Vietnam Veteran Reflects on Wartime Service More Than 50 Years Later

More than five decades after serving in Vietnam, Wayne Kern, a former combat engineer and retired FBI special agent, reflects on his time in the military and the experiences that shaped his life. From volunteering for the draft in 1968 to his deployment in the Mekong Delta, Kern recounts moments of danger, camaraderie, and the lasting impact of war. Now volunteering at a military retiree office, he continues to honor those he served with while sharing his story of service.

Kern’s journey into military service began after earning a physics degree from Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio. Unable to secure a job due to the threat of the draft, he opted to volunteer for military service. In September 1968, he began basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, followed by engineer training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he learned skills such as bridge construction. In May 1969, he arrived in Vietnam, stationed with the 86th Engineering Battalion at Camp Viking in the Mekong Delta. His unit’s mission was to maintain a critical road and protect a bailey bridge that had previously been destroyed, likely by Viet Cong forces.

The work was relentless, with combat engineers rotating through assignments that included bridge security, mine sweeps, and other tasks as needed. The environment was harsh, and the dangers were constant. One of Kern’s most vivid memories was a nighttime attack on their outpost while he was manning a .50 caliber machine gun. Initially, the weapon jammed, but he quickly recovered and returned fire. The aftermath left him shaken, a moment he describes as his body processing how close he had come to death. Another lasting memory was the loss of Specialist Four James Jay Hochstetter, a fellow soldier killed by a booby trap while clearing a destroyed bridge.

After completing his military service, Kern returned to the U.S. and began a career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1971. Initially hired into the science program due to his physics background, he worked in various field offices before being assigned to FBI headquarters. Later, he spent time in Chicago before playing a role in international efforts following the 9/11 attacks, working in Germany to facilitate intelligence communications. He retired in 2002 after nearly 32 years of service.

“When I came back to Rockville, Maryland a neighbor of mine, who was a Navy officer, suggested we go down to D.C. and look for jobs. My buddy got me to go into the Department of Justice building. I had no intention of going in there. It happened to be a time of crisis in the United States. Back then there was a lot of anti-war protests,” said Kern. “There were people interrupting traffic going into the D.C. area. There was even a machine gun posted on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and the FBI was looking for people. They discovered I had a physics degree, and I was hired by exception into the science program. They had the FBI laboratory. Initially, I was assigned to the Milwaukee division of the FBI but was sent to work at a two-man resident agency office in Wausau, Wisconsin.”

Reflecting on his experiences, Kern expresses deep respect for those who served on the front lines, emphasizing the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by his fellow soldiers. His story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by Vietnam veterans and the lasting effects of their service.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the 85th Support Command.

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