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Veterans Remember

Southern Wisconsin veterans remember their experiences this Veterans' Day.

Photo by: Submitted photo

A 20-year-old Stephen Manthei, right, and fellow soldier Bob Tarbuck, left, prepare for the Battle of Ripcord, during which their platoon was attacked, killing everyone but the two of them.

The picture was taken in July 1970. Little was known about the battle, the last major confrontation of the Vietnam War, until 1985, when an association was formed for survivors of the battle.

Manthei was drafted to the United States Army in March 1969. He was 19. He reported to Fort Campbell, Ky., for basic training, then to Fort Polk, La., for advanced infantry training and then to Camp Evans, I Corps, Vietnam, for jungle training.

Manthei was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as a rifleman. He operated an M60 machine gun on a “killer team.” He also served on a four-man reconnaissance team, dropped seven times into the middle of the jungle without a radio.

“I guess courage is being scared and saddling up anyway,” he said.

Since his discharge in 1971, Manthei, 59, of Janesville has been trying to educate people about the Vietnam War and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I’m pretty vocal about what happened to me when I got back, and it isn’t pretty,” he said. “We say we’re a progressive country, but as far as taking care of veterans, we’re way behind.”