At 18, Thomas Renner Sr. volunteered to serve within the U.S. Military in Vietnam. Since then, his service has formed his life — from changing into a nurse to volunteering in the neighborhood. (Contributed by Thomas Renner Sr.)
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WOODLAND — Thomas Renner Sr. thumbed by way of a rack of camouflage jackets, most bearing patches embroidered together with his final identify, some extra light than others. Every tells a narrative.
Renner, 72, is a part of a proud line of veterans. Thirty-two in his household served within the U.S. army.
In 1971, Renner, then 18, was deployed to Vietnam, a task that may affect his later life from his profession to his volunteer efforts.
“To be an American is to give back — that’s part of democracy, right? I think being a veteran is a huge part of that,” he stated.
Household legacy
Renner was born in Nebraska however spent his youth in Ridgefield, inside earshot of Interstate 5’s hum. He was the fourth oldest of 10 youngsters. When he obtained his first Social Safety verify, he used the cash to pay for a four-leaf clover tattoo and the numeral 4 on his wrist.
He remembers his childhood with heat. The household cultivated 90 p.c of their meals by rising an enormous backyard and elevating chickens and cows. Renner and his siblings would usually spend hours exploring neighboring woodlands that have been later logged.
Renner’s grandfather fought in World Struggle I, and his father, alongside his uncles, served in World Struggle II.
Though his father seldom spoke concerning the warfare, Renner and his siblings sensed the burden of his experiences serving abroad.
“He would tell us that war isn’t like the movies. People get killed,” Renner stated. “He would tell stories about him taking care of guys that were disemboweled and blowing up. We not only heard the honor of serving for your country but also the horrors of it, too.”
Renner determined to enlist when he turned 18, straight out of highschool. He wished to safe GI Invoice advantages, which assist veterans pay for education after service. However his household historical past additionally influenced him.
Renner attended fundamental coaching at Fort Lewis earlier than transferring to totally different states for added coaching. Renner reached the rank of corporal in simply six months. He additionally married. The primary of his 5 youngsters was born simply 10 days earlier than he went to Vietnam.
As he sat on his duffle bag ready on the tarmac for the airplane to take him abroad, he realized the gravity of what he was about to do.
“It hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m going to Vietnam, and I might not make it back. I might get killed,” Renner stated.
For a fleeting second, worry coursed by way of him, then dissipated simply as rapidly, he remembers.
“I don’t know what it was — maybe divine intervention or something — but I thought: ‘What happens will happen,’ ” he stated.
Renner vividly remembers the new, humid air towards his pores and skin in Vietnam, and the soothing aid of a pool the place he would cool off after lengthy days. Renner labored within the barracks workplace as a data clerk. He turned a sergeant.
He was stationed with different males from throughout the USA. He remembers having many thought-provoking conversations concerning the politics of warfare with them.
“One I remember having with them was, ‘Is one American GI’s life worth the death of 10 Vietnamese lives?’ ” he stated. “Back then, it was complicated with these hypothetical questions, but now it would be totally different … I’m much more of a humanitarian now.”
Returning house
Renner, like most Vietnam veterans, returned house alone.
“In other wars, you jump on a ship and come back together. In Vietnam, you could be killing guys one day and then, the next, you’re being sent home,” Renner stated. “You don’t really have time to wind down, process.”
Thankfully, Renner had a big household ready to have a good time his return after seven months in service.
Images of Thomas Renner Sr., left, and others sit on a shelf on the Renner residence in Woodland. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)
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Many troopers didn’t come again from the unpopular warfare to celebratory parades or gatherings, in accordance with Historical past.com.
The Vietnam Struggle was an extended, pricey and polarizing battle between the communist authorities of North Vietnam and South Vietnam and its predominant ally, the USA. Many younger males have been drafted, resulting in unrest over the USA’ involvement. The battle stretched from 1955 to 1975. It was the longest warfare in U.S. historical past till the Afghanistan battle, in accordance with Historical past.com.
Greater than 3 million folks have been killed within the warfare, together with 58,000 People. Greater than half of the casualties have been Vietnamese civilians, in accordance with Historical past.com.
Anti-war protests erupted throughout the USA, culminating in President Richard Nixon signing the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which mandated the withdrawal of U.S. forces, in accordance with Historical past.com.
Many Vietnam veterans confronted hostility upon their return.
“I made the mistake walking to the bank one day in uniform. People just looked at me … one guy yelled ‘baby killer.’ There was more disrespect for Vietnam military people,” Renner stated.
That’s why he flies a U.S. Military flag commemorating service in Vietnam excessive over his entrance garden. He stated he’s glad to see veterans as we speak are handled higher than he was then.
Renner labored in Oakland, Calif., for 18 months administering entrance assessments to future troopers. Renner was then assigned to the Military Reserve Unit at Fort Vancouver Barracks.
Renner left the Military in November 1973 and enrolled in Clark School’s nursing program.
In his discharge bodily examination, docs found injury to his lungs. Over time, Veterans Affairs identified his lung injury as sarcoidosis ensuing from his publicity to Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide utilized by the U.S. army throughout the Vietnam Struggle to clear vegetation that would conceal enemy forces. As he met with The Columbian, he turned wanting breath and adjusted the nasal cannula for his supplemental oxygen.
Thomas Renner Sr. adjusts a photograph on a poster made for his son, Josiah Renner, on the Renner residence in Woodland.
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In keeping with Cleveland Clinic, an estimated 3 million American troopers have been uncovered to Agent Orange, resulting in the deaths of 300,000 veterans and 400,000 Vietnamese folks between 1962 and 1971.
“I wasn’t even in combat, and I have lung damage just from being there,” Renner stated.
In early October, Renner’s older brother, Joseph, died after a 16-year battle with belly most cancers. Joseph, who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, was additionally uncovered to Agent Orange.
“He was a helicopter crew chief. They got killed all the time. He survived, lived another 50 years … but he still died from Agent Orange,” Renner stated.
To serve
Renner shows his delight in his and his household’s army service with flags waving in his yard and a room stuffed with memorabilia and pictures. He even spends his spare time restoring previous Military automobiles.
His perspective on warfare has modified through the years, nonetheless.
All of Renner’s members of the family returned from their excursions, however he witnessed the toll fight took, significantly on his late brother. He additionally misplaced an in depth highschool good friend within the Vietnam Struggle.
As he recounted tales of his household, tears welled in his eyes. He paused, then stated, “It’s different when you send your son off to war.”
His oldest son served throughout the Iraq Struggle, whereas his youngest went to Afghanistan. He stated he’s pleased with their service however lamented the sacrifices required of every technology.
“It’s ridiculous. Every generation: My grandfather, my father and then I’m sending my oldest son off and then another son,” Renner stated. “You’d think we’d figure this stuff out by now.”
Watching the continuing conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East reinforces his sense of a cycle that appears to by no means finish.
“It’s important to support our troops. Being basically anti-war now, I’m not naive enough to think we can’t have a strong military. But therefore we also need to back those who are going to do that for us and serve the country,” Renner stated.
Since retiring, Renner hasn’t stopped serving others. He volunteers at homeless outreach packages and meals pantries and helps immigrant households settle into the group.
“Being a veteran, it’s been a huge impact. It’s hard to explain.” Renner stated. “It will stay with me forever.”