cmyr
01-20-2007, 04:46 AM
Chobot named Hometown Hero
Vietnam veteran writes, counsels other vets
By John A. Scocos
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs January 19, 2007
Scott “Doc” Chobot, a Baileys Harbor resident, has written a weekly column about veterans issues for the Door County Advocate, since 1986. He is honored as a “Hometown Hero” in an article distributed by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to more than 30 newspapers in Wisconsin.
Added to the WDVA article are details from a 1971 interview with Advocate writer Keta Steebs. Back then, Chobot described himself as an independent guy who could not be slowed just because he lost his legs. Despite the war wounds — he earned three Purple Hearts during 2½ months in Vietnam — Chobot numbers himself among the lucky who did not come home in a box.)
Scott “Doc” Chobot knew he was seriously hurt when a Viet Cong soldier tripped a booby trap that blew him skyward. In an instant, he was looking down on nearby banana trees in the dense jungle of Vietnam. When he landed, both legs were gone.
“I was gushing blood,” Chobot said in a 2006 interview at his Baileys Harbor home. “I ripped off my utility belt and used it as a tourniquet to tie off one leg. Another corpsman at the end of the patrol used his utility belt to tie off the other.
“The sight of my own wounds didn’t bother me,” he added. “My first thought was: How am I going to walk out of here?”
He didn’t. He was carried out by his fellow Marines. And 37 years later, Chobot is walking on prosthetic legs, still reliving parts of Vietnam, and using his experience as a severely wounded and disabled veteran to help others.
Chobot says he’s “210 percent disabled” after being wounded on three separate occasions. He was awarded three Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars (one for valor). The veteran now offers counseling to young veterans returning from Iraq.
While suffering hand-eye coordination deficit, Chobot also manages to write as a freelancer for a number of veterans publications and for the Door County Advocate. At every possible opportunity, he speaks to groups of veterans who still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. alcoholism or drug addiction — which sometimes are related issues.
Chobot grew up in suburban Chicago. In 1967, at age 18, he enlisted to become a medical specialist just as fighting in Vietnam was exploding. His father, a World War II Army physician, and brother, a two-tour Army medic in Vietnam, both advised strongly him not to join the Army medics because they were being killed in high numbers in Vietnam. So Chobot enlisted as a Navy corpsman, but was plunged almost immediately into the U.S. Marines Alpha Company, 7th Battalion, 1st Division — a frontline force fighting in a triangular patch of jungle roughly the size of Door County. The Navy provides corpsmen for Marines units.
“I was scared the entire time,” Chobot said.
“But I tried not to think about it. My first loyalty was to my men.”
It wasn’t easy. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese targeted corpsmen.
“We were dropping like flies,” Chobot said. “By the time I got there, the Marines had only half the corpsmen they needed.”
The fighting was brutal.
Chobot earned his first Purple Heart after crawling, under cover fire from fellow Marines, into a rice paddy to save two soldiers in a firefight. Both were dead. Chobot was shot in the left arm when he crawled back to his line just as two Phantom jets incinerated their attackers with napalm. He was just 19 years old.
A short time later, a Viet Cong guerrilla fired a rocket at his hootch in a “secure” area where his platoon rested. Four Marines were simply vaporized. Shrapnel lacerated Chobot, giving him the second Purple Heart. He still picks metal debris from the rocket out of his body.
As Marine corpsman, Chobot carried a full load of military gear, plus medical supplies, four canteens of water and bottles of intravenous fluids to save soldiers who fold in the intense jungle heat and suffered wounds. More than once, while under fire, Chobot used his switchblade to do emergency tracheotomies by cutting into a Marine’s throat to clear blood and insert a breathing tube.
Chobot’s shooting war ended April 1, 1969, after a Vietnamese soldier in a “spider hole” detonated a mine that ripped off his legs and threw him over the banana trees. He was revived after being “dead” for about 90 seconds. Nine weeks later, he awoke for good back in a hospital. Seven months after the mine blew up, Chobot was fitted for artificial legs and started on his road to Northern Wisconsin.
“The prosthetic legs were hot and uncomfortable,” he said. “But I remember visiting Door County as a kid. It was cool and breezy. So that’s where I moved.”
But his personal war wasn’t over. He spent several years working on a hospital administrative staff, then used his medical skills working as a physician’s assistant at a nearby clinic. He also served as Door County deputy coroner.
The dead bodies brought back too many memories. After 16 years in Door County, Chobot entered a veterans treatment facility in Tomah for post-traumatic stress disorder.
“They saved me,” he said. “I can’t say enough. I don’t know what I would be if it weren’t for that treatment.
“I still can’t sit in a restaurant with my back to the door,” Chobot continued. “And I still don’t like being in crowds. It took me three years before I could stand the smell of a barbecue. But I am now married. I have a good life.”
Chobot is a “Mission Welcome Home” advocate, helping WDVA with its program to help returning veterans adjust back to society.
“This is a rural area, so when veterans come back from Iraq, we all know who they are,” Chobot said. “If they’ve seen a lot, they don’t want to open up. But they’ll open up somewhat to me, because they know I’ve been there.
“My goal is to help veterans,” Chobot said.
“Our country has to have a much greater understanding of veterans and their contributions to society,” he continues. “That’s why, even today, I speak wherever I possibly can.”
To contact Chobot, call 920-839-9115 or send mail to 2688 Summit Road, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202.
