It Took Heroes Volume II
by Chaplain Claude Newby

Claude D. Newby, a native of East Tennessee, enlisted in the Army in 1952. He fought his way into the infantry, only to be made a combat medic upon his arrival in Berlin, Germany--his first assignment. Nine months later he became a horse-mounted Military Policeman.
Newby separated from the Army in 1958 and moved with his family to California, where he served for a while as a correctional officer at Alcatraz. From 1960 to 1964 he served as a police officer for the City of Ogden, Utah while attending college. In 1965, after teaching high school-level religious classes full-time for a year he was commissioned a first lieutenant, then returned to the active Army as a chaplain in January 1966.
In 1993, Chaplain Newby retired, having served 33 years on active duty, including two tours with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. The first tour, Sept. 1966 to Sept. 1967, he served with the medics (3 months) and 2/8 Cavalry (9 months). The second tour, Mar. 1969 to Mar. 1970, he served with the 1/5 Cavalry Battalion (while concurrently supporting the 2/12 Cavalry Battalion) and the 1/9 Cavalry Squadron, which included H company 75th Rangers, the 62nd Infantry Platoon (Tracker-dog team) and various aircraft maintenance units. Between his enlisted and commissioned years he squeezed in a year as an A-Team medic with the 19th Special Forces, Utah National Guard.
Newby received a bachelor of science from Weber State in Ogden, Utah. He earned two master of arts degrees, the first in the field of sociology in 1974 from Long Island University, and the second in journalism from Brigham Young University in 1981.
Chaplain Newby married Helga M.A. (Raasch) in Berlin, Germany. They have seven children, six of whom are living, twenty-nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. Chaplain and Mrs. Newby now live in Bountiful, Utah.
Newby's combat awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, three Bronze Stars for Valor, an Army Commendation for Valor, three Purple Hearts, an Air Medal, two additional Bronze stars for service, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnamese Honor Medal. He is one of two chaplains to receive the Combat Infantry Badge while serving as a chaplain, and the only one to do so in the Vietnam War.