Jerome S. Kaplan - U.S. Army Vietnam 1967-68

Jerome (Jerry) Kaplan was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965 and served with the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion in Vietnam from May of 1967 to May of 1968 as a Quartermaster in charge of a mobile petroleum laboratory in Chu Lai. Jerry’s main responsibility was to keep the “go juice” flowing by analyzing the incoming refined fuel and making sure it was up to military specks in support of the Americal Division as well as conducting quality control all throughout I Corps. Jerry was stationed at Chu Lai when the TET Offensive started and served through additional attacks till the end of his tour in May 1968.

Jerry, a Jewish-American, was given the nicknames "The Jewish John Wayne" and "Candidate Matzah Ball" in Officers Candidate School (OCS)

Like many Vietnam Veterans, Jerry didn’t talk about his service or get involved with the VA until many years after the war. While serving in Vietnam, Jerry became interested in the people, culture and beauty of the country and has returned twice, once with his wife in 2014 for his 70th birthday and most recently on a motorcycle tour of the country in 2023.