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Submitted photo Pictured is Norman Teigen, right, beside his brigade chaplain, Lt. Col. (Chaplain) Reginald Huebner, and the chaplain’s beloved Jeep outside their office at Long Binh Base, Vietnam.
Episode 3396 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about a Vietnam War chaplain assistant’s story. The featured story is titled: Vietnam War – Norman Teigen – Working with Chaplain Huebner in Vietnam. It appeared on the Independent website and was submitted by Bill Palmer.
Palmer reported that Vietnam Veteran Norman Teigen served his country during the Vietnam War as a chaplain assistant with the 1st Aviation Brigade at Long Binh Post, Vietnam. His story highlights the dedication, compassion, and quiet courage of the men and women who served during one of America’s most challenging conflicts.
Raised on the Bethany College campus in Mankato, Minnesota, Teigen graduated from Mankato State College in 1964 and became an English teacher at Marshall High School. When his draft notice arrived in 1968, he enlisted in the United States Army, eventually deploying to Vietnam in October 1970.
There, he supported Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Huebner, brigade chaplain to the 1st Aviation Brigade. Chaplain Huebner provided religious services, confidential counseling, spiritual guidance, and support for soldiers facing the emotional pressures of war. Teigen helped manage the chaplain’s office, prepare Protestant services, and assist with administrative duties.
His responsibilities also included maintaining the chaplain’s Jeep. Despite having little mechanical knowledge, Teigen learned to repair punctured inner tubes, keeping the vehicle operational despite shortages of tires and supplies.
One of Teigen’s most memorable experiences involved flying with Chaplain Huebner aboard UH-1 Huey helicopters to Army units throughout Vietnam. From the air, he witnessed bomb craters left by B-52 strikes, flattened forests, and tracks marking earlier battles. Although he never encountered the enemy in combat, a visit to Pleiku brought him near enemy soldiers performing civilian drainage work.
Another unforgettable experience came during a visit to an Army field hospital. Teigen remembered a wounded, delirious American soldier calling for his mother while an Army nurse comforted him. The heartbreaking scene deepened his appreciation for the courage and compassion of military medical personnel.
Teigen also performed additional barracks duties and made relief trips to a nearby orphanage, demonstrating that service extended beyond military assignments.
Norman Teigen’s Vietnam War story reminds us that greatness takes many forms. Our Vietnam veterans served as combat soldiers, helicopter crews, chaplains, medical personnel, and support specialists. Every role mattered. Their sacrifices, humanity, and dedication deserve lasting respect and recognition. We honor all our Vietnam veterans and the proud generation that answered America’s call to duty.
.Listen to episode 3396 and discover more about a Vietnam War chaplain assistant’s story.
