I was really scared. I thought, 'Am I intelligent enough for this, do I know enough?' But it seemed to work out. What I needed to know, I knew. They gave us a 'cheat sheet' that mentioned all the drugs and what they were used for. We were supposed to get time off before being deployed, but the top brass wanted to send us directly to Vietnam. We argued and objected and finally we were given two weeks off to come home for Christmas. The military didn't want us to come home because so many were deserting and going to Canada. When I got back I was deployed with our destination Vietnam and Cam Ranh Bay."