Veteran Salute: Working transport across northern Vietnam

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Serving at the height of the Vietnam War, Marine Corporal Melvin Foster helped transport supplies and troops through a treacherous region of north Vietnam.

After finishing high school, a friend of Foster's sent him on a path he'd never forget.

“A buddy of mine said that after graduation we knew the Army was going to grab us, so we went into the Marine Corp. on the buddy plan,” Foster said.

Foster found himself in a role that he thoroughly enjoyed.

“I had a mechanical aptitude with mechanics because I had worked on cars and stuff like that," Foster said. "That’s how I got into the motor transport. My great uncle, he was a truck driver in Korea, so it kinda, I guess it just stuck with me ya know.” 

Foster would transport ammo, diesel, fuel and for 10 plus hours a day all over Vietnam.

“It was enjoyable, because I was doing a job," Foster said. "For me to be put in a position like that, to haul those types of ordinances and stuff like that to places where they needed it, that was just my job. I enjoyed getting behind that 5-ton and driving each and every day.” 

One trip in particular stood out to the marine.

“It was in September of '69. I went to Da Nang to pick up supplies and new guys, the new guys were on my truck," Foster said. "They had a helmet, flight jacket and a seat back, that was all they had. We got caught in an ambush. I was the lead truck in the ambush so they tried to stop me, but they didn’t succeed. But, I got wounded in that process.”

A bullet pierced the cab of the truck, the seat and then hit Foster through his flight jacket. Despite the injury, nothing could stop the corporal from finishing his duty.

“It was my job. They trained me … how to drive a truck. So when duty called, I answered,” he said. 

Foster's pride in his service is two-fold.  

“As an African American, back in those days we didn’t have all the rights that we have now," Foster said. "So that was a plus for me, I was able to do something not only for my country but for myself. “

After his service in the Marine Corp. Foster worked in hospitals across Philidelphia, including at the VA hospital, before coming to work for the post office in Topeka.

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