Gene Rasmussen: The story of a heroic soldier

1. Gene Rasmussen: The story of a heroic soldier By: Devin Anderson Josh Pittman Asia johnston

2. Child hood • Gene was born and raised in Iowa • He was an only child • with a single mother • Gene never new his father

3. Teen Age Years • Fell in with the wrong crowd as a teenager • Eventually ended up at court because of his actions • The judge gave him two options: • Go to jail at the age of 17 or go to boot camp • Gene chose boot camp

4. Boot Camp • Genes boot camp look a lot like this, This type of place started Gene on his journey

5. Gene with his wife at a young age • Before Gene, joined the army, he married a young lady that he barely new • Her name was Penny, and they got married a month before Gene left to serve his country

6. Naval Base • Once he completed boot camp, Gene enrolled in the navy to serve on the rivers of Vietnam • He was in the NSA (Naval Service Activity) • Gene’s first day: • Was shot at the second he stepped off the boat in Vietnam

7. Good Luck Charms • Mr. Rasmussen depended on certain things when times got hard • He kept a picture of his wife in his helmet • Had a religious quote on the back of his uniform that said; “Me and you right God?”

8. Vietnamese Translator • This man helped him during very difficult situations, he was Gene’s translator

9. River he patrolled on • This is the river where Gene spent most of his time in Vietnam • He spent from sun down to sun up, risking his life daily

10. Boat he patrolled on • This is the low amount of protection that Gene had while he was patrolling the very dangerous rivers of Vietnam. • He was extremely venerable to machine guns and other fire arms • Here is a boat similar to the one Gene patrolled in

11. Boat he patrolled on • While on the river, if Gene and his crew found a boy that was 17-35 years, they would have to detain him, take him back to their base and have him sign up for the United States service

12. Boat he patrolled on • Gene guarded the river mostly at night • He made sure no foreign boats traveled on the river at night

13. Gene in uniform • There was no age limit to drink at his camp • All of the men drank, but certain treats were hard to come by • Whenever they wanted beer or extra food they would have to take a truck, drive to the nearest base and “borrow”

14. USO Performers • They had multiple things to keep them entertained: • Singers and performers • Tape 8-track players

15. Radio • The radio was the most significant part of entertainment • Learned about what was going on in Vietnam and in America because of the radio

16. Gene with friends • Gene and his buddies would play lots of tricks on one another • Lessened stress • One example: • Putting red kool-aid in the water of their showers of the night shift crew

17. Home sick • Gene became increasingly home sick his last three months in Vietnam he really missed his wife

18. After Vietnam • Gene, attended Cal State San Bernardino after his tour in Vietnam • Received his bachelors degree in criminal studies

19. Gene and his Wife • Once Gene returned to the States, him and his wife ended up having five children and 8 eight grand children

20. Gene now • Gene credits the military for being the man he is today • He is very grateful for his experience • He explained it straightened him up and made him a better person