Dave Otto arrived in Vietnam on 17 October, 1967, a most fateful day for the Black Lions of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry. Dave arrived as a First Lieutenant, so already had leadership experience as an Infantry Officer. I believe he spent some time as platoon leader of fourth platoon (mortars) before becoming our X.O. Dave picks up the story at the end of his tour in Nam:

Upon returning home in the fall of 1968, I was assigned as a Basic Training company commander at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. After one year, I returned to RVN as an advisor to a Vietnamese District (Ham Thuan), the southern most district in II Corps, on the coast. It was a beautiful place - white sandy beaches. I spent most of my tour working with the Deputy District Chief and the Operations Officer. I enjoyed it immensely and came to see the war in a completely different perspective. By the end of my tour, I cared about these people as much I did the soldiers I served with in the 2/28th. I often wonder what happened to them when the communists took over. Many were Catholic who had fled the North in 1954. I'm sure they spent many years in reeducation camps, at the very least

When I returned from this tour, I was assigned to the Retaining Brigade at Fort Riley, Ks. We "rehabilitated" military prisoners and sent them back to duty (hopefully). It was this assignment that lead me to what would eventually become my profession. By this time my first wife and I had two children and I was attending college at night. As the war ended, I was separated from active duty in the reduction in force. I was 25 years old and had never been anything but a soldier. It was a difficult time for me and my family (looking back on it now it was, as you will see, a blessing).

This was in the fall of 1972. I enrolled in the University of Nebraska (at Omaha) and completed a BS in criminal justice in December of 1973. My family and I moved to Georgia (my wife's home) and I went to work as a counselor in a maximum security prison. After a year on the inside, I was asked to be a planner on the state staff. Jimmy Carter had just been elected governor and had brought progressive leadership to change the "chain gang" mentality. It was one of the most meaningful times of my life. Many of the programs that we began are still operating today, and I believe make a difference in peoples lives. I was also able to get a graduate degree from the University of Georgia -- Go Dogs -- in counseling during this time. I was also serving part-time in the Georgia Army National Guard.

In 1978, I was asked to go full-time (on active duty) with the guard as the Officer Personnel Readiness Manager. Since I had 7 years on active duty, I only needed 13 to get my 20, I made the change. I served in the personnel division for the next 14 years (yes, a headquarters puke, through and through). I could go on and on about what was accomplished during those years but most importantly I did my job knowing that the only reason we existed was to take care of soldiers. I was the Director of Personnel and Administration when we mobilized over 50% of the guard for Desert Storm (including my oldest son, who was 18 at the time). In 1992, I retired as a Colonel and returned to the prison system (that didn't come out right).

A couple of years ago, I had an offer I couldn't refuse. I joined a small company that does leadership training. While we have a lot of different clients, I work mainly with criminal justice agencies and reserve component military. It's different because business doesn't come to us (like it did in the government), we have to find it. But, I can't tell you how much I enjoy teaching. I travel a lot (but that's OK since I can't seem to stay married) and I get the opportunity to meet a bunch of good folks.

You wouldn't believe how many young people there are out there who have been put in leadership positions but never trained. I try to give them the benefit of my (hard earned) experiences and pass on the lessons that first began as a "Black Lion" over 30 years ago. I tell every one of them, that the most important job I've ever had in my life was when I was 20 years old. Thank God, for men like Lou Menetrey who showed us what real leadership was.

This last Chirstmas [2001] had a special meaning for me because thanks to Patty Forentberry's picture in the lastest addition in the "Lions Pride," I have reestablished contact with her and Steve after all these years. I can't believe how old Steve and I look now and Patty is just as lovely as the first day I met her in Lai Khe so many years ago. Hopefully, we're going to get together soon.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Dave! Like many of our officers, NCO's, and enlisted men, you have had quite an interesting life since Vietnam, and we are proud that you are one of us - a Black Lion from Bravo Company!! Thank you for your service to your country - and to your fellow man.

If you would like to contact Dave, his email address is: GaGrunt@aol.com

See Archived Spotlight Pages Featuring Other Outstanding Bravo Black Lions First Sergeant Bobby Gilbert