Col. Gary Allen   U.S.Army ( Ret.)


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Decorations/ Badges/ and ribbons awarded:
Combat Infantry Badge
Bronze Star w/"V" device & 1rst Oak leaf cluster
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1rst Oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal w/ 2nd Oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal w/ 2nd Oak leaf cluster
Army Reserve Components Achievements Medal w/ 4th Oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 Campaign Stars
Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ 2nd Hour Glass device
NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/ "4" device
Army Service Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ "1969" device
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Silver Star
Kansas State Emergency Duty Service Ribbon
KSARNG Service Medal w/ 3rd Sunflower Device
Valorous Unit Citation, 3d Bn, 21st Inf, 196 Lt Inf Bde
Meritorious Unit Commendation, 23rd Inf Div.
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm, 3d Bn, 21st Inf, 196 Lt Inf Bde
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm. 123d Aviation Bn, 23d Inf Div.

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Life member of the following;
The American Legion
Veteran of Foreign Wars
Military Order  of the Purple Heart
23rd Infantry Division
(Americal) Association
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     The above photo of me was as a PFC, July 1955,
35th Inf Div, Fort Mc Coy, WI. This was the first military Jeep, (M38) that I ever drove, and I am still driving one today after 51 years.
         PFC  E-3     HHC 3 bn 137 Inf.   35th Inf Div.

 1st Sgt, December 1967
just before receiving my commission 
as a 2nd LT.
2nd LT, August 1968, at Fort Carson, CO. in training before shipping to Panama Canal, CZ. 
for more training in prep for Viet Nam
Chu-Lai Army Base
1LT in Chu Lai, RVN. August 1969. 
I'm on a 3 day stand down from the field with 
Co. B 3Bn 21 Inf, 196th LIB, 23rd Inf Div.

Now-a-days,  I still have jeeps. I attend a yearly convoy
near the Mo. border. My jeeps are authentic restorations,
brought to life again by myself & Walt Pennell.
Saddle up !!
Preparing to leave  Booneville, Mo. and continue the convoy back to Columbia. These small towns, not much bigger than Oberlin, are fantastic in their attitude towards our visits. 
They always welcome us with eats and ceremonies as though we were 'liberating' their towns from the 'Huns'.
One town had an orchestra waiting for us and played a selection of Patriotic songs.
The orchestra and the food were very impressive!
Here I am (on the right),
proudly posed along with some ' swabby ' I talked into to driving my restored '42 Navy Jeep.
Staff Sgt. Gary Cross stands by to keep the sailor in line with his riding crop.
( You know how those swabs can be unruly from time to time.)
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Click below to visit my
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E-Mail for Col. Allen
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