The Sentry

Authors

David Aldridge

Document Type

1961-1980 Army

Date

2023

Date of Submission

March 2024

Keywords

Mighty Pen, Army, Veteran, Vietnam, Walking Point, Spirituality, Existential Reflection, Violence, War, Sentry

Abstract

An experienced grunt walks point in Vietnam, hearing a special Voice that keeps him and his men alive in the jungle.

Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, offers veterans and their family members a customized twelve-week writing class, free of charge. The program encourages, supports, and assists participants in sharing their stories and experiences of military experience so both writer and audience may benefit.

Author Biography

David M. Aldridge served our nation for 45 years. He retired from the Army after serving as an Infantry soldier and also as a Chief Legal NCO from 1965 to 1988. He went on to serve as a Department of the Army Civilian from 1988 until 2010. He had 3 tours in Viet Nam and was wounded 3 times. He has been a student of the Virginia War Memorial’s Mighty Pen Project since 2016 and has written over 100 short stories and one play about his experiences. He is editing his stories at the present time and looking for a publisher. His assignments in the Army covered every job in the Infantry from Grenadier to that of Platoon Leader when he was just a Private First Class. He is still the only NCO to ever prosecute a General Court Martial on behalf of the United States. He met and married Sheila, the love of his life in 1989, and they live in Chester, Virginia.

Rights

© The Author(s)

Is Part Of

Mighty Pen Project