Oral Histories
 

This thread will house a collection of oral histories from participants in the Vietnam War.

If you would like to have your oral history included in this collection please contact <a href="mailto:webmaster@patriotfiles.com?subject=Vi etnam War oral history">webmaster@patriotfiles.com</a> for further information.

Title:
Interview with Richard Robert Ackerman - November 11, 2005
Interview Date:
11 November 2005
Collection:
Richard Robert Ackerman Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
48:24 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Philip F. Napoli, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Jack Albertson (by: Stephen Maxner) - May 22, 2000
Interview Date:
22 May 2000
Collection:
Jack Albertson Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
4 14:02 hr/min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner.

Title:
Interview with Sharon Alden (by: Kara Vuic) - May 1, 2004
Interview Date:
01 May 2004
Collection:
Sharon Alden Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
1:02:30 hr/min/sec
Description:
US Army nurse Sharon Alden recounts her experiences as a nurse in Vietnam, as well as in Operation Desert Storm.

Title:
Interview with Jesse L. Alley, Jr. - November 10, 2005
Interview Date:
10 November 2005
Collection:
Jesse L. Alley, Jr. Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
1:09:43 hour/min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by John R. Milam, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Colonel Gerald Allgood - May 20, 2002
Interview Date:
20 May 2002
Collection:
Gerald Allgood Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
02:39:53 min/sec
Description:
(USA) Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner.

Title:
Interview with William Anderson (by: Stephen Maxner) - September 1, 2001
Interview Date:
1 September 2001
Collection:
William Anderson Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
01 12:50 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USAF) William Anderson was born in Meadville, PA. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and served as a F-86 Gun-sight mechanic until 1952 when he entered pilot training. He graduated and received his commission as a 2LT in September 1953. After serving as an instructor pilot for three years, Anderson served in SAC and transitioned to the B-47 and was subsequently selected for B-52 training. In 1967, he received his orders for service in Southeast Asia and transitioned to the F100, O-1, and O-2. Anderson served in Vietnam from March 1968 to March 1969. His assignments included Assistant Division Air Liaison Officer for the Americal Division, Air Liaison Officer and site commander for the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, and served with the 20th TASS. His Areas of Operation included Chu Lai and Duc Pho where he conducted over 350 combat missions (over 760 combat flying hours) in the O-2 and various helicopters.

Title:
Interview with Harold C. Anderson (by: Laura M. Calkins, PhD) - February 7, 2006
Interview Date:
07 February 2006
Collection:
Harold C. Anderson Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
2 22:01 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USA) Harold C. Anderson was born May 22, 1916. He joined the United States Army January 23, 1941. He served in the 124th Cavalry in Texas during World War II, and with the MARS Task Force in the China-Burma-India Theater in 1944-45. He made a brief flight into northern French Indochina in 1945. His active duty service ended November 1, 1945.

Title:
Interview with John Arick (by: Richard B. Verrone, PhD) - January 23, 2003
Interview Date:
23 January 2003
Collection:
John C. Arick Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
8:05:09 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USMC) John C. Arick, originally from Washington, D.C., served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1962 until 1992 and retired a Brigadier General. He is a 1962 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. John served two tours in Southeast Asia. During the first, from 1966 to 1967, he was stationed at the Ky Ha helicopter base north of Chu Lai with the Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) 6, Marine Air Group (MAG) 36, 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW) and was a UH-1E pilot flying fire support, escort, MedEvac, utility, and tactical air control missions. He took part in Operations HASTINGS, BEAVER CAGE, among others. During his second tour, from 1970 to 1971, John was first stationed near Marble Mountain Air Facility with the III Marine Amphibious Force (MAF) headquarters in the G-3 section, then with the 1st MAW at Danang in the G-3 section, and finally with the Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron (HML) 367 at Marble Mountain Air Facility. During his entire second tour, he flew the AH-1G Cobra with HML 367. In total, John flew in excess of 1,540 hours in Southeast Asia.

Title:
Interview with William Badger (by: Gary Hayes) - June 2, 2000
Interview Date:
2 June 2000
Collection:
William Badger Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
00:53:26 min/sec
Description:
(USA) William Badger served in Vietnam with the United States Army as an Engineer Officer from 1966-1967. He served as the S-3 with the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion in Don Ba Thin and was Chief Engineer with the 35th Engineering Group in Camh Ran Bay.

Title:
Interview with Ron Ballweg
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
John R. Ballweg Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
Length currently unknown
Description:
(USA) John Ron Ballweg, originally from Baltimore, Maryland served in the U.S. Army from 1964 until 1968 and in the Army National Guard from 1970 until 1989. Ron served one tour in Vietnam between August 1966 and August 1967 with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ("Blackhorse") based at Xuan Loc as a Utility Helicopter Pilot and Maintenance Officer. Interview conducted by Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Gonzalo Baltazar - March 23, 2001
Interview Date:
23 March 2001
Collection:
Gonzalo Baltazar Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
02 10:52 min/sec
Description:
(USA) Gonzalo Baltazar served as an infantryman with B Troop, 2/17th Cavalry in Vietnam from February 1969 to February 1970. He participated in operations in Hue, Quang tri, Chu Lai, Tam Ky, and Hill 376 (Lamar Plain). Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner.

