Paul Dostal
Chin Strap Mt. in background. Marble Mt. is to the left -- you can't see it. Note little kids smoking. [Paul in back]
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Click HERE to listen to full interview, Interviewed by Kathie Gow on 6/5/2019 |
“I had no idea what I was getting into.” -- Paul Dostal
Paul S. Dostal grew up in the Bay State section of Florence, MA and currently lives in Hatfield, MA. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18, just after graduating from Northampton High School.
He began his year’s tour in Vietnam in August 1968 as a ground radio repair man with H&S Company, 3rd Amtrac Battalion at Marble Mountain (south of Da Nang) in Quang Nam Province. He also served with the 2nd Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines (Amtrac Platoon).
Paul become a commissioned officer and served in the Marine Corps until 1993, retiring with the rank of Lt. Col. He has been the Master of Ceremonies for the Town of Hatfield’s Memorial Day Program for approximately 20 years, and for a handful of years served as Hatfield’s Veterans Services Officer.
*Songs that most remind Paul of his time in Vietnam: We Gotta Get Out of This Place and White Christmas (from the Bob Hope Christmas show).
Images courtesy of Paul Dostal and the Hatfield Historical Museum
