I’m Kenneth B. “Brad” Henderson, veteran of the Cold War and Vietnam. I was on active duty but did not deploy to Operation Desert Storm.
I enlisted (the first time) on Dec. 4, 1967 - the date of my youngest sister’s birth. My high school buddy wanted me to join the Navy with him so we could “see the world” together. I wanted him to join the Army with me on the “Buddy System.” He spent four years as an optometry technician in South Carolina; I traveled the world.
I began my career at Fort Polk, La. It was cold, rainy and miserable. I can still remember lying in two inches of water in a driving rain at the firing range.
My first duty assignment was to Neu Ulm, Germany. I arrived at Frankfurt unshaven and dirty, having been “snowed in” at Fort Dix for three days. My duffle bag would catch up with me a year later. So much for “first impressions”!
Eventually, I would find my way to Vietnam. We landed near Long Binh, and were greeted by “the bad guys.” Soldiers still in their teens fought all night to protect us. At dawn’s light, some returned to catch a few winks of sleep. They were in the First Cavalry Division. I wanted to join them, but had been selected for assignment to HQ MACV (SOG). I was raised to “always do your best.” After I returned stateside, a buddy wrote that it took two soldiers to replace me. Even at that, I have all these years been guilty and ashamed of my time in ‘Nam, where I lived in comfortable quarters and when on guard duty, watched my peers in the distant flare light, carrying on the fight.
I left the Army to get a degree in elementary education, courtesy of the GI Bill. I returned after my rookie year, which was tumultuous and disappointing.
As a young Staff Sergeant at the 179th Personnel Service Company in Kaiserslautern, Germany, I was NCOIC of Officer Records. The Army had only two years earlier gone to an automated personnel information system known as “SIDPERS.” The system was not perfect, but it was pretty good. Our information in Europe was consolidated at 1st Personnel Command at Schwetzingen. Soldiers’ careers rested on the timeliness and accuracy of the information in that database. It was, to say the least, terrible. One day an irate colonel asked me about a particular problem with his records. When I replied that the fault was with “the system,” the man slammed his fist on the table and demanded, “FIX IT!” I swore to myself that if I ever had an opportunity to make things better with that automated system, I would do my best.
Years later, I would be assigned to Fort Hood and the First Cavalry Division; my first assignment as a young Warrant Officer in what is known today as “Human Resources.” I dedicated my four years there, to the unknown “Cav troopers” in Vietnam, to whom I feel I owe my life. One of my assignments was Officer in Charge, SIDPERS Information Branch.
The good soldiers and NCOs there allowed me to be their boss while they taught me everything I needed to know.
Some years later, I would find myself back in Germany, and the 21st Support Command in Kaiserslautern. I was thankful for my experience at Fort Hood. My capstone assignment in Kaiserslautern was to serve as Project Officer for the establishment of a new, regional automated personnel information database to take some of the load away from the massive operation in Schwetzingen. That’s the GOOD news; the BAD news is that I had to find my own facilities and staffing. We managed to secure a basement spot that had once been storage for protective (gas) masks. While that area was being converted into offices, I set about traveling all over Germany to find people. I found 12 young soldiers, each with his or her own history. I was blessed to fight for and with help of my colonel, obtain a really fine NCOIC. We called the soldiers “The Dirty Dozen.” Within four months, we were up and running. In less than a year, the database at Kaiserslautern was ranked among the top 10 in the world, Army-wide. I recalled my earlier encounter with that irate colonel, upset about “the system”. I think he would be proud – we had “fixed it”.
I enjoyed my 20-year Army career, and would recommend military service to any young man or woman. It provides a chance to serve one’s country, and possibly see the world while accumulating skills, education and experience; including leadership and supervisory experience.
I spent my time attempting to live up to some words written way back when I was a hard-charging Staff Sergeant: “Give him the tough jobs; he’ll deliver.”
This year, I am retiring from a career in elementary education. It gives me great pride to not only teach American history, but to let my students touch and experience it. The State of Texas requires its fifth graders (age 10-11) to know something about our system of government and how it works. They also need to know something called “patriotism”. Each Veterans Day,
I have escorted my class to the ceremonies at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Later in the year, when we study about World War II and the Holocaust, I share what it was like to visit the concentration camp at Dachau. When we study about communism and the Berlin Wall, I tell them what it was like to live in Germany, and to watch on television as the wall came down and the people of Germany sang their national anthem together as (in their hearts) one nation. Then I show them a piece of the Berlin Wall; asking if they note any difference in the two sides. They quickly catch on; the side with the graffiti, was on the Western side. I want these young people to know what freedom is; where it costs; and who pays the bills.
I am proud to continue service to my city, state and nation as a member of American Legion Post 179 in New Braunfels, Texas. I am already thinking of ways that I might work with youngsters in local schools, teaching them about our American flag and the liberties we enjoy. Come on down!