In a season of reflection and reverence, we honor the legacy of those who served—those who stepped forward in uncertain times with courage, humility, and an unwavering sense of duty. This November, as our nation pauses to give thanks, we are privileged to share the stories of local veterans who answered the call in Vietnam, carrying the weight of war and the enduring spirit of service. Their stories are steeped in sacrifice and resilience. Their voices, hard-won and long-carried, are a gift to the community they now call home.
These are not only stories of war, but of humanity. Of duty carried out in impossible conditions. Of bonds that outlast decades. Of lives lived in honor of a promise—to serve faithfully, to protect one another, and to come home with dignity, even when the journey was marked by pain.
Mark Bellnap: A Calling Beyond Fear
After graduating high school in 1964, Mark Bellnap wasn’t sure what path lay ahead. But he felt a call—to serve his country during the Vietnam War. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965, reporting for duty in San Diego, where boot camp stripped away certainty and instilled a rigid, unrelenting discipline. From harsh training rituals to grueling obstacle courses, he learned quickly that fear would be no excuse.
Assigned as an Air Control/Anti-Aircraft Warfare Electronics Operator, Bellnap trained to guide aircraft from radar screens—monitoring movements, relaying instructions, and ensuring safe passage across dangerous skies. Stationed on Monkey Mountain near Da Nang, he worked with a team that pioneered new radar systems while living within the shadow of war.
He remembers the Tet Offensive of 1968—not from the frontlines, but from the mountain, watching tracer rounds streak across the night sky, and helicopters hovering like ghosts. The base, though relatively secure, was close enough to see the impact of war and feel its presence in every moment. Despite long hours and few comforts, Bellnap served with resolve and faith.
After leaving Vietnam, he continued to serve—three years in the Iowa Air National Guard and eighteen more in the Army Reserves, retiring as a Major. Across 25 years, he wore three uniforms and took the oath to defend the Constitution each time with sincerity and pride.
Today, Bellnap and his wife, Connie, make their home in Temecula, where he enjoys retirement, chess tournaments, Lions Club activities, and sharing his story with grace. “The military wasn’t my full-time career,” he says, “but it was my highest honor.”
Rod "Doc" Fink: Healing in the Midst of Chaos
Rod Fink’s service was marked by constant danger and a singular mission—to save lives. A Navy corpsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines—known as "The Walking Dead"—he replaced a medic who had just been killed by enemy fire. Within days, he was in Khe Sanh, crawling through the mud, dressing wounds, and navigating trenches lined with fallen Marines.
Fink’s tour was filled with horrors he couldn’t speak of for twenty years. He saw close combat. He watched friends die. He risked his life daily, driven by duty and a fierce commitment to those under his care. “You don’t think about dying,” he said. “You just do what you’re trained to do.”
His worst day came during a brutal hilltop battle. In the aftermath, Fink moved through devastation-tending to the injured, steady in his purpose, and leaning on faith to carry him through. The memory lives on—not as trauma alone, but as a sacred moment of sacrifice and service.
After the war, Fink struggled with PTSD, nightmares, and survivor’s guilt. Healing came slowly—through counseling, community, and faith. He poured his experiences into writing and now shares his journey in a book titled The Three Wars of a Walking Dead Corpsman: Combat, PTSD, and Agent Orange. He still battles triggers and physical pain, but he has found peace through honesty and purpose.
“You change,” Fink says. “You grow up fast. But if you keep your heart open, healing is possible.”
Arthur "Bill" Covey: Finding Purpose in the Tower
Raised in Pasadena and drawn to aviation, Bill Covey joined the Marine Corps hoping to serve in the air wing. After completing aviation school, he became an air traffic controller and volunteered to serve in Vietnam. His first post was Dong Ha, followed by the war-torn skies of Khe Sanh.
During the Tet Offensive, a rocket exploded near his control tower. He was wounded by shrapnel and medically evacuated under enemy fire. “I’ll never forget the sound of bullets hitting the bottom of that chopper,” he said. “We were lucky to get out.”
Covey recovered in Japan and returned to Vietnam, where he reconnected with a friend from boot camp—his future brother-in-law. That bond saved his life. Through a compassionate transfer, he was assigned to a quieter duty station, away from the front lines. It was during his recovery that he began exchanging letters with a young woman named Barbra, who later became his wife of 57 years.
After his service, Covey became an educator, teaching woodworking and carpentry for over three decades. He found healing in purpose, love, and craftsmanship. “I’m blessed,” he reflects. “Not everyone came home. I never take that for granted.”
Robert Crockett: A Life of Service
Robert Thomas Crockett, born in 1932, was a career Marine who served multiple deployments across Asia and Europe. Stationed in Vietnam twice—including a tour at Khe Sanh—he lived the reality of war as an infantryman. Despite the hardship, Crockett speaks of his service with reverence.
“We didn’t know how significant it was at the time,” he said. “But we were making history.”
Crockett eventually retired and worked as a Department of Defense police officer. He settled in Temecula, unaware at first that a fellow Marine—Arthur Covey—lived across the street. Only later did they realize they had once served just yards apart, separated by time but now united in community.
Ron Kratochvil: The Steward of Stories
Though not a Marine, Ron Kratochvil’s role in bringing these voices forward cannot be overstated. A Navy supply officer who served from 1964 to 1968 aboard the USS Cacapon, Ron now calls Temecula home and remains active with the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Ron helped collect and organize these stories—not for glory, but to ensure they are never forgotten. “These men lived through something that changed them,” he said. “The least we can do is listen.”
The Legacy Lives On
The threads that connect Bellnap, Fink, Covey, and Crockett are threads of duty, resilience, and faith. They are men who stepped forward not for fame, but for purpose. They gave of themselves so that others might live in peace. Their lives, now woven into the fabric of Temecula, are testimonies to the strength of character and the power of legacy.
As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, let us remember the veterans whose service gave us the freedom to do so. Let us offer gratitude not only in words, but in the way we live—with integrity, humility, and a willingness to serve others.
To all who have served—and to those who continue to carry the stories—we thank you. Your legacy endures.
“The military wasn’t my full-time career—but it was my highest honor.”
— Mark Bellnap, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
The Weight of Service. The Gift of Story.
In sharing their experiences, these Vietnam veterans offer more than history—they offer healing. Through moments of pain and perseverance, their stories illuminate what it means to serve with honor and to live with gratitude. As we give thanks this season, let us remember that freedom comes at a cost—and that every veteran carries a story worth hearing.
Let us not only remember their sacrifice—but carry it forward with purpose, humility, and faith.