Badge of Military Merit James Joseph Klug National Public Relations Officer MOPH / National Historian At 20 years of age, he was drafted after his second year in the California College system and ready to start his third year with a major in architecture and a minor in business. The year was 1967 and the Vietnam War was ramping-up. He was sent to Basic training at Ft. Ord, California and advanced infantry training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. His MOS, 11C20, light mortars, prepared him for deployment to Vietnam. Once in country, he served as 11Bravo, Infantry, for 12 months as a gunner carrying the M-79 grenade launcher with the 1st Battalion 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in II Core Central Highlands. Among the most intense battles he fought in was Hill 875 were he was wounded. He then went on and fought in the 1968 TET Offensive. Instead of returning home after one year, he extended his tour. He stayed for another 7 months as the Battalion Chaplains Assistant for the 1st Battalion 10th Infantry of the 4th. Infantry Division. His final rank after active duty and USAR was SSG. In 2007, he discovered the Military Order of the Purple Heart and became a life member. That same year, he was elected as Jr. Vice Commander of our local Chapter 147. He moved up the ladder of elected offices to Chapter Commander as well as Oregon Department Commander. He held these offices for several years even while being appointed as National Historian in 2010. He still holds that National Office as well as that of National Public Relations Officer MOPH.