Rear Job

A rear job was a position, usually on a larger firebase, performed without formal training because it was not our assigned military specialty. We started our tour counting down the days from 365 and, in the meantime, hoped to get a rear job. Having a rear job meant leaving the field early, being relatively safe, eating hot food, and living in a hooch with a bed.

My rear job was “Shipping NCOIC” working as an administrator at the Americal Division Combat Center in Chu Lai. I was responsible for sending replacements to their units.

After Bill Davenport (wounded January 14, 1969) was released from the division hospital, I asked the company commander to have Bill replace me as the Shipping NCOIC; he agreed. We got to spend several weeks together before I left for home.
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Mike Dankert left the field a couple weeks after me and got a rear job at LZ Bronco, the 11th Brigade FSB at Duc Pho, working in supply.

                Glyn Haynie                                      Bill Davenport                                    Mike Dankert