Jerone Buffington

Jerone Buffington was born in Trenton, Georgia, on April 24, 1950 where he was raised on his family’s farm and graduated high school in 1968. Buffington was working in a munitions plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when he received his draft notice in January of 1970. He was then sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for eight weeks of Basic Training which placed a high priority on discipline in addition to physical conditioning and weapons courses. He quickly learned to do as he was told which made acclamation to military life far easier. Buffington was then transferred to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for eight weeks of Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) which he described as far more intense than Basic Training. After graduating from AIT, he was flown to Long Biên, Vietnam, and was assigned to the 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division stationed at Camp Evans. After a short while with the platoon, Buffington was qualified and became a machine gunner, patrolling the area around Fire Support Base Ripcord. Due to the weight of his gear, he quickly developed ways to lighten his rucksack load through omitting items and swapping carry containers. He also recalled his company’s successful efforts to help 1st Battalion evacuate Firebase Ripcord during which he helped neutralize a North Vietnamese heavy machine gun position. Following the Ripcord Campaign, Buffington’s platoon continued to patrol the area around Ripcord, occasionally engaging in small skirmishes with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) before the enemy retreated into the jungle. Most of his company’s casualties were the result of ambushes, booby traps, and several cases of accidental friendly fire. The company also struggled with ringworm for several months while in the field. At one point, his company located and infiltrated an NVA tunnel system in which it found stashes of weapons, supplies, and was surprised to find a running water system constructed of bamboo. In March of 1971, Buffington traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, for Rest and Relaxation, describing the trip as both peaceful and relaxing. Back with his company, he encountered drug use only a few times while in the field since he and his peers actively discouraged smoking marijuana or taking other hard drugs as to remain alert. He also noted how the African American troops in his company did not self-segregate as did others in the rear. When the Army made the decision to downsize, Buffington was allowed to leave Vietnam nearly thirty days early and was flown to Japan and then back to the United States. When his flight landed in Seattle, Washington, he and his peers were greeted with organized antiwar protestors who spat at them and called them names. For his last few months in the Army, he served as a reenlistment NCO for his former unit at Fort Carson, Colorado, with the 4th Infantry Division. Buffington then briefly went back to work at the munitions plant before being laid off and spending small periods of time at various small jobs. He eventually enrolled into an apprenticeship program for construction work, which he thoroughly enjoyed due to the precision of the work he helped complete. Reflecting upon his time in the service, Buffington believed the Army taught him how to work with and help other people even if he did not agree or get along with them. In essence, it did not matter who he had to work with since there was always a job that needed to be done.
Pre-Enlistment: (00:00:18:00)
Enlistment/Training: (00:02:21:00)
Service: (00:10:03:00)
Post-Service Life: (00:52:51:00)
Reflections: (00:57:13:00)

[@BlueWaterSTAX]

Nice stache. Thanks for your service Sir. God Bless

[@a.pgentry5819]

Great story ,excellent interview. American hero Appreciate your service GO ARMY!

[@windoverearth]

Thank you for your service, Uncle Jerone.

[@wellitsherenow]

idk man

[@windoverearth]

This patriots' name is not Jerome...My grandfather Ben named him Jerone...people that don't listen well tend to spell it wrong- Ben L. Buffington, iii

[@gvsuveteranshistoryproject34]

Oops. We have that right in our records, but the student who posted the video must have assumed that was a mistake. I have now fixed the problem, and will check the permanent archive to make sure it's right there as well. Thanks for spotting this.

[@unfnbelievable3609]

This guy's water-buffalo mustache is a bit of an inspiration towards freedom. I was a little self-conscious when I started sporting my gnu-look eyebrows...