THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ U.S. Marine veteran Lester Markovitz talks about his hopes for a “Bucket List” trip to the Nation’s Capital to see “the Vietnam Wall” Editor’s Note: For this week, we interviewed Lester Markovitz, a U.S. Marine who served in combat during the Vietnam War. He is one of several veterans who have applied to be among the 45 area Vietnam Era veterans who will be a part of “Roll to DC,” a fi ve-day-four-night bus trip to Washington, D.C. in September to view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and other memorials. Markovitz, 74, is a retired Marine corporal; he received the Purple Heart after being wounded in action during the Vietnam War. He is a Dorchester native and 1965 graduate of Dorchester High School. He and his wife, Enid, a Revere native, have been married for 37 years and moved to Saugus soon after their marriage to raise a family. They have a son (Jonathan) and a daughEAGER TO SERVE: U.S. Marine Corporal Lester Markovitz more than 55 years ago as he prepared for combat duty in Vietnam. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ter (Amie) and five grandchildren. He is a member of the Saugus American Legion Cp. Scott J. Procopio Post 210. He serves as historian for the Post and helps cook the Friday morning breakfasts at Legion Hall. After serving in the military, he worked as a counselor at the Veterans Center in the South End of Boston, working out of the Jamaica Plains Veterans Hospital. Later, he worked for 30 years as a supervisor in the U.S. Post Offi ce. Some highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: So, please tell me a little bit about yourself – why you enlisted in the service. A: My older brother enlisted in the Air Force and I wanted to follow him. Later, at the last minute, I changed to the Marines. Q: Why did you change? A: I was with my friends and we were watching a John Wayne movie. I had made the statement that I always wanted to be a Marine, and then I switched and enlisted in the Marines. I was down in Cuba and was already a lance corporal when I got my draft notice. Q: You were already in the service. So, was Vietnam a choice or a mission you were assigned to? A: I was trained in Cuba for Vietnam. We knew we were going there when we were being trained. Q: And where in Vietnam did A PROUD MARINE: Lester Markovitz, a Purple Heart recipient who was wounded during the Vietnam War, stands by his Chevrolet Equinox, which bears a special Purple Heart license plate and decals which relate to the time he served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. He hopes to be part of a special trip for Vietnam Era veterans this fall to Washington, D.C., where he can get his fi rst look at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and scan “the Wall” for the names of friends he served with in Vietnam who were killed. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) you serve? A: I served in Da Nang and in that area, with Charlie Company 111 – the First Battalion of the First Marine Regiment of the First Marine Division. Q: So, why would you like to go see the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.? ADVOCATE | SEE PAGE 14 “Our AFCNS experience has been valuable beyond measure.” Denise, Caregiver to Son, Dean s re.” ver 978-281-2612 AdultFosterCareNS.com Celebrating 21 Years
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