About the Author

Lee Basnar’s military career took him to Germany, France, Vietnam, Alaska, and several assignments in the continental United States. He rose through the enlisted ranks to Sergeant First Class E-7, received a direct commission, and retired as a Major.

His enlisted duties included infantry squad leader and platoon sergeant, company first sergeant, and battalion operations sergeant. As an officer, he commanded a basic training company in South Carolina, an infantry company in Vietnam, and an area recruiting command in California, as well as serving in staff assignments as an inspector general, assistant secretary of the general staff, S-3 and G-3 operations officer, and advisor to the Alaska National Guard, among other duties.

After his retirement from the army in 1981, Lee and his wife, Joan, lived for sixteen years in the Alaska bush, where he ran a trapline; subsisted on fish and game; was a bush pilot; wrote articles for magazines, including Alaska Magazine; and operated a successful woodworking business. He also served on various Alaska and federal fish and game commissions, and as the bush representative to the U.S. Army Alaska Retiree Council.

The Basnars now live in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where Lee served as chairman of the city’s Environmental Affairs Commission. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Heritage Alliance, and as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Cochise County Planning & Zoning Commission. He was an Op/Ed columnist for the Sierra Vista Herald for nearly eight years and still maintains a keen interest in community affairs.

Dates of Service in Vietnam

June 1967–June 1968: Advisor to 22nd ARVN Infantry Division

September 1970–September 1971: Commander, C Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry; Assistant Operations Officer, 198th Infantry Brigade

Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal with “V” and three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal, second award
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Good Conduct Medal, third award
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with silver and bronze stars
Vietnamese Staff Service Honor Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Order of Saint Maurice — with rank of Centurion
Combat Infantryman Badge

Contact information

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