From Dix To Vietnam

The year, 1968. The country, this country, was deep in political upheaval, assassinations, drugs and demonstrations.

Lyndon B. Johnson was President, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, and the Viet Cong made a valiant attempt at defeating the Americans in the Tet Offensive. America was fighting an unpopular war, but a young man from Dix, Neb., was drafted into the Army and served his country with patriotism, valor and bravery.

Stan Belgum graduated from Dix High School in 1965 and by 1968 he was a second lieutenant in the Army. Shortly thereafter, he was the recipient of the Bronze Star. Stan Belgum did what his country asked of him in 1968.

Born and raised in Dix and the area south of town, Stan was the third child of 13. Their world did not extend much beyond the farm and school.

When Stan turned 18, he was required to go to Denver for a pre-induction physical. In addition to the physical, Stan was required to do some written testing. Typical teenage boy, Stan was of the opinion that if he just didn't read the questions and randomly marked answers, everyone would think that "being so dumb, I would never be drafted." That logic didn't matter to the draft board.

After high school graduation, Stan spent the next few months working around Dix for Art Johnson, then stumbled into the oilfield, working for Hugh Bennet on a "pole workover" rig. Eventually, he went to Cutbank, Mont., to work on the rigs.

"I guess when I moved I was supposed to tell the draft board," he said. "I figured if they wanted me bad enough they would find me."

Well, they did find him. A letter was waiting for 19-year-old Stan at his hotel in Montana. Without breaking stride, Stan repeated the contents of the letter.

"Greetings from the President of the United States. You are hereby ordered to report for military duty." Stan's first response was: "How the hell did they know where I was?"

Stan reported to Denver and was immediately sworn in, and the next day he flew to Fort Bliss, Texas, for 8 weeks of boot camp. The eight weeks really were nine weeks because there was a zero week. In that zero week, more testing. A week of testing.

As a draftee, Stan was required to serve two years, but individuals with certain scores were encouraged to sign up for one more year in the military. Stan's response, "You're crazy. I am only in here for two years."

Stan does admit that he "is straightforward and speaks his mind."

After boot camp, he received a two week leave and came home to Kimball. A night out with some buddies found Stan in a little trouble and an overnight jail stay. The trouble started when they saw a police car at a local cafe on the west end of town.

Knowing Stan now, his prank shouldn't surprise anyone. His buddies went in and bought the policeman another cup of coffee, and Stan proceeded to crawl under the police car and loosen the drain plug. His intent was to just loosen it so that it eventually, later, the plug would drop out. But one more turn and the plug came out and he was covered in oil and he looked over to see the feet of the policeman.

A night in jail and a generous sentence from Judge Bourret secured his return to the military. His fine of $160 was going to take him a while to pay off. His monthly salary, $68.

After returning from leave, Stan spent the next few months in Fire Direction Control School, Officer Candidate School and Records School. He learned everything from calling coordinates, plotting angles, powder charges on Howitzers to inspections, mechanics, Jeep engines and leadership skills.

After crisscrossing the nation to various bases, Stan ended up in Fort Carson, Colo., where a new battalion was being created – the 70th Ordinance Battalion.

The battalion was made up of a lieutenant colonel, two captains and 10 second lieutenants, including 2nd Lt. Stanley A. Belgum. And then, Stan said he got crossways with the two captains and organized a "revolt." He convinced all the second lieutenants to ask for a transfer out of the battalion. Within two weeks, Stan was on his way to Vietnam.

Stan Belgum, a naïve, 19 year-old draftee from Dix, Neb., arrived in Vietnam just days after the 1968 Tet Offensive had begun. After landing in Saigon, Belgum was immediately sent to Pleiku Ammunition Supply Dump in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

His first night in Pleiku was an indication of how life was going to be – he was assigned his duties. Including him, there were two warrant officers and a captain. His responsibilities included being a mess officer, supply officer and the ammunition officer.

"The first night, I was getting ready to go to bed," he recalled. "We were in tents with sandbags piled high around us."

About 10 p.m., he was ordered to report to the office. All the officers and sergeants were sitting around or laying on the floor. There was an alert which he was unaware of so . . . annoyed and exhausted, he curled up on the floor and went to sleep.

Shortly thereafter, someone kicked his foot. He awakened but no one else was there and then he heard the explosives. They had all known that there were incoming shells and they hit the bunkers, but Stan was a quick study and he scampered into the bunkers. He said about every other night they were forced to go to the bunkers to escape the incoming shells.

Stan received his Bronze Star a couple of months after arriving in Vietnam. His Award for the Bronze Star Medal For Heroism reads: "For heroism, in connection with military operation against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Lieutenant Stanley A. Belgum, Ordinance Corps, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 March 1968 while serving in the 188th Ordinance Company. During a Viet Cong sapper attack on the Pleiku Ammunition Supply Point. In the midst of exploding projectiles and enemy small arms fire, Lieutenant Belgum repeatedly risked his life to protect his men and insure their safety. Through his courage and outstanding leadership, he contributed immeasurably to the defense of the Ammunition Supply Point. Lieutenant Belgum's heroic action were in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, this command, and the United States Army."

In true Stan Belgum fashion, he thought the men in the outposts should have been subjected to a court martial that day because those 10 guards surrounding the ammunition dump had let their guard down and the Viet Cong were able to sneak in and blow up all the ammunition in that supply dump. With no ammunition in the ammunition supply dump, Stan was then sent to Qui Nhon, another ammunition supply dump.

Stan served one year and three months in the Vietnam War. After landing at Oakland Air Force Base, Stan was discharged in February 1969. The military cautioned soldiers not to wear their uniforms due to the demonstrations and the unpopularity of the war.

Stan return to this area of the country and worked in the oilfield. He started working for "old man Ramsey" on a drilling rig. He worked for a variety of companies, including Eatmon, Evertson, BW Drilling, Allison Drilling and Maddux Drilling. Kimball, Rock Springs, Evanston are among a few of the places Stan worked throughout his life.

Now retired, Stan resides in Kimball.