101st Airborne Combat Medic-Transition to Duty

    In the late 1960°s an entire generation of young Americans were presented by their country with a dilemma. The nature of this period in American History and the way the nation chose to deal with the “Challenge of Vietnam” resulted in a generation confronted with choices like no other before it. The spectrum of options available was indeed vast; from total commitment, no commitment, hiding from commitment, to maligning the commitment of some.   No matter the choice this generation of young men made, it changed each of them irrevocably. In this narrative “Doc” Flory has effectively captured the experiences and perspectives of a young man in the late 1960s that were the result of the course he chose.  Many aspects of this story are shared by the 3,000,000 who served in-country. This particular narrative is about life in an elite infantry unit at the face-to-face level of combat. It is excellent work, a great memoir with some wonderful insights. It is very accurate as my memory serves, but I must admit Doc’s is better than mine.  Also, there are, of course, perspectives and views a platoon leader and company commander never realized and this book improved my knowledge, even 42 years later. I enjoyed learning the views of my former soldiers who did not share them with “The Brass.” In addition, reading of their exploits made many of them live again.

    Anyone who claims to be a historian or student of this period or “the war” and cites his studies from the “Pentagon Papers,” “The Best and Brightest” or Vann’s “Bright Shining Lie” must also have a work like this on his shelf or he has missed the personal experience and insights of the almost 10 percent of the 60’s generation who chose to serve the nation honorably. Great work “Doc,” serving with all of you made me a better soldier and this is meaningful work. Thank you, Geronimo and Drive on.

Pierce T. Graney Jr.,

Colonel, Infantry (ret.)

Former Commander, Co B 2nd Bn 501st Infantry, Airborne

     Leo (Doc) Flory grew up in a small town in southwest Michigan.    Upon graduating high school he planned to attend the nearby university with aspirations of becoming a mechanical engineer.  However, those plans were put on hold while he served his country in Viet Nam.   Surviving the war he returned home and, with the help of the GI Bill, attained his degree subsequently becoming a draftsman concentrating on architectural design.   He eventually transitioned to mechanical design designing production machinery.  This experience shifted him to new product design and development where he holds two patents in commercial door hardware.

     His writing began by accident.   A chance e-mail received from Mrs. Jennifer Gaines, the niece of a fallen fellow Viet Nam soldier,  followed by weeks of follow-on communications, led to much introspection of his own time "in-country."  And just as a medic goes to the call of a wounded soldier,  Doc Flory answered the call of Mrs. Gaines and penned his own experiences in his first book "Transition to duty."   His current book, "101st Airborne Combat Medic", is the revised version of "Transition to Duty" including a postscript and 20 additional photos.

     Leo's books have garnered much attention resulting in interviews with renowned authors including Joseph Galloway, We were soldiers once, and author and military  historian Ron Werneth.  Leo was also interviewed for the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.  The complete interview video is available to view or download at:  https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.122873/

     Leo and his wife Ann reside in Michigan spending their winters in Boulder City, Nevada.  They raised three successful daughters, two reside in Michigan and the other in Nevada.