What They Don’t Tell You About Being a Machine Gunner in Vietnam

At just 17 years old, Josh Cruze was drafted into the United States Marine Corps and sent to Vietnam as an M60 machine gunner. In this unfiltered conversation, Josh shares what war was really like: the moments no one prepares you for, the brothers he lost, the wounds he survived, and the lifelong battle of coming home from combat when the war never really ends.If you believe these stories matter, please subscribe, like, comment, and share. Your support helps preserve the voices of our veterans before they’re gone forever.

Episode Chapters:

01:05 – Growing up in Brooklyn & being drafted at 17

04:45 – Convincing his parents to let him join the Marines

08:30 – Boot camp shock, fear, and earning the title “Marine”

13:40 – Infantry training & becoming an M60 machine gunner

17:30 – The Tet Offensive & being sent to Vietnam

21:15 – Arriving in Vietnam & first moments of real fear

24:40 – First firefights and learning how fast things change

29:00 – Losing friends and seeing war’s true cost

33:10 – Operation Allenbrook & the explosion that nearly killed him

36:45 – Being wounded, medevac, and field hospital memories

41:00 – Purple Heart, Guam, and coming home injured

46:30 – Returning to a divided America

50:10 – PTSD, marriage, and silent struggles after the war

55:30 – Finding healing through education and acting

59:40 – How theater changed his life forever

Ask A Vet is dedicated to putting as many veterans’ stories into the world as possible before they’re gone forever. If you or someone you know is a veteran with a story to share, we would be honored to hear from you. Please reach out to us at [email protected].