I was RA in 1970. Joined on the buddy system with my cousin. My buddy got sent to Vietnam. I got sent to Germany. Go figure.
The first guy I ever had a truly violent fight with was killed in Vietnam in 1970. I was 14 and he was 18 at the time of the fight. We were playing basketball at the schoolyard and he punched me right in the nose running down court. Big mistake since we were the same size but I was much stronger and quicker even with the age difference. I never forgot Chicky though and we became friends after the fight. My wife and I visit his name when we are in DC.