JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — From the hat he wears to his bedroom, M.B. “Boyd” Pruitt is proud to be a veteran.

“Well. I’m patriotic. I love my country. I was proud to serve it,” Pruitt said.

“We spent around six weeks at the base camp, focusing on tasks like filling sandbags and constructing shelters,” Pruitt explained. “Eventually, they needed my assistance in the field, so I was transferred there. We worked with an infrared light mounted on a Jeep, which required special infrared field glasses at night because the light was invisible without them.”

Pruitt relied on his faith to get him through the battles. He often guarded positions to keep the enemy back after other soldiers had secured them.

“Fear wasn’t really an issue for me because I had a constant companion in my faith,” Pruitt shared. “I often wondered about the various locations I was sent to over there. However, through spiritual reflection, it felt as though I was guided to safer zones for a reason.”

There was one close call during the TET Offensive, when American soldiers were attacked.

“There was a warning about 600 North Vietnamese soldiers coming towards us, so I prepared for the confrontation,” Pruitt recalled. “Then, just 20 minutes later, we received another message that they were heading in a different direction. My immediate reaction was relief, silently thanking the Lord.”

When Pruitt returned, his faith was even stronger. He and his wife, Charlotte, traveled from church to church singing gospel music.

To this day, his time in the Army continues to shape him.

“Military training instills a sense of discipline, respect for others, and meticulousness in your work,” he noted. “Experiencing a combat zone offers a perspective that’s hard to replicate otherwise. It really sharpens and matures you.”

Pruitt comes from a big family of 12 siblings. Out of the seven brothers, five served in the military. Besides Pruitt’s service in Vietnam, two brothers fought in World War II, another in Korea, and one more served in Germany.