Jim La Pointe - U.S. Army 1964-71 | Vietnam War Tunnel Rat

Jim La Pointe joined the Army in 1964 when he was 17 years old and left the service in 1971 as an E5. He did four tours in Vietnam, received 3 Purple Hearts, and participated in some of the biggest battles and operations that took place during those years including the Battle of Ia Drang and Operation Lam Son. Jim also served as a Tunnel Rat in the Iron Triangle, a Radio Operator with MACV, and a Door Gunner ferrying South Vietnamese troops into Cambodia. This video was produced for USA Warrior Stories by The Rowlinson Media Group, Vero Beach FL.

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0:00 - Opening Credits
0:29 - I volunteered for the Army at 17 years old
1:03 - Joining the 1st Cavalry Division
1:32 - Traveling to Vietnam
2:35 - All hell broke loose
3:04 - Battle of Ia Drang (1,000 dead bodies)
4:55 - I got hit in the leg
5:55 - 2nd tour with 25th Infantry Devision, the Manchus
6:20 - Serving as a Tunnel Rat
7:38 - Describing the tunnels
8:22 - 3rd tour as a Radio Operator
10:10 - 4th tour as a Door Gunner with 71st Aviation Rattler