Darrel Lindgren- US Marine Corps

In 1966 Darrel Lindgren and two Cook, MN friends headed out to sign up for the Army.  By the time they were ready to sign on, one of the guys had talked them all into joining the Marines!….”Well, it’s the toughest bunch! “, they were told. 

Basic training was in San Diego but it was a short seven week training because they needed Marines ASAP.  After basic they were sent for jungle training and capture training before they were given a thirty day leave to go home to Cook.  Darrel was always one to do the right thing.  He even broke trail through the snow for the neighborhood kids on the way to school.   So when there were no flights back to San Diego due to an airline strike, he took a bus to Minneapolis and found a flight and reached his port of call on time.  That’s how he got separated from his Cook friends who tarried and were just given extra time to reach their port of call.

In Vietnam his Delta Company was stationed on Hill 212 between Da Nang and Chu Lai.  Darrel had been given the MOS (MilitaryOccupation Specialty #)  #0311, a rifleman and became the point man on patrols.  Marines were helicoptered into places but moving through thick jungle they could never see what was ahead of them until, in Darrel’s words, “…they blew up!”.  A nightmare!  On his legs he could feel the trip wire, too late,  men and pieces of metal were flying through the air!  On his first patrol  there were two  trip wires (booby traps)  within thirty minutes!  Marines were injured and killed in a split second. One of his close friends was hit by shrapnel in the upper chest and throat.   Doctors managed to repair the damage so he actually recovered and made the Marines his career! Sometime they had to do Recons (reconnaissance) of three to four Marines attempting  silent jungle travel to verify intelligence information. 

Lindgren’s tour of duty was thirteen months but due to injuries he was sent back to the states after 9 months.  After the last injury he was sent to the hospital ship, General John Pope, to be treated.   Even after he was sent home he suffered symptoms such as severe headaches that sometimes sent him to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Minneapolis by ambulance.  Recovery was slow and complex for him and his wife.  Darrel blamed himself for injuries and deaths of other Marines because as point-man he tripped the hidden trip wires that caused explosions.  Lindgren and his wife were able to consult with a psychologist in Duluth who was very helpful in recovery.  Over the years the government has increased his disability slowly until now he receives total disability support financially.

The Vietnam War was politically negative to the population, especially since so much of the War was in the daily news and on television.  Veterans returning home were blamed for the war, often not welcomed home.  In fact, they didn’t know if they might be shot on sight as they got off the airplane!  Darrel didn’t tell family he was on his way home.  He had a trusted cousin pick him up at the airport and bring him home unannounced.

Healing takes place with supper from family and friends and when you build a family with fellow veterans.  Darrell stayed in touch with two brother Marines over the years.  There was an article written in the Cook News Herald about their reunion in April 2019 .  One brother Marine has passed away but the other still has fishing visits in Cook with Lindgren.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the VFW Post 1757, has been a foundation for Darrel.  He joined the VFW even before his military discharge.  At home in Cook, Darrel and the local veterans raised money to build the VFW Post building by cutting and selling pulpwood.  Being on the Honor Guard is the right thing to do and Lindgren is all about doing the right thing!

Thank you for your service, Darrel Lindgren!