Kansas Army veteran served his country while protecting his team from booby traps

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — One Kansas veteran served his country in Vietnam and helped protect the men he led from enemy booby traps.

St. Leo's Tom Jarmer was drafted into the Army in 1969 and chosen to be a leader. After finishing his advanced infantry training, he was picked for sergeant school.

"You were almost assured you'd go to Vietnam out of that schooling, but you would go over as a squad leader," he said.

Jarmer's time in Vietnam was filled with plenty of patrolling, and he quickly learned that the enemy didn't have to be present to injure or kill.

"I would say at least half of the men in our company received a Purple Heart. I was one of the fortunate ones. I didn't. But it was all from booby trap shrapnel," he said. • Courtesy: Tom Jarmer • Courtesy: Tom Jarmer • Courtesy: