Former POW speaks to Vietnam veterans

Former POW speaks to Vietnam veterans


By Jenny Wagner, Times Staff
Published: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:06 PM EDT
“The war is not over for many of us.”

Fred Elbert

U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war

ROCHESTER — Those who know Lance Cpl. Fred Elbert describe him as quiet and sincere, but the Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war began his speech at the Vietnam Veterans of America meeting Wednesday with a proud, strong “Semper Fi.”

Elbert, 62, of East Liverpool, Ohio, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1966, when he was 19.

“I was gung-ho,” he said. “I was trying to get into the National Guard.”

Elbert said the Army was sending troops directly to Vietnam after basic training, and when a recruiter told him he could use his aviation mechanics training in the Marine Corps, Elbert signed up. It didn’t turn out the was he expected, though.
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http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2009/07/15/news/doc4a5e99227317c664590185.txt