‘To be an American is to give back’: Vietnam vet says his views on war have changed, but his support of troops is unwavering

Family legacy

Renner was born in Nebraska but spent his formative years in Ridgefield, within earshot of Interstate 5’s hum. He was the fourth oldest of 10 children. When he received his first Social Security check, he used the money to pay for a four-leaf clover tattoo and the numeral 4 on his wrist.

He recalls his childhood with warmth. The family cultivated 90 percent of their food by growing a huge garden and raising chickens and cows. Renner and his siblings would often spend hours exploring neighboring woodlands that were later logged.

Renner’s grandfather fought in World War I, and his father, alongside his uncles, served in World War II.

Although his father seldom spoke about the war, Renner and his siblings sensed the weight of his experiences serving overseas.

“He would tell us that war isn’t like the movies. People get killed,” Renner said. “He would tell stories about him taking care of guys that were disemboweled and blowing up. We not only heard the honor of serving for your country but also the horrors of it, too.”

Renner decided to enlist when he turned 18, straight out of high school. He wanted to secure GI Bill benefits, which help veterans pay for schooling after service. But his family history also influenced him.

Renner attended basic training at Fort Lewis before moving to different states for additional training. Renner reached the rank of corporal in just six months. He also married. The first of his five children was born just 10 days before he went to Vietnam.

As he sat on his duffle bag waiting on the tarmac for the plane to take him overseas, he realized the gravity of what he was about to do.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m going to Vietnam, and I might not make it back. I might get killed,” Renner said.

For a fleeting moment, fear coursed through him, then dissipated just as quickly, he recalls.

“I don’t know what it was — maybe divine intervention or something — but I thought: ‘What happens will happen,’ ” he said.

Renner vividly recalls the hot, humid air against his skin in Vietnam, and the soothing relief of a pool where he would cool off after long days. Renner worked in the barracks office as a records clerk. He became a sergeant.

Many Vietnam veterans faced hostility upon their return.

“I made the mistake walking to the bank one day in uniform. People just looked at me … one guy yelled ‘baby killer.’ There was more disrespect for Vietnam military people,” Renner said.

That’s why he flies a U.S. Army flag commemorating service in Vietnam high over his front lawn. He said he’s glad to see veterans today are treated better than he was then.

Renner worked in Oakland, Calif., for 18 months administering entrance tests to future soldiers. Renner was then assigned to the Army Reserve Unit at Fort Vancouver Barracks.

Renner left the Army in November 1973 and enrolled in Clark College’s nursing program.

In his discharge physical exam, doctors discovered damage to his lungs. Over the years, Veterans Affairs diagnosed his lung damage as sarcoidosis resulting from his exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to clear vegetation that could conceal enemy forces. As he met with The Columbian, he became short of breath and adjusted the nasal cannula for his supplemental oxygen.

According to Cleveland Clinic, an estimated 3 million American soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange, leading to the deaths of 300,000 veterans and 400,000 Vietnamese people between 1962 and 1971.

“I wasn’t even in combat, and I have lung damage just from being there,” Renner said.

In early October, Renner’s older brother, Joseph, died after a 16-year battle with abdominal cancer. Joseph, who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, was also exposed to Agent Orange.

“He was a helicopter crew chief. They got killed all the time. He survived, lived another 50 years … but he still died from Agent Orange,” Renner said.

To serve

Renner displays his pride in his and his family’s military service with flags waving in his yard and a room full of memorabilia and photographs. He even spends his spare time restoring old Army vehicles.

His perspective on war has changed over the years, however.

All of Renner’s family members returned from their tours, but he witnessed the toll combat took, particularly on his late brother. He also lost a close high school friend in the Vietnam War.

As he recounted stories of his family, tears welled in his eyes. He paused, then said, “It’s different when you send your son off to war.”

His oldest son served during the Iraq War, while his youngest went to Afghanistan. He said he’s proud of their service but lamented the sacrifices required of each generation.

“It’s ridiculous. Every generation: My grandfather, my father and then I’m sending my oldest son off and then another son,” Renner said. “You’d think we’d figure this stuff out by now.”

Watching the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East reinforces his sense of a cycle that seems to never end.

“It’s important to support our troops. Being basically anti-war now, I’m not naive enough to think we can’t have a strong military. But therefore we also need to back those who are going to do that for us and serve the country,” Renner said.

Since retiring, Renner hasn’t stopped serving others. He volunteers at homeless outreach programs and food pantries and helps immigrant families settle into the community.

“Being a veteran, it’s been a huge impact. It’s hard to explain.” Renner said. “It will stay with me forever.”