Local veteran narrative: Homer Hastings

By Kaden Curren
Mrs. Troftgruben
English Reading, 1B
 
What does it mean to support the troops? I think supporting the troops means that a person goes to Veterans Day programs, talks with veterans, and is overall just helpful to the veterans. I believe that everybody should go to the Veterans Day program, because not only does it show support and respect, but one can also hear the stories of some of the veterans in your hometown. In addition, talking with veterans can also show major support, because it lets the veterans know that if they have something on their mind they have a support in the corner of their ring. I also strongly believe that helping veterans shows the most support. One way that I help veterans is that in our school we have this program that allows veterans to call the school and ask if there is anybody that would be interested to come and help them out around the house, like raking leaves and shoveling snow. I believe this is a great way to show the support our vets right here in Newcastle. One of the many veterans in Newcastle that I fully support is the local legend, Homer Hastings.
Homer Hastings was born May 30, 1943, to his parents in Whitefish, Mont., which is located northwest of Great Falls. His mom was a cook who ran three cafés and his dad worked in the construction business. His family later moved to Sturgis, S.D., where Homer would go to finish out his high school career, as well as where he played basketball as a Sturgis Scooper. After graduating high school, Homer decided that he wanted to go to college. Homer was in college for two years before he decided to volunteer for the draft, for the Vietnam conflict in 1966. The reason he signed up is because he knew that it was something he had to do for himself (Curren, K Veteran interview).
At the age of 21, Homer went to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri where he started his basic training for the United States Army. After he was finished with his basic training, Homer started his AIT, which stands for advanced individual training. This is where people train for their Army job (GoArmy, Advanced Individual Training). During AIT Homer trained to be a medic. After finishing with both his basic training and AIT, Homer moved up to Washington, D.C., to work in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to work as a medic and further his training. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the nation’s largest and most renowned joint military medical center (About us, WRNMMC). He also worked with amputees that had been sent back stateside. One thing that Homer said was, “Working with amputees was the most life changing experience during the war.” After finishing all of his training, Homer was deployed to Cam Ranh Bay which is one of two deep water inlets in the southern part of Vietnam. Where he served with the sixth Convalescence (Britannica, Cam Ranh Bay). While working with the sixth convalescence, Homer would rehabilitate members of the infantry so that they were able to return and fight the Vietnamese again. 
Homer served in Vietnam from 1967, to the year 1968. While he was overseas serving, Homer would write letters to keep in touch with his family back stateside. So that the letter did not cost him anything, he would write ‘free’ in the corner where the stamp goes. Also, while Homer was serving, he would swim in the South China Sea. While he was swimming, some people that were from California would also surf. He even knew some people who even drowned due to the undercurrent. Homer was discharged from the army in 1968, but was obligated for a total of six years, while only serving two. A lot of the time, Vietnam war veterans who served less than what they were obligated to, never had to go back to serve because they were not needed to. The United States Army would keep track of what they were doing. Homer was then discharged from Fort Lewis, Wash.
On the trip home, Homer flew commercial airlines, where he ran into a little bit of trouble in the San Francisco airport. He ran into people protesting the Vietnam conflict, they would repeatedly flip Homer the bird. Homer just turned the other cheek and kept on walking to continue his trip home. He knew that he did the right thing by serving in the Vietnam conflict. After Homer returned home, he worked at the sawmill for 15 years with being a foreman for eight of those 15. Homer and his boss never really got along, so he left. He then decided to work with the county as the courthouse maintenance man for 25 years. During this time Homer was running. Homer ran for 35 years in a multitude of marathons and courses. At the age of 75, Homer is still one of the most active members of the community of Newcastle, Wyo.
In the end, I learned so much from talking with Homer. The most important thing that I learned was that if something needs to be done, it is best to just do it and not complain. Homer stated, “If there was one thing that I would change about the United States Army, is that I would bring back the draft because then if people did not know what they wanted to do coming out of High School, they could be drafted instead of enlisting.” I think that this was a great idea because on paper it actually works. Homer also stated that “If I could go back to the day I signed up for the draft, I still would, because it is something that needed to be done.”
 
Works Cited:
“Advanced Individual Training.” Goarmy.com, 12 June 2018, www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/becoming-a-soldier/advanced-individual-train.... About Us, www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/SitePages/home.aspx. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. “Cam Ranh Bay.” Encyclopedia Britannica,  Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 12 July 2013, www.britannica.com/place/Cam-Ranh-Bay. Accessed 21 Nov. 2018. Curren, Kaden D. “Veteran Interview.” 24 Oct. 2018.