Local Vietnam vet featured in new book on the war

AUSTINTOWN

John W. Bullock left Youngstown State University, where he played football under legendary coach Dwight “Dike” Beede, in his senior year when he was drafted into the Army to serve his country during the height of the Vietnam War.

“I had a patriotic mind,” explained Bullock, of Austintown, who said his grades were good enough to have enabled him to defer the draft.

Bullock’s patriotism is one of the reasons the 72-year-old is featured by author Mack W. Payne, himself a Vietnam War veteran, in his new book, “Conversations With Vietnam Heroes: Volume 1,” based on his “Vietnam Veteran” podcast.

Bullock and Payne were interviewed during a book-signing Thursday at Fit Family Fitness, which Bullock co-owns and operates with his wife Doris on Mahoning Avenue here.

A native of West Mifflin, Pa., Bullock is one of nine Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force Vietnam veterans, whom Payne calls the Vietnam Generation of Greatness, who recount their war experiences in his book.

Bullock, who said he hasn’t talked about Vietnam “until recently,” admitted he came home messed up.

Read more of his story in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.