"I almost said my Hail Marys and last rites right there." (Video interview, 39:54)

Santos Rosas

Santos Rosas [2004] War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Unit: 4th Division, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment Service Location: Vietnam Rank: Specialist Four Place of Birth: Santa Maria, CA

Drafted into the Army in 1969 at the age of 18, Santos Rosas was sent to Vietnam and assigned to a patrol unit based out of Pleiku. Endless patrols in the jungles offered no shortage of gut-wrenching experiences: losing close friends and sustaining injuries himself. The trials of Vietnam didn't end with his homecoming: He suffered rashes from exposure to Agent Orange and had trouble readjusting to the confines of his close-knit family. Throughout it all, though, he maintained an upbeat attitude and an appreciation for the small pleasures of everyday life.