U.S. Army veteran fired howitzers into North Vietnam

DOUGLASS, Kan. (KSNW) — A year after graduating from Wichita West High School in 1968, John Araiza was drafted into the U.S. Army. He volunteered to be a parachute rigger, thinking that might keep him out of combat. But his sergeant had other ideas.

After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Araiza was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for another eight weeks of artillery training.

“They had a paratrooper come in and talk to all of us, and I volunteered to jump out of airplanes. I was kind of looking down the line. There was like a 98% chance you’re going to Vietnam if you’re drafted. So, the longer I stayed in the States, the least amount of time I would have to stay over there,” said Araiza.

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So, he attended paratrooper training for a month at Fort Benning, Georgia. Then, he qualified for parachute rigger school at Fort Lee, Virginia. There, he graduated in the top 10% and became a specialist, 4th Class.

“Learned how to fold parachutes. Do air delivery where you put your vehicle or something off the back of a plane, and the parachute would open. It would land in a zone,” explained Araiza. “And from there, we got orders for Vietnam.”

There was always a very strong possibility Araiza would be ordered to Vietnam. But how did he feel when he was actually on his way over there?

“I was scared, worried. You know, I didn’t really even tell my parents where I was going. I mean, I think they both knew, but I just kept it to myself.”

Araiza’s unit touched down in I-Corp in 1970, in the area of the most intense fighting, right up against the DMZ.

“We were in formation. They called my name, and I went up, and Sergeant’s looking at my paperwork and says, ‘You’re a parachute rigger?’, and I go, ‘Yes, sir. I’m a parachute rigger.’ He goes, ‘We don’t need parachute riggers. You got a secondary MOS in artillery. We need ammo humpers.’ So, that’s how I got back in artillery,” said Araiza.

Araiza says the only good thing about being moved from infantry to field artillery was now he didn’t have to walk everywhere. Field artillery rode vehicles while the infantry hoofed everywhere.

Araiza had previously received training in field artillery, but not for anything like these cannons

“They stuck me on out in the field on the biggest land guns that they had. They were eight-inch howitzers and 175 howitzers. Self-propelled, which means they were tracked vehicles, and they could shoot 20 miles accurately,” said Araiza.

Field artillery was responsible for leading field artillery soldiers into battle, and Araiza saw plenty of battle. His unit was often positioned so close to the DMZ that the Americans could see into North Vietnam. From his positions at Alpha 1 or Charlie 2, Araiza’s howitzers could fire directly into enemy territory.

“If we were shooting north, we were shooting into North Vietnam. If we were shooting back to the west, we were shooting into Laos,” he said.

“They had a steady thing going every night that they called H&I rounds. Harassment and indictment, which there was usually four guns out in the field. Two eight-inch and two 175s, and you would go from gun to gun and fire most of the night just to harass them,” said Araiza. “The other times, we would shoot, we would shoot for support. We’re just trying to take care of people. And actually, I’ve in the last year or so, because of the hat I wear, I’ve had Marines and Army people come up and say thank me for saving their a**.”

Araiza’s unit was also assigned to a firebase near Bastogne, Firebase Ripcord, and later, Artillery Base J.J. Carroll.

All in all, he was in Vietnam for just under one year.

“Eleven months, 26 days. I got a five-day early out. Could have been 100 years, and it wouldn’t have felt any different,” he said.

Araiza returned to Wichita in 1971. He eventually went to work for Southwestern Bell as a coin collector. After a couple of years of doing that, he moved into installation and then into cable repair. He met his future bride, Anita, while working there. In 2003, Araiza retired after 31 years.

Araiza often wears a custom-made “Field Artillery Vietnam” hat when he’s out and about. He calls the hat a “conversation starter.”

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“Just about a month and a half ago, a boy about seven or eight years old, he was looking at me. Just a kid. No big deal. He came over and thanked me for my service. It felt good,” Araiza said, choking back tears.

When asked if he thinks about his days serving in the Army, Araiza gets a little emotional as he recalls different moments and experiences. He says there were many ups and downs. He tries, for the most part, to think of the good times.

John and Anita live just outside of Douglass. They have three children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN reporter Jason Lamb at jason.lamb@ksn.com.

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