Vietnam veteran writes, counsels other vets
By John A. Scocos
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs January 19, 2007
Scott “Doc” Chobot, a Baileys Harbor resident, has written a weekly column about veterans issues for the Door County Advocate, since 1986. He is honored as a “Hometown Hero” in an article distributed by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to more than 30 newspapers in Wisconsin.
Added to the WDVA article are details from a 1971 interview with Advocate writer Keta Steebs. Back then, Chobot described himself as an independent guy who could not be slowed just because he lost his legs. Despite the war wounds — he earned three Purple Hearts during 2½ months in Vietnam — Chobot numbers himself among the lucky who did not come home in a box.)
Scott “Doc” Chobot knew he was seriously hurt when a Viet Cong soldier tripped a booby trap that blew him skyward. In an instant, he was looking down on nearby banana trees in the dense jungle of Vietnam. When he landed, both legs were gone.
“I was gushing blood,” Chobot said in a 2006 interview at his Baileys Harbor home. “I ripped off my utility belt and used it as a tourniquet to tie off one leg. Another corpsman at the end of the patrol used his utility belt to tie off the other.
“The sight of my own wounds didn’t bother me,” he added. “My first thought was: How am I going to walk out of here?”
He didn’t. He was carried out by his fellow Marines. And 37 years later, Chobot is walking on prosthetic legs, still reliving parts of Vietnam, and using his experience as a severely wounded and disabled veteran to help others.
Chobot says he’s “210 percent disabled” after being wounded on three separate occasions. He was awarded three Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars (one for valor). The veteran now offers counseling to young veterans returning from Iraq.
While suffering hand-eye coordination deficit, Chobot also manages to write as a freelancer for a number of veterans publications and for the Door County Advocate. At every possible opportunity, he speaks to groups of veterans who still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. alcoholism or drug addiction — which sometimes are related issues.
Chobot grew up in suburban Chicago. In 1967, at age 18, he enlisted to become a medical specialist just as fighting in Vietnam was exploding. His father, a World War II Army physician, and brother, a two-tour Army medic in Vietnam, both advised strongly him not to join the Army medics because they were being killed in high numbers in Vietnam. So Chobot enlisted as a Navy corpsman, but was plunged almost immediately into the U.S. Marines Alpha Company, 7th Battalion, 1st Division — a frontline force fighting in a triangular patch of jungle roughly the size of Door County. The Navy provides corpsmen for Marines units.
“I was scared the entire time,” Chobot said.
“But I tried not to think about it. My first loyalty was to my men.”
It wasn’t easy. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese targeted corpsmen.
“We were dropping like flies,” Chobot said. “By the time I got there, the Marines had only half the corpsmen they needed.”
The fighting was brutal.
Chobot earned his first Purple Heart after crawling, under cover fire from fellow Marines, into a rice paddy to save two soldiers in a firefight. Both were dead. Chobot was shot in the left arm when he crawled back to his line just as two Phantom jets incinerated their attackers with napalm. He was just 19 years old.
A short time later, a Viet Cong guerrilla fired a rocket at his hootch in a “secure” area where his platoon rested. Four Marines were simply vaporized. Shrapnel lacerated Chobot, giving him the second Purple Heart. He still picks metal debris from the rocket out of his body.
As Marine corpsman, Chobot carried a full load of military gear, plus medical supplies, four canteens of water and bottles of intravenous fluids to save soldiers who fold in the intense jungle heat and suffered wounds. More than once, while under fire, Chobot used his switchblade to do emergency tracheotomies by cutting into a Marine’s throat to clear blood and insert a breathing tube.
Chobot’s shooting war ended April 1, 1969, after a Vietnamese soldier in a “spider hole” detonated a mine that ripped off his legs and threw him over the banana trees. He was revived after being “dead” for about 90 seconds. Nine weeks later, he awoke for good back in a hospital. Seven months after the mine blew up, Chobot was fitted for artificial legs and started on his road to Northern Wisconsin.
“The prosthetic legs were hot and uncomfortable,” he said. “But I remember visiting Door County as a kid. It was cool and breezy. So that’s where I moved.”
But his personal war wasn’t over. He spent several years working on a hospital administrative staff, then used his medical skills working as a physician’s assistant at a nearby clinic. He also served as Door County deputy coroner.
The dead bodies brought back too many memories. After 16 years in Door County, Chobot entered a veterans treatment facility in Tomah for post-traumatic stress disorder.
“They saved me,” he said. “I can’t say enough. I don’t know what I would be if it weren’t for that treatment.
“I still can’t sit in a restaurant with my back to the door,” Chobot continued. “And I still don’t like being in crowds. It took me three years before I could stand the smell of a barbecue. But I am now married. I have a good life.”
Chobot is a “Mission Welcome Home” advocate, helping WDVA with its program to help returning veterans adjust back to society.
“This is a rural area, so when veterans come back from Iraq, we all know who they are,” Chobot said. “If they’ve seen a lot, they don’t want to open up. But they’ll open up somewhat to me, because they know I’ve been there.
“My goal is to help veterans,” Chobot said.
“Our country has to have a much greater understanding of veterans and their contributions to society,” he continues. “That’s why, even today, I speak wherever I possibly can.”
To contact Chobot, call 920-839-9115 or send mail to 2688 Summit Road, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202.