Veterans...tell us how you received your Nickname in 50 words or less and we’ll post it on our website, as space permits. Along with your Nickname information, please include:

• Your name
• Your unit
• Date you served
• Where you served

Mail your Nickname information to: SweetPea@proudvets.com

My Nickname is "Beetle" and I'm a Proud Vet!

Name: Bob "Beetle" Bailey
Unit: Patrol Squadron Two (Det. Alpha), Crew 10 Aviation
        Ordnancemen 3/C
Date Served: 1965 to 1968
Location of Duty: Vietnam, Korea, Phillippines, Japan and
        Washington State, USA

This is easy, my nickname "Beetle" comes from the comic character in the Army. I guess the Navy needed a "Beetle," too, so they called me that and still do. Welcome home to the rest of you and thank you for serving our country. Be Proud!

My Nickname is “Boss” and I’m a Proud Vet!

Name: S. “Boss” Weisberger
Unit: 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade, L.R.R.P.
Date Served: 1967
Location of Duty: Vietnam

My buddy Chad and I were playing around acting like typical Jersey gangsters. Chad was the enforcer who would “lean on da punks” and I was Da Boss...just a joke. While out on a mission, TL Weems referred to me as “individual Da Boss” over the radio and it stuck.

My Nickname is “Bulldozer” and I’m a Proud Vet!

Name: Riley “Bulldozer” Cox
Unit: 101st Airborne Division, F-58th Inf., LRP; Lco.         Rangers
Date Served: March 1968-1970
Location of Duty: Vietnam

I got the nickname “Bulldozer or Dozer” when I entered another hooch where Russell Rowe was lying down. When I stood in the door, my shadow fell across the room and Russell said, “Who put a #!*%& bulldozer in front of the door?”

My Nickname is "Greek" and I'm a Proud Vet!

Name: Gene "Greek" Venechanos
Unit: 11th Reg., 1st. Marine Division
Date Served: June 1966 - August 1967
Location of Duty: Vietnam

In 5th grade a teacher started calling me "Greek" and it stuck through school, the Marines, and to this day. Sometimes I was asked whose utilities I had when my name was displayed.

My Nickname is "Limey" and I'm a Proud Vet!

Name: James "Limey" Walker
Unit: 101st Airborne Division,1st Brigade L.R.R.P.
Date Served: 1967
Location of Duty: Vietnam

When I first showed up in LRRPs, I went to see medic Al 'Lurch' Cornett to get my left ear pierced. After about five minutes, Lurch asked where I got the funny accent. When I told him I was English, he exclaimed, "*&%#, not a *!$#%* Limey!" and the nickname stuck.

My Nickname is "Linderer-man" and I'm a Proud Vet!

Name: Gary Linderer
Unit: Co F 58th Inf. (LRP), Co L 75th Inf. (Ranger),
         101st Airborne Division
Date Served: June 6, 1968 - June 5, 1969
Location of Duty: Camp Eagle, I Corps, Vietnam

My parents gave me the first part (both of them, since they were married). I got the second part after I passed my entrance physical. Larry Chambers combined the two when he found out that I could urinate without getting it all over my hands.

My Nickname is "Namgunner" and I'm a Proud Vet!

Name: George "Namgunner" La Valley
Unit: 283rd Army Med Evac - Civic Action/Civil Affairs
        Missions-MACV
Date Served: 1965-66, 1972-73
Location of Duty: Vietnam, War Zones B, C & D

My 1st tour was Air Force as a door gunner with "Army Dustoff." I volunteered on a variety of missions with Special Forces, civic actions & civil affairs. After 10 years of Air Force I joined the Army, liked what I did, was good at it...and was proud to serve!

My Nickname is "Photog" and I'm a Proud Vet!

Name: Mike "Photog" Willey
Unit: 101st Airborne Division, Brigade PIO and         assignments with Tiger Force, Hawks and Recondos         doing stories for the unit newspaper 'Diplomat and         Warrior', later called 'The Screaming Eagle'
Date Seved: March 1966-April 1972
Location of duty: Vietnam; Ft. Bragg; Union Lake, MI;         Germany; Ft. Lewis, WA

I got the handle of "Photog" when I was transferred from HHC 1/327 to Brigade Hqs PIO, since I took photos and wrote articles for the unit newspaper. However, in civilian life I picked up the handle of "Doc," as I usually fix things that others mess up. Welcome Home!

My Nickname is “Rommel” and I’m a Proud Vet!

Name: George C. “Rommel” Murphy
Unit: 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade, HHC 1, L.R.R.P.
Date Served: 1967-68
Location of Duty: Vietnam

Teammates named me for the bouncy rides I gave them to the choppers when I wasn’t in the boonies. Once when I came in out of the field, I found a sign “Danger, Rommel at work” hanging on the front of our company truck. It has stuck to today.

My Nickname is “Varmint” and I’m a Proud Vet!

Name: David P. “Varmint” Walker
Unit: Co. N (Ranger) 75th Inf., 173d Airborne Brigade         (Sep.) LZ English (Bong Son)
Date Served: 1970-71
Location of Duty: Vietnam

I attained my nickname while serving as a senior scout observer with Team “Hotel.” Jack Ramsland, a teammate, bestowed this name upon me due to the rapid chewing motion I used when consuming LRP rations.

My Nickname is “Waldo” and I’m a Proud Vet!

Name: Walter “Waldo” Bacak
Unit: 101st Airborne Division, TL, 1st Brigade, L.R.R.P.
Date Served: Jan-Dec 1967
Location of Duty: Vietnam

My nickname “Waldo” came from a combination of the great Waldo Pepper and Where’s Waldo. I was always out looking for things to get into, swipe to help the troops: beer, tents, water buffalo tank, etc.

My Nickname is “Wolfman” and I’m a Proud Vet!

Name: Brian “Wolfman” Kraft
Unit: 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade, L.R.R.P.
Date Served: Nov. 1966-June 1968
Location of Duty: Vietnam

I got the nickname “Wolfman” because I would sit on a rock on “LRRP Hill” in Duc Pho, and howl and bark to the dogs in the villages outside the wire of base camp at night. I’m a dog lover, what can I say?