By Dale Williams, President of the VVA Chapter 1009 – Navarro Rifles
The farmland of Indiana is where Brett Malott started life and lived there for his first 7 years.
The family moved to California for a better job for his father and he lived there with them till he was 17 and able to join the army.
His parents were required to sign authorization documents allowing Brett to join the army under the age of 18. Brett was stationed at Fort Polk Louisiana for basic training and then education to be a mechanic on military vehicles. While there he was trying to get in the airborne course but before he could accomplish that he received orders to Vietnam the day after his 18 birthday.
He was assigned to Vung tau Republic of Viet Nam in the motor pool. Working under the conditions at Vung Tau it was difficult to complete many repairs due to the fact there was no lift to raise the vehicles. Any work requiring the removal of transmissions or other parts under the vehicles was accomplished with strong arms and backs. One night while assigned to guard duty he was actually shot at by the soldiers guarding another section of the base.
Thankfully they were not able to hit him, but it did make for a long, exciting night!
When Brett rotated back to the states after 13 months serving in Vietnam, he was assigned to Fort Benning Georgia. While there he was offered additional training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, still as a mechanic but on larger vehicles. And after that he was transferred to Fort Carson Colorado where he was eventually discharged.
After leaving the military Brett had a few jobs finding his way and ended up working for a carnival operating rides.
After 2 years he moved into a company drilling test wells. They were mapping sites in Wyoming determining where mineral deposits (Coal and Uranium) lay. From this job he moved into driving trucks for a construction company.
Later becoming an owner operator buying his own truck towing trailers for a couple companies around the mid-west until he settled down in the Corsicana area. He finally got to Texas as soon as he could!
Brett experienced health issues and retired soon after and presently lives near Corsicana with his wife and daughter.
Many veterans find they still want to be associated with other veterans or veteran groups. Brett was one of these and still is enjoying being near other veterans. Brett joined the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1009 here in Corsicana and found many things they shared or had in common. He especially enjoys the fund-raising exercises allowing the chapter to fund projects helping the community. Doing this allows Brett to meet new people and save the world through their conversations.
Brett found his niche helping their fund-raising projects and organizing the election.
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