WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Vietnam War veteran and Derby resident Bob Polson spends these days relaxing in retirement and enjoying life as both a husband and grandfather, but he knows life can come at you fast.
“I got a divorce, and then, man, in just like a couple of weeks, it seemed like I got my draft notice,” Polson said. “And I went to Kansas City for my physical, and then they shipped me over to Fort Leonard Wood to do basic training.”
Polson served as an E5 sergeant in the Army from 1966 to 1968. He said he enjoyed his time and would have done another tour, but his mother’s poor heart health kept him in the state.
Part of the reason he’s here today, he said, is because of a four-legged hero who always had his back, his trained military dog Hans.
“It was scary. I was a point man with my dog, so we were out on every patrol,” Polson said. “We was inseparable you know? When I had to leave and leave him, I couldn’t hardly stand it.”
The horrors of war made a lasting impact on Polson.
“The biggest part of my service there was the Tet Offensive. It was horrible. You can’t just even imagine all the stuff going on, and I don’t know how many thousands of people died, you know?” Polson said.
Following his service in Vietnam, Polson dove into a career in the trucking industry, driving a dump truck. He said it helped him cope with what he saw on the battlefield, at least for a while.
“I’d work all night on my trucks just to keep my mind busy,” Polson said. “I put it in the back of my mind for over 50 years, and just here recently, it all started coming out, and it wasn’t pretty.”
He said talking with his wife has helped him deal with Vietnam’s traumatic memories.
“I got my guardian angel I talk to all the time over there,” Polson said.
Polson encourages all veterans to talk to family or reach out for professional help if needed.
“I think it’d be good if somebody could do it, you know, if they had somebody to talk to,” Polson said.
When it comes to serving your country, Polson said he encourages those who are interested to learn more, and there are many benefits that come from a military career.
“I would tell anybody. If they had any idea to get in, wouldn’t make any difference what branch. Army, Air Force, Marines, any of them. They could even get into the Coast Guard if they wanted to. I’d say, take a tour,” Polson said.