In Service to America: Profile 11, Sergeant Richard A. ‘Ricka’ Lavoie

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Richard A. “Ricka” Lavoie grew up as many boys did in Nashua during the 1950s and early 1960s. He was part of Boy Scout Troop 272, played CYO basketball – and held raucous drinking parties, big enough to draw police. Lavoie graduated from Nashua High School in 1964. His Tusitala yearbook read in part, “Rick-a is strong, good looking, blond, often found at Roland’s or bombing around in his ’57 Chevy…” After high school graduation, Lavoie bought his dream car, a Corvette. 

It was about this time that the Vietnam War was heating up. President Johnson’s idea for waging war was to “ramp-up” the bombing and “search and destroy missions” in increments with the thought that the enemy would eventually see that they could not win. It didn’t work. VC and NVA personnel were replaced as fast as they were killed. They were prepared for a protracted fight – for decades if it took that long.

Lavoie registered for the draft and was given a status of 1-A, a prime candidate for induction. This bothered him because, if he went into the Army, he would not be able to keep up with his car payments. And he couldn’t very well expect his parents to make the payments. Nashua police officer Bill Burns asked Lavoie why he had put his beloved Corvette up for sale. Lavoie explained the situation. Burns then suggested he join the National Guard as a compromise. Lavoie joined the NH National Guard in 1965.

Lavoie enjoyed life for several months – and then, in 1967 the rumors started – rumors that his National Guard outfit was going to activated. Lavoie was off to basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on May 20, 1968. He was assigned to an artillery group and while at Fort Bragg, assisted in firing plenty of 155 mm rounds. The weather in North Carolina is hot, hot and humid, way hotter and more humid than you will find in Nashua. But not as bad as they would soon see in Southeast Asia.

Lavoie came home for a few days in June, 1968 and surprised his wife, Linda, met with his friends at the National Club and pondered his future. In late July Linda told him she thought she was pregnant. Lavoie was happy at the prospect of being a father, but not thrilled about the probability of being so far from home when his wife gave birth.

Lavoie’s B Battery ended their training on August 27, took a few days’ leave, and reported back on September 16 to prepare for departure to Vietnam. Before leaving, Lavoie went to confession, attended Mass, and received communion. Then started counting the days until his return to “the world.”

The trip to Vietnam took 24 hours and included a stop in Alaska for fuel. Although they had trained in hot, humid, North Carolina, nothing could have prepared them for Vietnam. All six of their 155 mm howitzers were brought to Vietnam. Three were placed in service and three held in reserve. Lavoie’s group, the 197^th, hooked up with the regular army and their 105 mm howitzers.

Lavoie’s first “home” was a bunker. His B Battery began work immediately, filling and arranging sand bags, and improving their bunker. There was plenty of gunfire going on outside their base perimeter. Lavoie wanted it to stay outside. Meanwhile the men settled into their daily routine, performed guard duty, served as kitchen police (KP) and tried to get used to the heat. Lavoie wrote in his diary, “Only 12 more months to go.”

B Battery was stationed at Phu Loi. Officers quickly recognized Lavoie’s leadership skills and made him a Chief of Section on Gun 6. Nine men worked a gun – two carried the tray with the 120-pound projectile, two others rammed it into the tube, and one pulled the lanyard to fire it.

Lavoie and his crew were kept pretty busy. By mid-December, they had fired 9,154 rounds with 1,092 fired in a single 72-hour period. That’s a round fired about every four minutes! By mid-January 1969, the 197^th had fired 42,188 rounds with B Battery firing the most at 15,950. Some of those rounds were illumination rounds. B Battery fired so many, in fact, more than any other field artillery unit in Vietnam, earning it the moniker, the “Light Battery.” The 155 mm howitzer had a range of 12 miles, so Lavoie and his men couldn’t see what they were hitting. They depended on forward observers for their targets – and to tell them how they did.

The dry season began October 28, a welcome respite from almost constant rain. Days were spent firing howitzer rounds, or drinking beer and watching movies in their off-time. For Thanksgiving, the US government provided turkey and “all the fixings.” Lavoie kept one of the menus. It included, shrimp cocktail, crackers, assorted nuts and candies, milk, ice tea, fruit cake, mincemeat pie, pumpkin pie, roast turkey, corn bread, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and glazed sweet potatoes. 

