Nicolas (Nick) D. Francisco was drafted into the US Army on November 16, 1966. He was award a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam on September 1, 1967. He organizes trips back to Vietnam for CHamoru Vietnam War veterans in Guam.  

Nicolas (Nick) D. Francisco:

​I got drafted in the Army on November 16, 1966. I took my basic training at Fort Ord in California. When we drafted for basic training, my sergeant said, “Son, I’m not gonna disappoint you, but you’re going to Vietnam.” I said, “Wow, you know, I’m going to Vietnam, Sarge?” “Yes.” So, they sent me to Fort Polk, Louisiana. I think that may have been advanced training, you know. So, all of us that were in that group going to Fort Polk, already we know that after training, we’re heading out to Vietnam. And I’m an infantry.  I’m a light weapon infantry, MOS 611 Bravo. So, I think I was 21 when I got drafted. I was living in Guam at the time. I cannot avoid the draft. I just have to go and hope that I come home. So, when I finished my cross-training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, they sent me to Oakland again. The Army sent me to Oakland to get us ready to transport us from Oakland to Vietnam, the replacement center. But, when I got to Oakland, I put in a request to take a 30 day delay en route, you know, so I can stay home for 30 days in Guam. I took an advance leave because I figured that I may not come home. Then after that I went to Vietnam.

I saw so many people die. I saw so many people wounded and I think that war is one of the longest wars.  We spent months and months in the jungle. Months and months in the rice paddies getting so filthy, soaked, you know. You never had dry socks, you know. That’s why we carried, in the daytime, when we’re waiting for evening, we dry out our socks. And we rolled it up and put it in our bag, you know. So, when we go to the rice paddy, at least you try to change your socks when you have time to change your socks. So, lucky if you have good meal, because most of the time, like if we encounter some, we just eat our C ration. And nobody likes to eat ration, you know. That’s the worst meal that you’re gonna eat. So, we fold it away. Because you’re gonna eat that when they cannot bring in your meal. But it’s a crazy war. I thought that I would never come home. But you know, in my unit, I’m the only one from Guam there.  I’m the only one.  The rest that got drafted with me, like I said went to another place. And I’m the only one there. So, you know, when I went to the big island [Hawai‘i], I think in 2000 to get my rehabilitation for my PTSD, I have to meet a panel, like a board to tell them three of my worst experiences in the Vietnam War. And you have to tell the story of those bad experiences. And you know, when I did that I was crying so hard that I had a headache. I don’t know how long, you know, because my mother died and I never cried that hard. But when I’m telling the story because as it relates to Vietnam, I don’t want to talk about it. And when I talk about it, it touches my heart and my tears already I think are going to come out. 

I started this Vietnam Tour. I think already I’ve been to Vietnam eight times. The first trip was the most emotional trip, because we tried to go to all the spaces where the veterans got wounded. The Vietnamese people now, they’re not to be blamed. They were not involved with that thing, the war. So, I’m glad that the US is working together with the Vietnamese. And they don’t feel bad and promise to work together. But, yeah, I like going to Vietnam.   ​​