1st Infantry 4th Cavalry

Name: Thomas Gardiner Rank: Pfc. Age: 18 Family/Friends in Vietnam: 1) 5 teachers (mostly Lt.'s and Capt.'s at the time) who served in Vietnam (been taught by all but one- best teachers I've ever had) 2) Father of my best friend; served as a Navy SEAL 3) My own father; while he did not actually fight, he did volunteer for his service 4) Family friend who finished his tour of duty but died in the 80's due to cancer caused by the aftereffects of Agent Orange 4th Cav. Background: Found this unit in March of '05 and joined up. Still learning and consider myself the quintessential FNG. Reenacting background: Only started a year ago doing Vietnam (my first and only impression to date). Tried American WWII for a short while, but didn't feel the same sense of fulfillment that Vietnam reenacting gave me.

In February of '05 I saw a Vietnam display at a gun show and decided I wanted to reenact. I also was in need of researching a new period of history as I had been reading constantly about WWII since I was 7 years old and Vietnam seemed the perfect thing to do. After doing some research and seeing how bad Vietnam Vets are often portrayed, Vietnam seemed the perfect thing to do. In conclusion, reenacting Vietnam for me is showing to the public what Vietnam really was about and trying to the best of my ability to debunk the horrible myths that exist about what happened "in country."