During his time “in country” Lavoie suffered some medical issues. He had some chronic intestinal problems. While working the howitzer one of those 120-pound projectiles fell on Lavoie’s foot. He thought nothing had broken but he might lose a couple of toenails. Later tests showed that he had two broken toes. He would have two more projectiles land on his toes during his tour.

Mail-call was always a welcome time for soldiers serving in Vietnam. Lavoie was always depressed when mail-call came and there was nothing for him. He sent letters home to his family and friends, telling them that he was ok. He often sent pictures of himself and his crew enjoying themselves. He didn’t want those back home to worry about him.

Always the jokester, Lavoie and some of his men took photos of their newly-completed bunker, then sent the pics home with an ad to other Nashuans to come visit Vietnam and “rent their place.” The ad read: 

Newly completed two-room bunker with barbed wire enclosed yard, pool in the back, wooden floors, built-in cabinets with bar, fluorescent lighting. Excellent location. Chapel nearby, airport five minutes away, only 45 minutes from downtown Saigon.

They got no takers.

The last week of February, 1969 saw a lot of action. On February 23, enemy fire hit a jeep killing some Cambodians. Two more Cambodians were killed the following day just outside the perimeter. The unit anticipated a major enemy attack. But soon things quieted down so Lavoie went to Saigon for “a few steam baths and a few beers.”

By March 17, the 197^th had been in country for six months. Lavoie wrote, “Time still seems to be going pretty fast.” And it is little wonder why. Their day started at 0500 and ended at 2030 hours, fourteen and a half hours later – quite a work day.

Being in a war zone, one never knew what was going to happen. One time, Lavoie was watching a movie when he saw a lot of flashes go off. He thought they were under attack. It was just people taking flash photos. Later, a captain and another soldier were killed in action in a  mortar attack. Lavoie wrote, “Boy, what a feeling to see someone dead that a few hours before you were drinking beer and laughing with.” It made him think of his home, his wife and his newborn son, Shayne. It was not long after that, he started counting down the days until he could leave. On April 26 he wrote, “143 days to go.”

Enemy activity intensified. Lavoie reported the compound being peppered with small arms and mortar fire. A jet was shot down overhead and the pilot ejected, landing in the compound. The pilot reportedly fainted when the rescue crew reached him.

Then the army started moving men around to replace those who were rotating out. Lavoie was sent to a service battery in Tay Ninh. He hated the assignment and started working his way up the command ladder to get changed to something else. Ultimately, he was assigned to a 105 mm howitzer with a promotion to E-6 (Sergeant) and a section chief.

As he worked with his gun crew, firing 800 rounds on July 1, Lavoie dreamed of what he would do when he got home. He had visions of buying two motorcycles – one was a BSA Victory which he would use to ride to work, and TR6R for the road. Of course, it would depend on what his wife thought.

Before leaving Vietnam, Lavoie received a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement against hostile forces during the time between January 17, 1969 and March 5, 1969. The citation, in part, read:

Sgt Lavoie distinguished himself while serving as gunner, Sixth Howitzer Section, Battery B, 3^rd Battalion, 197^th Field Artillery, 23^rd Artillery Group, during Operation Centurion IV and V at remote fire support bases in Long Kahn and Bien Hoa provinces in the republic of Vietnam. Using sound judgement and professional knowledge, Sgt Lavoie continually accomplished his job in an exemplary manner, and his ability to cope with any emergency with timely effective decisions enabled his section to function under the most severe conditions. In the absence of his section chief, he directed the section, performing his duty in a proficient manner, and through his initiative, perseverance and leadership abilities, he was a guide and inspiration to his section.

Upon his return to Nashua, Lavoie went back to work at Nashua Corporation. His boss, a former Marine said, “Glad to have you back.” Lavoie retired after 41 years. He and Linda had three more children – Matt, Joel and Meghan. 

Thanks to fellow Nashuan and author Ron Dube as much of the information for this article came from his book, Vietnam: A Collection of War Stories from Nashua Area Veterans.   

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