At 20-years-old, Doc Berns arrived at Camp Rockpile in the DMZ, the most contested and combat heavy area during the Vietnam War, as a Navy Hospital Corpsman. When Berns enlisted, he was told that he would not be a hospital corpsman and would only be sent to Vietnam if he volunteered. When he arrived in the DMZ in December of 1967, he "became aware of the danger." As a Navy corpsman, Berns's job was to provide medical support to Marines in the field or at fire bases during combat. He witnessed the Tet Offensive ensue from an observational post for three weeks. However, his tour in Vietnam lasted only 4 months, for he was shot twice in April of 1968 during a firefight while tending to wounded Marines.