While we try to stay pretty on tune with the latest and greatest of health and wellness here at Vitamins and Vodka, part of self care is learning how to channel your inner badass (and who better to teach us this skill than those who are living it?).
This month, it is our honor to spotlight not only an extraordinary person, but also his extraordinary life. Doug “Moose” Archibald comes by his nickname honestly, having grown up in the Canadian mountain town of Prairie Town in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. While the majority of his formative years were spent learning the ins and outs of the Canadian plains, his ability to quickly adapt to hard knocks was quickly tested when he relocated to downtown Los Angeles in 1956. Despite this era of California experiencing a vast number of cultural changes (The LA Dodgers, Disneyland, Knots Berry Farm, and Sea World, to name a few), life at LA High School as a teenager were transformational years of social challenge and foundational lessons on how to hold your own in some of the toughest neighborhoods in the US.
Moose describes his time after graduation in 1966 as one of great hope. His green card status held no weight when it came to his sentiment toward the United States. In his mind, it was his country, and when his country called on him to serve, he answered by joining the US Army as an Infantry Officer in the throes of the Vietnam war (yes, you read that correctly: he volunteered to fight for a country in which he was not yet even a citizen himself). Moose’s dream for himself was to become a battlefield nurse, but his CO’s had other plans for his talents.
Offering a slot at Candidate Officer School (OCS) in exchange for a change of dreams, the Army assured him he could quickly achieve the prestigious rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Not one to shirk from opportunity or advancement, Moose accepted a job that would ultimately change himself, and the lives of many others.
Moose graduated OCS in 1967 and took his first post as 2nd Lieutenant in Fort Carson, CO, where he fondly remembers receiving his official US Citizenry on December 20, 1968.
Exactly one month later, he arrived in Vietnam as a 1st Lieutenant freshly promoted and scarcely 21 years old, where he took command of an Infantry Platoon. That night, as he describes it, was his “Baptism of fire”.
Within days he was leading over 20 men in battle as a Platoon Commander, and within six months he had earned what he now refers to as the most honorable title of his life: “Moose”.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the reputation and capabilities of a Canadian Moose, its worth the Google. At an average weight of over 1200 lbs (and typically 7-9 feet tall) they are some of the toughest, most obstinate, bull-charging animals on the planet. When a Moose decides to go somewhere, very little can stop him. The world around him is no match for his size and the leading brunt force of his incredible rack.
When Moose’s nickname began to catch on, it was clear the title was a show of profound admiration for his tenacity, courage, and absolute obsession with leading from the front. As chronicled in CSM Raymond H Cottrel’s Bio From the Frozen Chosin to Churchhill, Moose is described in Chapter 10 as “It’s Hard to Kill a Moose”
When you lead from the front in every aspect of your combat role, you tend to gain some attention. Despite rotations through Platoon Commander, XO, and then Commander of a Combat Support Company, men still sought him down the road to pull him aside and thank him for his leadership, courageous displays of action, and the gift of bringing them home safe to their families.
To this day Moose says he has no regrets for his decisions to be first in and last out at every available opportunity. Whether it was hanging from the skids of a helicopter to provide cover fire in hot enemy territory, or sticking out the battle longer than any other platoon to ensure the job was done correctly and to its completion, he fearlessly led his men forward, forward, and forward some more. But most of all, if he was giving a command, it was because he was asking them to follow.
To hear the stories of Moose’s performance as a leader, and his ability to train his men to the highest levels of discipline, imply a truly gifted heart and mind from a very young age. While most spend decades perfecting the art of leading well trained, disciplined men, Moose and his team were in motion as one: Day in and Day out.
For his incredible years of service in Infantry, Moose is honored and decorated many times over for his unending commitment to his men and country. The compilation of recognitions includes 2 Gold Stars, 1 Badge of Honor, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars with Valor, 1 Army Commendation Medal with Valor, and 2 Air Medals. And while that would be more than enough for most, Moose got just a little more badass on us, and he took the cake. As a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, the highest honor awarded in the US Military, he shows the world he went to war, and knocked on death’s door.
