John Rambo

John Rambo was born on July 6, 1947, in Bowie, Arizona, to father Reevis Rambo (1922-2000) and mother Helga Rambo (1926-1969). Rambo enlisted in the U. S. Army at the age of 17, on August 6, 1964, although he states that he was "drafted into Vietnam". After he graduated from Rangeford High School in 1965, his military service began in January 1966. Rambo was deployed to South Vietnam in September 1966. He returned to the U. S. in 1967 and began training with the U. S. Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, under Colonel Samuel Trautman's tutelage. In late 1969, Rambo was re-deployed to Vietnam as a member of a SOG brigade. He became part of a Special Forces Long-range reconnaissance patrol unit, commanded by Colonel Trautman. Trautman's team received the code name of Baker Team and usually consisted of eight men. During a mission in November 1971 Rambo's unit came under surprise attack by NVA forces. Delmar, Rambo, and some other surviving members were captured by North Vietnamese forces near the Chinese-Vietnamese border and held at a POW camp, where many other American POWs were imprisoned and repeatedly tortured. Rambo's unit was decimated during the ordeal, but Delmar and Rambo managed to escape captivity in May 1972, and Rambo was immediately re-deployed at his own request. At some point in his military career he also received training in flying helicopters. Rambo finally received his official military discharge on September 27, 1974. His final rank is not known but, judging from the crossed arrows (officer) insignia on the lapel of his Army Alpha Dress Green uniform, it is safe to assume that he was either a 1st Lieutenant or Captain.