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Sojka Connection
Thanks to my neighbors Doug and Teri Sojka, I was introduced to Steve Widdison and it didn’t take long before we met at Valencia’s Corner Bakery for two and a half hours as we swapped war stories. Steve and I both served with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam’s perilous Mekong Delta.
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Steve Widdison Receives Bronze Star for Valor
Steven Elvoy Widdison was born July 19, 1949 in Heber City, Utah where his family lived until he was three years old when they moved to El Sereno, California near East Los Angeles.
Widdison attended Montebello High School, but due to family dynamics with his step dad, he left high school while in 11th grade and moved in with Angel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was his favorite uncle and this move proved very positive for Widdison’s life going forward as he became active in little league baseball and became a linebacker on Warren High School’s football team.
However, Widdison gave up on high school and he joined the U.S. Army on Sept. 28, 1967 at age 17 with his mother’s blessings.
Widdison took basic training at Fort Ord for eight weeks where he was promoted to Platoon Guide and then he went straight to Fort Rucker, Alabama for helicopter mechanical training.
Upon arrival at Fort Rucker, he was promptly assigned class leader and promoted to Specialist E-4. Clearly, Widdison was doing well despite his 11th grade education.
Hunter/Killer Teams
After excelling at Fort Rucker, Widdison received a 30-day leave of absence and was deployed to Bien Hoa, South Vietnam in May 1968 as the Tet Offensive raged.
Steve Widdison at right & buddy with captured VC weapons
Widdison spent eight months at Camp Bearcat where he promptly volunteered as a Huey helicopter M-60 Door Gunner flying 9th Infantry Division troops to and from their patrol areas.
He also flew as a gunner on Huey Gunships and Light Observation Helicopters (LOH).
Though Widdison’s unit was D Troop, 3rd/5th Cavalry dubbed “War Wagons,” his chief responsibility was supporting 9th Infantry Division grunts on the ground who sought to destroy Viet Cong communist guerrilla fighters.
Widdison and his boys proudly wore yellow scarves to distinguish themselves from units. After Bearcat, his unit relocated to Dong Tam deep in the treacherous Mekong Delta and continued his combat role.
9th Infantry Patch: Blood Over Water
His LOH missions as “Hunter/Killer” teams were harrowing as they flew at tree top level to flush out the Viet Cong who would fire automatic and semi automatic weapons at them.
Essentially, they were baiting the enemy to expose their positions.
“We were kids flying in life threatening, harrowing conditions but I never thought something bad could ever happen to me. We incredulously believed we were indomitable,” said Widdison.
Declined Purple Heart
During Widdison’s first 12-month tour of duty, he flew almost every day and noted that his choppers were hit by enemy fire approximately nine times, which caused his LOH to land in enemy territory.
Steve Widdison & pal with new puppy. Dong Tam
They escaped with their lives and later returned to retrieve their helicopter, but through the ordeal, Widdison was slightly wounded in his left foot.
He declined a Purple Heart and kept on going. After nine months, Widdison took a memorable R & R (rest and recuperation) to Sydney, Australia saying he had the time of his life.
In May 1969, his tour of duty concluded and he returned home for a 30-day leave of absence.
But to his mother’s shock and chagrin, Widdison volunteered for a second tour of duty, hence he returned to Dong Tam as a Technical inspector following a five-week training course at Vung Tau.
Four months later he volunteered to become a helicopter M-60 Machine Door Gunner once again.
All Hell Broke Loose
Steve Widdison Crashed LOH
At age 20, Widdison’s very first LOH mission on Sept. 13, 1969 was with a suicidal pilot whose wife back home was cheating on him so this pilot flew them into an incredibly dangerous zone in the Mekong Delta infested with much Viet Cong activity.
They spotted a lone Viet Cong and Widdison’s pilot promptly shot him dead whereupon all hell broke loose as they received heavy automatic fire sending them crashing through trees landing at a river’s edge.
Under water, he struggled mightily but managed to reach the surface when he noticed they were surrounded and receiving enemy fire.
Thankfully, several Huey Cobra gunships saved their day by decimating those V.C. After an hour and four attempts, a Red Cross med-evac helicopter closed in enough for Widdison and his pilot to miraculously grab the skids.
While under enemy fire, they flew a short distance, but the two gallant soldiers fell approximately 100 hundred feet into a dry rice paddy, snapping Widdison’s right leg femur, which earned them the Purple Heart.
Medical Discharge
Steve Widdison Bronze Star for Valor
Finally, Widdison was retrieved and taken to Dong Tam for immediate treatment and then transported to the 249th General Hospital in Japan where a steel rod was inserted into his right leg bone from his knee to his hip.
On Oct. 15, 1969, he arrived at Camp Pendleton and then Fort MacArthur on Oct. 31.
A month later during recovery, he was officially promoted to Specialist E-6, but was medically discharged March 23, 1970.
Among Widdison’s awards for his heroic service were two Bronze Stars for valor, a Purple Heart, 15 Air Medals, a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and more.
It’s noted that in March 1969, Widdison earned his general education development diploma.
Instant WOW Moment!
Following discharge, Widdison’s home base was his Uncle Angels’ home, but in 1973 his uncle, who was dating Widdison’s future mother-in-law, suffered a heart attack.
When Widdisonpaid his uncle a hospital visit, he met Henrietta and her daughter Georgie Baroni.
Steve Widdison Wedding
Widdison saw Georgie and it was an instant “wow moment.” He was utterly smitten.
Soon they met at a Sambo’s coffee shop as they began an adoring relationship that lasted 10 years until Widdison asked for her hand in marriage.
Widdison and Georgie were married at the United Methodist Church in Paramount, California on Oct. 8, 1983.
He owned and operated a plastics company for 30 years while achieving his American Dream.
He and Georgie have three sons, two grandchildren and their pride and joy– a great granddaughter.
These days, Widdisonenjoys reading, music, Southern California’s beautiful beaches, and evening walks with Georgie who remains the light of his life.
Steve, I salute you for your heroic service and your strong patriotism to our great country.
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Thank you for your article. I grew up in Newhall and was close to the family during my junior/senior high school days. Though, I knew Woody served in Vietnam, I can’t say I remember him talking about it that much. He was a gregarious, welcoming guy. He always greeted me in the best way I could imagine. When I heard today that he passed, the world dimmed just that much more. And when I came across your article, it helped me understand him more than I might have. Thank you again.