Frank Mezzanotte
I was born in the Rockaways, Queens County, NYC in 1950, and grew up across the bay from Idlewild Airport (now JFK). I was drafted at the age of 19 and processed through Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn. We were flown to Fort Jackson for further processing and then bussed to Fort Gordon for Basic Training. I was assigned to Fort Polk for Infantry AIT, and afterwards received orders for Vietnam. Just before heading home for leave, a special formation was called and all or most of the orders were changed. About a third went to Fort Hood, another third went to Fort Rucker, and then my third went to Fort Lewis. At Fort Lewis, I was assigned to an artillery unit that was training to go to Germany. My job was to set up as a guard on the perimeter as the 155 self-propelled howitzers were firing. We trained for about 3 to 4 months, 5 to 6 days a week, and then were flown to Germany for the 30-day NATO maneuver. After we returned, all of us infantrymen from Polk started receiving orders for Vietnam - I think I was there about a month waiting for mine. I arrived in Vietnam in August 1970. By November the 3rd Brigade of the 25th was being withdrawn, and I ended up serving the rest of my time with the Americal.I developed some close relationships throughout my service time. Probably one of the closest was Mike McCain who was with me most of my time - during training, at Fort Lewis, and with the 25th in Vietnam - I've included some of the pictures I have of him when we were in the Triple Deuce. I also got close with Mike Schiller who was with me and Mike McCain through training, Fort Lewis, and ended up with the Americal in Vietnam. I was able to hook up with him a couple of times in Vietnam and kept in touch shortly after discharge. I met Mike Golden when I was in the Triple Deuce (pictures included) and our friendship continued after discharge. Others that I met and recall with fond memories from the Triple Deuce include Dennis 'Ranger' Heideman, Randy Gilstrap, and Doc Barley. I met Bill Alessi and Skip Mather at Fort Lewis - we spent some time together in DC at The Wall in the early 1990's. I visited Skip Mather out in Portland in 2011, just months before he died of brain cancer. I'd like to mention two of my hometown buddies who didn't make it home. Dennis Jackowski was drafted with me and was killed in Vietnam in 1970 while serving with the Americal. Anthony Caraccilo and I went all through school together - he was killed while serving in Vietnam with the 5th Mech.