“ONCE A MARINE”

By Judy Skilling

THE STORY OF TERRY LOWE - USMC - VIETNAM

There is no doubt that joining the military was in Terry’s future. After all, He had come from a legacy of Military service.  Terry’s father was a WWII Veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and his grandfather was an Army Veteran from WWI, who was wounded in action at the Battle of Somme in France in 1916.

In 1967, the Vietnam War was in full force and Terry knew that’s where he would be heading just two weeks after graduating high school. As a 0341 Mortarman, he started his tour at Phu Bai Combat Base, with Company Bravo 1st Battalion 1st Marines. The Battle of Huế, also called the Siege of Huế, came to Terry’s doorstep at Phu Bai in January of 1968. It was one of the bloodiest battles in Vietnam, with 142 Marines KIA and over 1000 wounded. 

After that battle, he then headed to An Hoa Combat Base, then the Arizona territory within Vietnam. Most of the time, Terry was just following orders and didn’t know where he was going. “It was all jungle where we went” when asked how he could tell the difference between his assignments. “We were just told where to go next.” 

After his initial two-year enlistment, Terry transitioned to the USMC active reserves and in 1972, went active duty again. This time it was different. He decided he wanted to be in the Marine Corps Force Recon. Terry recollected that when he made that decision, he was in a room with 300 other men. A recruiter asked who wanted to be in the Force Recon. Terry was the only one to raise his hand. The recruiter pulled him aside and asked if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Terry was well aware of what he was getting himself into, and with that, he was shipped out to U.S. Navy dive school in San Diego, California.

The Naval training in San Diego is one of the hardest schools to pass; essentially, it’s BUDS Seal training that Terry was going through. One of the most mentally challenging tasks he would have to endure was the mask water test. To pass, Terry would be underwater, the instructor would pull off his water mask, and then the key component was that he had to stay underwater, not letting his head break the surface. If he broke, he would’ve failed. “It was all about your mentality. I had to tell myself that the instructors aren’t going to kill me. I passed the first time on that test.”

He passed the Navy dive school and went onto Army Ranger school in Ft. Bragg, Georgia. After successfully completing that training, Terry earned his Force Recon pin. He shared that in order to earn that pin, he developed the mentality of “You don’t quit.” It’s the unified mindset shared between Force Recon brothers. 

Terry Lowe, Vietnam 1968

After his discharge from the Corps, Terry went onto international policing. He was deployed, yet again, to several war regions, including Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, serving as a private military contractor during the Iraq war. 

Terry shared that he had taken part in 4 different wars throughout his lifetime and witnessed how much war had changed from his young days in Vietnam to his military contracting days in Iraq. “My mindset was different in Afghanistan than in Vietnam. I knew how to handle everything and even helped out those that were witnessing war for the first time.” 

One of his favorite things about his military experience is the brotherhood that is within the Marine Corps. It just never goes away, no matter if you served 2 or 20 years ago. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Something that always gets him emotional is when he sees other men who wear a Vietnam Veteran ballcap. Terry makes it a point to say “Welcome home brother.” Vietnam was an extremely unpopular war as the social culture shifted in the late 60s and early 70s, and soldiers returning home to the States were treated horribly. So, it was up to the Vietnam Veterans themselves to welcome each other home; it was all they had. Even to this day, you may hear “Welcome home brother” the next time you’re in the presence of these men who served so selflessly. 

*From all of us at AT EASE! Veterans Magazine to Terry and ALL our Vietnam Veterans, “Welcome Home!”