Thank You Joe

U.S. involvement in Vietnam started slowly with an initial deployment of advisors in the early 1950s, grew incrementally through the early 1960s and expanded with the deployment of full combat units in July 1965. The last U.S. personnel were evacuated from Vietnam in April 1975. 

Joseph Semanco and Joseph Lofton were two of the approximately 9 million Americans who served during the Vietnam Era (November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975). 

Joe Lofton's Story

“Can’t control it, then don’t worry about it, and always do the right thing” is a motto that Joseph Lofton has lived by throughout his 30-year military career and civilian life.  The 83-year old Lofton remains active in his community especially with the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Slippery Rock Baptist Church and as a volunteer with the Butler VA Health Care System.

Lofton joined the United States Army in 1963 leaving Chicago, Illinois, to attend basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  He completed his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Lee, Virginia, and then packed his bags for Germany.  A year later, he received orders to return to the United States and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for supply management.  He returned to Germany.  He entered southern Vietnam in the summer of 1969 assigned to the 54th Aviation Company/1st Air Division Brigade at the Long Than North Air Base (Bearcat Base) as the company’s Supply Sergeant.  

As the Supply Sergeant, he was responsible for requisitioning new or additional supplies or equipment, issuing supplies or equipment, ensuring all items were accounted for, and any other task that was he was assigned.  “I made sure we always had what we needed and then some.” Clothing was a supply item he had plenty of given the condition of some of the soldier’s attire when they returned from the field. “I kept a trailer full of clothes because guys would come in with cut of pants and shirt sleeves…ripped up and soiled with dirt and blood.  Clean clothes made you feel human again.”  

In addition to his duties as the Supply Sergeant, he served on reconnaissance teams.  “I wanted to earn a Combat Infantry Badge.  To earn this badge, you had to complete 25 reconnaissance missions. So, I asked my Platoon Sergeant if he could sponsor me.  Soon after, I found myself on a team and heading to the field.”  Lofton was on his 23rd  mission when his team came under attack and his Platoon Sergeant was killed in front of him.  He did not earn the badge. 

That was just one of the things Lofton experienced in Vietnam. “There are things, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t forget,” states Lofton.  Support and reliance on your team was essential to make it through some of those difficult times.  Some however, chose support through drugs and alcohol.  “It was everywhere.  That stuff wasn’t for me. I just kept doing my thing.  I did keep a stray dog that had come into camp.  We kind of helped each other out.  It was a different and difficult time, very difficult.” 

Luck was something you had, or you didn’t, and Lofton had been in some situations where the only explanation for walking away was luck.  He recalls a particular day; His First Sergeant had called a meeting requiring all personnel to gather for lunch in the mess hall.  Lofton always took a nap at noon in his room in the back of the supply hut. Shortly after the meeting started, the camp came under attack and a rocket went through the base hitting the supply building, demolishing his entire sleeping area.  “Had this meeting not been called, I would not be here speaking with you today.” 

Lofton left Vietnam in 1970 and was sent to Frankfurt, Germany, where he remained until his retirement as a CW4 Warrant Officer in 1993. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business and a Masters Degree in Social Studies.  He earned a Bronze Star, Air Medal, and an Accommodation Medal for his service in the United States Army.   

Lofton is 100% service connected and receives all of his health care through the VA.  He comes in weekly for group meetings for peer support and PTSD.  Though he has no physical wounds, the mental and emotional wounds suffered have yet to heal.  “These weekly meetings help me.   The nightmares have not gone away. Being able to talk openly with others and learn ways to cope make it bearable.  I strongly encourage any Veteran out there to come to the VA to get help, to get care.” 

Lofton is a Support Services Volunteer at the Butler VA and is a VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) Representative for the VFW on the VAVS Committee. “I’ve volunteered here for over 12 years and have over 12,000 hours of service logged.  I have helped with escorting patients to appointments, mailing projects, greeting, and other errands when needed.  Being able to meet other Veterans and talk with them, that has been the greatest benefit of volunteering.”  

Lofton makes his home with his wife of 54 years and 2 cats in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.  He and his wife came to Slippery Rock to tour the university with his son many years ago.  His wife loved the area, so he bought a few acres and built a house.  He has 2 sons and 5 grand-children. 

“I do not have any real regrets about my life.  Vietnam was a different time and I try not to dwell too much on those experiences.  I try to mainly focus on the positives in my life.”

Joe Semanco's Story

“I always wanted to go into the military,” states the 77-year-old Semanco.  “When I was young, I dreamed of jumping out of planes.  My first airplane ride was the first plane I jumped out of.  I was the first man on the left door to jump. I was scared to death.”

Semanco joined the United States Army in 1962, at the age of 17, leaving his hometown of Limestone, Pennsylvania, to attend basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  He completed his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then headed to Fort Benning, Georgia, for jump school where he was assigned briefly to the 101st Airborne Division.  From there he went to Mannheim, Germany assigned to the 8TH Airborne Division/17TH Calvary.  He was discharged from the military and returned home.  A year later, he re-enlisted and was sent to northern Vietnam, base camp Chu Lia, assigned to the 1st of the 6th 198th Infantry Division/AMERICAL. 

“I served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. The entire time I was there, I was reconnaissance.”  Reconnaissance teams usually consisted of a 13-person squad whose primary purpose was to seek, find and report enemy activity and movements.  “We were lucky to have half of us return. Most times we sought, fought, and hoped to come back.”

Intuition has been something that Semanco has learned to heed in his life.  “I always had a way of knowing when something was going to happen.  I was nicknamed ‘lucky’.  My ankles would start to ache when near a booby trap.  We were in the field and my ankles started to hurt and I warned everyone that there was a trap nearby.  One of the guys didn’t believe me and kept going. He stepped on a toe popper.  Blew his toe off.”  Semanco attributes his intuition and sensitivity to his mother. “My mother could feel when something was going to happen.  So, I guess I get it from her.”

Coming back from a mission to their camp at Chu Lia, Semanco recalls speaking with his Lieutenant and, as he was looking out over the base, told him that he had a bad feeling that an attack was coming.  His Lieutenant dismissed it.  Later that evening, the base was attacked.  “When I saw my Lieutenant later, he just looked at me, didn’t say a word.  A lot of people were killed.  Once the attack was over, we got organized, gathered up what we could, and headed out to find the attackers.”

Following Vietnam, Semanco found himself discharged and back home in Pennsylvania working at a truck stop with his dad.  He then went to work with Penske as a mechanic and retired from there years later.  “I try not to dwell on things.  Past can’t be changed.  I just focus on things in the present and try to enjoy my life.”

Today, Semanco lives in Rimersburg, Pennsylvania, and leads an active life.  He hunts, fishes, and loves riding one of his three motorcycles.  For the past 9 years, he has volunteered at the Butler VA as a driver transporting Veterans to their VA appointments.  “I love driving.  Will drive when or wherever they need me.  Volunteering gives me something to do and I get to talk with other Veterans.” 

For his health care needs, Semanco receives all of his care through the VA.  “I enrolled as soon as I came home from the service and the care has been great all of these many years.”

Vietnam War Commemoration 

Butler VA Health Care system is proud to be a Vietnam War Commemoration partner and is honored to provide quality care and services to Vietnam Veterans and their families.

Visit www.vietnamwar50th.com for specific information about the Vietnam War Commemoration or to become a Commemorative Partner. More than 11,000 Commemorative Partners have committed to assisting the nation in thanking and honoring more than 6 million living Vietnam Veterans and the families of the approximately 9 million who served by hosting two commemorative events over a three-year period, in cities and towns across America.