Duane Thaxton:
CLASS OF 1967
Burbank High SchoolClass of 1967
Burbank, CA
Luther Burbank Junior High SchoolClass of 1967
Burbank, CA
John Muir Junior High SchoolClass of 1964
Burbank, CA
Duane's Story
By September 1967, three-months after graduation, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. I was assigned to Ft. Ord, CA for Basic Training. I was then sent to Ft. Gordon, GA for Signal Corps training. Upon graduating from the 12-week Signal Corps course of instruction I was cut orders for Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. About two hours later a Private entered our barracks, shouted out some names and advised our "APO San Francisco" next duty station had been changed. I checked, I was now destined for Vietnam.
I arrived in Vietnam mid-April 1968. Assigned to the 523rd Signal Battalion within the Americal Division at Chu Lai, I-Corps. I arrived as a PFC. I was immediately dispatched to LZ Young, then to Special Forces Camp A-108 (Green Beret) at Minh Long. I oversaw a team of six and we provided radio-telephone connectivity for an Artillery Battery - we also provided some hit-and-miss MARS radio-telephone connectivity to the states for the Special Forces team (phone calls home - push to talk). By June 1968 I was promoted to SGT E-5 (I skipped over E-4 pay grade). The Sergeant's Review Board I sat before, required for promotion, was essentially staffed by Green Beret officers and E-6, E-7 Sergeants - my promotion was, as I later learned, a sure thing.
A few months later I was assigned to set up communications at A-107, Special Forces Camp at Tra Bong. While there I became very ill. My commander ordered me to a medic at Chu Lai or Duc Pho . . . I hopped a chopper to Duc Pho. Ended up with a bad case of influenza (whereas we thought I had contracted Malaria). While there (Duc Pho) for the overnight stay, we were hit with mortar rounds, rocket rounds, and ground fire. Some NVA attempted to penetrate the southeast perimeter. Shrapnel from a mortar round penetrated my chest which put me out of commission. After being hospitalized and about a month of rehab, I was again assigned to oversee the operation at Tra Bong.
Before my first tour ended I volunteered for a...Expand for more
second tour - which was a shorter term, just six months. I was allowed to return home for 30-days, then in May 1969 I returned. I finally left Vietnam in November of 1969, I was allowed to return home for 30-days then assigned to Ft. Huachuca, AZ. I finished my service at Ft. Huachuca, AZ and was Honorably discharged July 2, 1970.
I was awarded the Purple Heart (in country, Vietnam) for being at the wrong place at the wrong time and the Bronze Star (upon separation from active duty) for serving in the combat zone for two tours. A week before my discharge I was also awarded the Good Conduct Medal.
After being discharged I returned to Burbank, then relocated to Northridge. I attended Pierce College for two years then transferred to Sacramento State (which became California State University at Sacramento). I received my Bachelor's Degree while employed as a Sr. Claim Representative for Aetna Casualty & Surety. I progressed my career, changed employers a few times and retired after 40 years in early 2015 as a Liability Director for the California Insurance Guarantee Association as their Director, California Liability Claims.
I was married from 1973 to 2008. I enjoy two great son's and four grandchildren. I remarried in 2012 and am very, very happy!
I have attended a few reunions and still feel out of place much like I felt while attending Burbank High. I have reconnected with a few fellow students from school who reside in the greater Santa Clarita/Valencia area, to wit Cathy Nicholls, Tom Iverson and Dave Hourigan.
As the months and years go by I am saddened to learn about the passing of yet another fellow classmate.
For reasons not clear, within this profile Classmates.com represented that I attended John Muir Junior High in San Jose. I actually first attended Luther Burbank Junior High in Burbank then transferred to John Muir Junior High in Burbank when my dad and I moved to a home at the 2600 block of Parish Place, just above Kenneth Road.
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