TOPEKA (KSNT) – Sergeant E5 Warren Wood, a member of the 1st Air Cavalry Division, would spend a year in Vietnam transporting everything from ammunition to wounded soldiers.
In the late 1960s, when the draft was in full swing, Wood had skills that put him on a different path toward conflict abroad.
“It just so happened that I had some skills, so I was put in an experienced position instead of the infantry, even though I was in an infantry division,” Wood said. “I was what they call a heavy equipment mechanic, wheel and track.”
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As one of two mechanics on the landing zones, Wood’s days consisted of essential transportation work around the firebase, using vehicles called mules.
“Transport all supplies for the LZs from the helicopters to wherever they are needed,” he said. “Ammunition, food, medical supplies, even wounded people. So my job was to keep these mules running and carry as many supplies as I could as needed.”
It was imperative to keep those mules operational as multiple runs took place throughout the day.
“LZs are typically very small, so you have two choices,” Wood said. ‘You can walk over them, but if you have something heavy to carry, you can use the mules. Especially when unloading helicopters, which is where we got most of our supplies, you used the mules.”
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Although much of his time in Vietnam was spent away from mechanics, Wood was given plenty of opportunities to show off his abilities.
“I thought it was an important task,” Wood said. “I felt more like I was in the transportation business than the mechanics because we used them so often. When I got to the back end, of course we had to work on the bigger things. When we moved from our base camps we went to the provincial capital and eventually to the back area, so I could use some of my skills with the bigger vehicles at the time.
Today, Wood enjoys retirement in Topeka, keeping up with eight grandchildren and traveling when possible.
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