“Dwight Eisnehower once stated he would rather earn the Combat Infantry Badge than any other award” (ßwho was quoted as saying this?)
Having done his part and then some in Vietnam, Moose was slated for his return stateside when he was recruited to speak in an auditorium abroad about his experiences in combat. On his way out the door (and presumably home and out of the US Army for life), he was intercepted by a Full Bird Colonel in attendance who saw more than just a 20-something year old man on his way home. He saw potential for yet another gifted way this man could serve his country.
“You can’t go home.” The Colonel had said simply.
“I have to” Moose had replied “I’m still trying to become a nurse.”
“You have tremendous potential as an Army Speaker. You would be invaluable to our service. It would be a waste to let your talents go without serving your country with them first!”
To which Moose replied “Well, you know what sounds better than ‘Nurse’? How about Captain?” and so Moose found himself with yet another (well deserved!) promotion and on his way around the country touring coast to coast as an Army Speaker.
For all the amazing stories and experiences Moose had in the Army, he still recalls one of the most impactful moments of his life being the moment an auditorium of over 400 people listened to him speak, and then gave him a roaring standing ovation.
It brought him to tears in the moment, and still stirs him to this day. “To receive a reception like that…after so much turmoil and rejection of soldiers after Vietnam, well: Let me tell you, that was something pretty incredible.”
In January of 1971 when Moose was discharged as a Captain he made his way back to Colorado to finish his degree, once and for all. During that time he took up Construction, and quickly learned it was a trade he was well suited for.
Before he could complete his degree, however, family ties called him up north, and he found himself once again (now as a dual citizen) in his home country of Canada. As it turned out, years of living in the inner city of Los Angeles had no bearing on the country boy still living inside of him, and within just a few months he and his brother were ranching near Anaheim Lake in British Colombia.
Now, at this point, I stress it is important to clarify that while most of us probably think of ranching (now) as what we see happily portrayed on Pioneer Woman every Tuesday night on the Food Network Channel, what Moose and his brother decided to take on was much, much more badass than that.
Choosing land with no electricity, no existing infrastructure, and almost no access, he and his brother spent several years building a house (literally) completely from scratch (we’re not even talking power tools here, folks. Just straight hand saws and nails….from logs you had to create yourself. By hand…By cutting down a tree…with your hands.) To say it was a rough life in rough country running the ranch and the animals is probably an understatement few of us will ever truly be able to appreciate.
His return to Canada proved to be eternally fruitful not only for the rich experiences of ranching in the bush, but because it led him to his first wife, and, consequently, his first daughter, Norma.
While his time in Canada did not turn out to be permanent (he later returned to Colorado to resume construction work), his experiences carried forward with him in gratitude to have escaped the Canadian depression in the 80’s.
To talk to Moose now, is a delight in and of itself. Oh, sure…you’ll find out pretty quickly what an amazing Vet he is, and how very, VERY proud he is of his incredibly successful children, but you’ll also see a man so hell bent on compassion and giving back that it defines him almost as much as his children and service.
I met Moose in his retirement years: A time he devoted to helping PTSD Vets at the VA, and doing every selfless act of service or financial aid he could think of for friends, family, or anyone else in need. He is known to surprise you with a favorite batch of cookies from the famous Cookie Lady of Albuquerque, NM, or be written up in the paper for feeding homeless vets lunch every Friday for weeks on end during Covid.
He is the honored father to Norma, Erin, Kayla, Ryan, and Katelyn, and will enthusiastically share proud photos of his 5 gorgeous grandchildren they have blessed him with. Of all the incredible titles this man has earned in his life, few have meant as much to him as “Moose”, “Dad”, and “Grandpa”.
Moose, it is an honor to know you and learn from your incredible life!
Thank you for all you do and have done for your community and country. Today, we honor you and your incredible story, as well as the many, many, many brave men and women who have fought alongside you!
