Ray Haera managed needed supplies during Vietnam War

SWAN VALLEY – Turning 18 in 1966, the height of the Vietnam War, Ray Haera figured he had the choice of getting drafted or voluntarily joining the military. He figured he had more options if he took the voluntary route. Though his father had served in the Navy in World War II and his older brother was also in the Navy, Haera was not sure he wanted to go that route.

On the other hand, Haera said, "Everybody I knew was getting drafted. I had so many friends in the Army and the Marines who had already gone to Vietnam – and gotten killed." So those military branches did not seem like good options...