PHIL CROWLEY
"Country"
- A Biker for Becca
- Healing the Wounds of War
- In Memory of Jessica Lynn Davis
- Orphan of Pleiku
- The Demons of War
- The Vet (A Poem by Tonia Goros)
- Thoughts of a Viet Nam Veteran
- Tribute to a Soldier (Ron "Dollar" Kocher)
- Why Did We Fight? (An Open Letter to Gretchen and Tesa)
- Why Have The Demons Returned?
Phil joined the US Army in 1967 and stayed in until 1970. Many times he wishes he had made a career out of it. He loved the Army, hated the politics, but still reckons he should have stayed in.
He arrived in Viet Nam in the middle of Tet, 1968, and served with HQ Battery 6th Battalion, 14th Artillery (Artillery Hill) in Pleiku. The battalion's batteries were located in Plei Djerang, Ben Het (Battle of), and Kon-Tum. As battalion armorer Phil spent a lot of time out at the batteries and did many convoys and jungle patrols. His penchant for chopper hitch-hiking nearly ended when the chopper on which he was hitching was shot down; his comment, "What a Ride!"
After separation from the Army, Phil went to Pennsylvania Gunsmith School in Pittsburgh and, after graduating as a Master Gun Builder, moved to Martins Ferry and Steubenville, Ohio. He started developing custom handguns with J.D. Jones of Wintersville, Ohio, and became No. 2 in his field. During this period, Phil did a lot of competitive shooting and traveling. After retiring from that field, Phil moved back home to Georgia in 1981. He is a Safety Coordinator for Georgia Pacific Corp. in Rincon, Georgia.
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Viet Nam Veterans Riding Group Website