The Good Life – September-October 2019
On the cover, Fix It Forward - The Mechanics of Faith, Local Hero, Vietnam Veteran - Mike Gruchalla, Having a Beer with the "Voice of the Bison" and Program Director - Jeff Culhane and more in Fargo Moorhead's only men's magazine.
On the cover, Fix It Forward - The Mechanics of Faith, Local Hero, Vietnam Veteran - Mike Gruchalla, Having a Beer with the "Voice of the Bison" and Program Director - Jeff Culhane and more in Fargo Moorhead's only men's magazine.
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LOCAL HERO | MIKE GRUCHALLA<br />
We even lowered the guns and fired<br />
beehive rounds (155 howitzer with<br />
seal darts), said Gruchalla.<br />
“... I was dragging a wounded soldier<br />
into the command bunker with the<br />
help of another guy. A satchel charge<br />
went off in front of us, blew me into<br />
the tunnel, and as soon as I got into<br />
that tunnel, they blew it. That sealed<br />
the entrance.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re were 38 of us in the bunker<br />
and we called in an A-B52 strike on<br />
our position. When it was all done,<br />
63 GI’s died. 38 of us got off. I was<br />
number 38.<br />
“When we got dug out, it was my job<br />
to tag and bag the 63 guys. <strong>The</strong> first<br />
guy that I tagged and bagged was<br />
the guy that was helping me with the<br />
wounded man. He had the flag from<br />
that firebase inside his shirt. And, I<br />
32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com<br />
have that flag today,” said Gruchalla.<br />
According to the American War<br />
Library, the Combat Medical Badge<br />
Medal was established to recognize<br />
medical personnel who experienced<br />
combat while providing medical<br />
assistance to wounded personnel.<br />
“That badge says I did my job. I think<br />
I did it well. I wish I could have saved<br />
more, but there’s only so much you<br />
can do,” said Gruchalla.<br />
Gruchalla’s Medals<br />
Gruchalla also received a Purple<br />
Heart Medal, a Bronze Star Medal,<br />
and a Silver Star Medal, but the only<br />
paperwork he has is for the Combat<br />
Medical Badge Medal.<br />
“When I came home from Vietnam, it<br />
took me 4 months to get my things …<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were going through and taking<br />
things out ... because they made<br />
references to where I was,” explained<br />
Gruchalla.<br />
Gruchalla reasons that the paperwork<br />
was confiscated because he carried<br />
out some of his work in Cambodia<br />
and Laos <strong>–</strong> a direct violation of<br />
international law.<br />
“We weren’t supposed to be there,”<br />
said Gruchalla.<br />
Per military rules, an individual is<br />
allowed to wear their medals if they<br />
have paperwork to verify earning<br />
them. As such, Gruchalla continues<br />
to be denied from wearing the<br />
medals. Initially frustrated, he has<br />
now reached a resolve of sorts.<br />
“It hurt at first, but it doesn’t matter<br />
now. My dad saw my medals and<br />
that’s all that counts,” said Gruchalla.
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