Eben Olrun (EO), Owen Olrun (OO)
Eben Olrun (EO): I never really thought about being in the military til I first saw Arty Murphy and John Wayne acting in a World War II movie. That’s when I said, I’m gonna be a hero like them. So I ended up in Vietnam.
To me, I was in a different world. And I did not want to make any friends because we never knew when anybody would die ‘cause of the bullet. It’s… hard to talk about it.
I wanted to forget the memories of what I did, and I started drinking really bad. Alcohol became my best friend… for a long time.
But I used to go to a combat group that met at the VA. And Bill Martin came into our combat group in the evening. The first time I ever saw him, he reminded me of General Custer.
Owen Olrun (OO): Yeah, the big mustache.
EO: Yeah. But he got to know me, and I got to know him. He spent 20 years in the military, and part of it was in Vietnam.
OO: You and Bill helped keep each other sober?
EO: Yeah, and if I needed help I would call him and talk to him. And he always listened.
You know, after I came back… I was expecting parades. But it was just different… Calling us baby killers. And so for a long, long time, I was ashamed to be a Vietnam veteran.
But me and Bill Martin, we went to powwows. And the first time I was really honored for returning from Vietnam was a Powwow in Fairbanks. And I was asked to carry one of the flags.
And he was standing next to me. He was comforting me.
[crying]
OO: It’s okay…
EO: Thank you.
OO: When was the last time you saw Bill Martin?
EO: It was like about four or five years ago. He had to fight cancer a couple times, and when his cancer came back the third time around, he said, “No, I’m not going to go through that again.” So, I miss him.
OO: You know, I remember Bill Martin as… someone who always wanted to bring joy into people’s lives.
EO: That’s why he was family. Uncle Bill… was your uncle [laughs]. And we were brothers that can’t be separated. I miss him very much. He made me feel special.
Why do you want to join the military?
OO: Well, I looked up to you and Bill for your service, and I wanted to do things with my life that I thought were… More important than myself.
EO: Well like I told you before, I will support whatever your decision is.
OO: That means a lot [sniffs].
EO: You’ll always have a special place in my heart. Don’t matter how old you get to be.
