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From Michigan Farm to Vietnam: Jim Hock's Military Service and Life
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From running a family farm at age 13 to saving lives under enemy fire in Vietnam, Jim Hock's journey exemplifies the resilience and quiet heroism of a generation. Born in Michigan in 1943 and adopted at age two, Jim's life took an unexpected turn when his draft notice arrived in 1966—just as he and his wife were settling into a new apartment, with boxes still unpacked.
Trained as a combat medic despite having studied business administration in college, Jim describes the heart-wrenching moment of saying goodbye to his wife before deploying: "I knew when I kissed her goodbye that I was never gonna see her again." This powerful certainty of his own death hangs over his entire Vietnam narrative, making his survival all the more poignant.
Jim's vivid recollections bring listeners into the chaos and courage of wartime medical service—from treating his first casualties under fire to rescuing soldiers from a burning ammunition dump. He shares bittersweet moments too: watching Bob Hope and Raquel Welch perform for the troops, receiving care packages from home, and the surreal instruction not to wear his uniform at the airport when returning home to avoid harassment from war protesters.
What makes Jim's story truly remarkable is how he transformed potential trauma into a full life after Vietnam. Returning to General Motors where he worked for 39 years, raising three children, and using his medical training to save lives in civilian settings—including once saving his own daughter from choking. Now celebrating 61 years of marriage, Jim leaves listeners with hard-earned wisdom: "Just feel lucky that you're in a country that you're free to do it. Follow your dreams. Don't give up."
Want to hear more stories of courage and resilience? Subscribe now and share this episode with someone who appreciates the sacrifices made by our veterans.
Chapters
1. Childhood on a Michigan Farm (00:00:00)
2. Taking Over the Farm at Age 13 (00:07:03)
3. Marriage and Being Drafted (00:14:48)
4. Medical Training and Vietnam Deployment (00:22:27)
5. Combat Experiences as a Medic (00:27:56)
6. Life After Vietnam and GM Career (00:33:17)
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