Ronald Minnema

Ron Minnema was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1950. He enlisted in the Army in 1970, and took specialized training in signals intelligence, and eventually went to Vietnam, where he served in the 8th Radio Research Field Station, 509th Signal Battalion, based at Phu Bai, where he helped monitor intelligence reports. He spent most of his time on the base, and spent a relatively quiet year in Vietnam, as not much was going on military in 1971, but did act effectively when a rocket attack hit his compound. He completed his enlistment in December 1971.