Vietnam: In Their Own Words

Linda Jantzen- Volunteer National Park Service, U.S. Army Veteran

Linda Jantzen has been a National Park Service Volunteer since she retired from a 30-year career in the US Army in 2018.  In her Army career she served in a variety of command and staff assignments in the US and abroad including Korea, Germany, Bosnia, Somalia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.  She was a senior military advisor in the US Senate and served on the Army Staff as the acting Chief Data Officer. Linda is currently a Professor at the College of Information and Cyberspace at National Defense University in Washington, DC where she teaches and develops curricula for a graduate program in national security strategy. She is passionate about volunteering and about sharing the stories of our veterans, past and present.

Peggy Lynd Kelly – American Red Cross, Vietnam 1969-70

Peggy Lynd Kelly is originally from Rochester, NY. She is a 1969 graduate of the University at Albany, New York. She served in Vietnam from November 1969 to November 1970 with the American Red Cross (ARC) in the Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) Program, also known as the “Donut Dollies.” While in Vietnam she was stationed in Tuy Hoa, Chu Chi, Cam Ranh Bay and II Field Force, Long Binh.Following Vietnam, she was ARC Youth Director, Wheeling WV. She then worked for the Dept of the Army in Grafenwoehr Germany.While overseas with her Foreign Service Husband she taught at the American School of Bucharest and was the Community Liaison Officer at the United States Interest Section, Havana Cuba.She is married with 2 sons and 5 grandchildren.

Joshua Lamothe, National Park Service

Josh Lamothe is a Park Guide on the National Mall.  Josh grew up in Rhode Island where participation in Scouting fostered a love for the outdoors.  He moved to Colorado for college where he spent summers as a backpacking guide at Philmont Scout Ranch.

In 2004 Josh commissioned in the Army and deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 4th Infantry Division and 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command.  He is a recipient of Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star Medal for his service.

After separating from the Army, Josh began his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America.  He currently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for his son’s troop and as a member of the National Outdoor Ethics and Conservation Committee.

Outside of work and Scouting, Josh enjoys backpacking and has hiked the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails. Josh is an endurance runner completing marathons to 100 mile races. This fall he will participate in a relay running from the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial to Ground Zero in NY, arriving on Sept. 11.

Marsha Guenzler-Stevens PhD- Eastern National Advisory Group, Former VWM Board Member

Marsha A. Guenzler-Stevens has spent all of her professional career working in the field of Higher Education. She has worked in the areas of admissions, residential life, campus activities, Greek Life, and student unions. Currently, Marsha Guenzler-Stevens serves as the Director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union – Center for Campus Life. Dr. Guenzler-Stevens served as the Vice President of the National Board for the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation for almost 25 years. In that organization she launched “Storytelling at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, “a program that has allowed men and women who were touched by the Vietnam War and more recent conflicts to share their stories. Storytelling was featured on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.

George Usinowicz- U.S. Army Veteran, Vietnam

George was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968 and completed Basic Infantry training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he later would be proud to say that he performed all the duties that every soldier was required, side by side, including Guard Duty, Kitchen Police (KP), and cleaning latrines besides learning infantryman skills.  Upon Graduation, George went to the U.S. Army Medical Training Center in San Antonio, Texas, to be a Training Platoon Sergeant to lead 220 soldiers going through the schooling to become Combat Medics and Nurses, while earning his own Combat Medic and Nurse classification.  As a Specialist 5 Combat Medic and Nurse, he then went to the US Army Engineer Officers’ Candidate School, Fort Belvoir VA, where he earned an officer’s commission as a Second Lieutenant.  Upon assignment orders to Vietnam, George served as a First Lieutenant Combat Engineer Platoon Leader leading 35 men supporting the 25^th Infantry Division’s operations based in Cu Chi and Camp Franzell Jones, Republic of Vietnam, (1970-1971).  He was awarded (2) Bronze Stars, and the rare title of “Mustang,” the military designation by the troops of an officer who came up from the bottom ranks from being a Private E-1.  He returned to complete his college degree upon retiring from his civilian career at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado where he was the president of the College’s Veterans’ Club and a Magna Cum Laude graduate in History.

Allen Hoe – Veteran U.S. Army, Vietnam 1967-1968

Eastern National Advisory Group, Former VWM Board Member

Allen Hoe is a combat veteran earning the Combat Medics Badge, Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal.  He served with the 196^th Light Infantry Brigade, with the Recon Platoon, 2^nd Battalion 1^st Infantry Regiment, American Division 23^rd Infantry. He has served as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. Mr. Hoe is the proud father of two sons and resident of Hawaii. He has been an active member of many veteran organizations.