Those Who Serve: Williston veteran reflects on service with Psychological Operations in Vietnam

WILLISTON, N.D. (KMOT) - Army veteran John Forthun has led quite a life. The Williston veteran played a role in dropping propaganda leaflets across Vietnam in the early 70s.

His story of sacrifice at just 19 years old is the focus of this week’s Those Who Serve.

Forthun had only been home in Alexander for 15 days after finishing training as a high-power generator operator. Then, the Army sent him to Da Nang, Vietnam, in 1970.

He supplied power to record propaganda messages, then flew missions to drop leaflets.

“We’d go out with them, and we’d spread those leaflets. We would put boxes of leaflets in these planes, and then we’d fly over. We’d come in over the jungles, come in low, and drop leaflets,” said Forthun.

Forthun spent 14 months with what they called the Psychological Operations.

“To convince them to come over to our side or to give up and go home,” said Forthun.

Forthun was not the first member of his family to serve our country or find themselves in the middle of our nation’s major battles.

“My dad was in World War II, and they’ve traced our family tree back to even the Civil War, where one of my relatives was captured,” said Forthun.

Like many other veterans, when Forthun returned from Vietnam, Americans didn’t welcome him home.

So, when he returned to Minot from the Western North Dakota Honor Flight in April, it was something he had never felt before.

“I was really surprised in the number of people. We got a real nice welcome,” said Forthun.

After Vietnam, he went back to college and committed 45 years to working in the oil field.

Now 74 years old, Forthun said he and his wife, Carrie, stay busy caring for their two young granddaughters.

Forthun said he enjoyed watching the Changing of the Guards at Arlington Ceremony and touring the Capitol Building with hundreds of other veterans on the honor flight.

Honor Flight Coverage:Coverage of Western ND Honor Flight