.The archival records state that Stribling was a Private First Class (U.S. Army). He was a Medical Corpsman in the Army. Medical corpsman work in various capacities, and are usually the only medical caregiver available. Although Stribling’s official duties were not specified, during the Vietnam War, the medic’s primary responsibility was to evacuate the wounded for treatment. Then, the medics would continue to treat the wounded soldier on the helicopter. The wounded were relocated to larger hospitals where they could receive more specialized and intensive care.
Impressively, there was a 98% survival rate for soldiers who were evacuated from the battlefield within the first hour. Unlike in World War I and World War II, medics no longer wore a red cross on their helmets, and they were able to carry grenades and weapons into the battlefield.
Medics who are currently serving in the 21st century perform similar duties. Medics are generally responsible for “providing first aid and trauma care on the battlefield, limited primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness.” The training to become a medic is intensive, as the job required 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 16 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in-patient care.
Stribling in his uniform
Role in the 4th Infantry Division
He was in the 1st Battalion in B Company and the 4th Infantry Division. The 4th Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado. The 4th Infantry Division’s official nickname, “Ivy,” is a play on words for the Roman number for 4, “IV.” Ivy is meant to symbolize tenacity and fidelity, which is the basis of the division’s motto, “Steadfast and Loyal.”
Victor Michael Stribling and his 4th Infantry Division were deployed from Fort Lewis to Camp Holloway, Pleiku, Vietnam on 25 September 1966, but Stribling entered in October. Stribling’s division was first located Pleiku, where the division fought from September 1966 to February 1968. Because Stribling was killed on February 16, 1968, it can be assumed that Stribling was killed near Pleiku.
However, official records state that Stribling was killed in Kontum, which is a city that is 47.5 kilometers away. Unfortunately, the specific reasons for why Stribling was 47.5 kilometers away from his Battalion were not specified. In the divisional order of battle for the Vietnam War, the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry was 4th.
Pleiku Background Information
Pleiku is a city in central Vietnam, and is located in Vietnam’s highlands. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province. American attacks on Pleiku escalated, but the bombing attacks revealed some vulnerability of the bases that American planes used for the bombing campaigns. The battles in Pleiku are considered some of the most infamous battles of the Vietnam War. After Stribling’s death, his division would be relocated several different locations until the end of the war, including locations Dak To and An Khe. Stribling’s division was also relocated back to Pleiku several times.