Title:
Interview with John Baran (by: Bob Vandewalker)
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
US Marine Corps History Division Oral History Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
00 24:12 min/sec
Description:
USMC Staff Sgt. John Baran describes his experiences as a light infantry weapons advisor to the ARVN.

Title:
Interview with Robert Lee Barker - November 12, 2005
Interview Date:
12 November 2005
Collection:
Robert Lee Barker Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
41:06 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Thomas J. Barnes (by: Laura M. Calkins, PhD) - February 11, 2004
Interview Date:
11 February 2004
Collection:
Thomas J. Barnes Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
17 25:59 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USA/Foreign Service) Thomas J. Barnes was born in St. Paul, MN in 1930. He earned a BA in 1950 and an MA in 1951, both from the University of Minnesota. Tom was commissioned in the US Army in 1951 and, as an interrogator, he was assigned first to the 500th MI Group in Japan and then to the 525th MI Service Company in Korea (1952-53). After eight months with the Army's Counter-Intelligence Corps in Japan (1953-54), Tom spent two years at Ft Dix, NJ including service as a company commander. He entered the Foreign Service in 1957 and after intensive language training he held assignments at US diplomatic posts in Saigon (1958-60), Hue (1960-61), Bangkok (1962-64), Vientiane (1964-67), and Binh Long Province, RVN (1967-68). Tom served in Washington as the State Department's country officer on Laos (1968-70) and then held postings at Udorn (1970-71), AID/Nhatrang (1971-72), Tangier, Morocco (1972-73), Can Tho (1973), and Bangkok (1973-75). Tom held additional senior posts, including refugee coordinator at the US Embassy Bangkok (1977-78) and chair of the Interagency Working Group on Kampuchea (1979-80). After retiring from the Foreign Service, Tom worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Somalia and Switzerland (1980-90) and for the International Catholic Migration Commission (1991-95). Tom retired in Texas, and remains active as an author on Southeast Asian topics.

Title:
Interview with Robert Barron - April 21, 2001
Interview Date:
21 April 2001
Collection:
Robert Barron Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
03 18:54 min/sec
Description:
(USA) Robert Barron served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He served with Advisory Team 28 as Senior Advisor in Tuy Hoa District. Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner.

Title:
Interview with Robert M. Bayless (by: Stephen Maxner) - May 13, 2008
Interview Date:
13 May 2008
Collection:
Robert M. Bayless Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
1:05:35 hr/min/sec
Description:
Bayless discusses his experiences in the Army ROTC in the 1950s.

Title:
Interview with Bill Beck - November 12, 2005
Interview Date:
12 November 2005
Collection:
William A. Beck (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
58:15 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Vang Bee (by: Roger Warner)
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Vang Bee Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
01 18:39 min/sec
Description:
(RLAF) Vang Bee served in the Royal Laos Air Force as a T-28 pilot. Interview conducted by Roger Warner.

Title:
Interview with Malra C. Bell - November 11, 2005
Interview Date:
11 November 2005
Collection:
Malra C. Bell Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
45:51 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Philip F. Napoli, Ph.D

Title:
Interview with Willard Bennette
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Willard Bennette Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
23:39 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Philip F. Napoli, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Jerry Benson (by: Stephen Maxner) - September 25, 2000
Interview Date:
25 September 2000
Collection:
Jerry Benson Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
03 26:53 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USA) Jerry Benson served in Vietnam with the United States Army as an Infantryman. He served with the Company B, 1st Battalion, 18th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division from 1968-1969. He served in Di An and in the area of the Iron Triangle.

Title:
Interview with Kaye Biggar (by: Laura M. Calkins, PhD) - January 26, 2004
Interview Date:
26 January 2004
Collection:
Kaye Biggar Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
5 23:08 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USAF) Kaye Biggar was born in Spokane WA in 1932. He graduated from Gonzaga University, where he was in the Army ROTC, but he was commissioned in the Air Force in 1955. Kaye completed Officer Orientation at Lackland AFB and Advanced Training at Scott AFB. He was assigned to Turner AFB; Hahn AB, Germany; and Aviano AB, Italy. In 1959 he was stationed to the 585th Tactical Missile Group, Germany. From 1962-65 Kaye was Executive Officer of the 1090th Special Reporting Wing, Field Command, Defense Atomic Support Agency, at Sandia NM, and 1965-67 he was HQ Squadron Commander in the Air Weather Service at Scott AFB. After attending courses at Eglin AFB and at the Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Ft Bragg, Kaye arrived in Vietnam in December 1967 as Plans and Programs Officer with HQ MACV/CORDS. In that capacity he flew several "piastre flights" delivering currency to South Vietnamese provincial officials after the Tet Offensive. Kaye's later postings include service as Detachment 6 Commander, 1141st Special Activities Squadron (1970-74); Deputy Base Commander at RAF Lakenheath, UK; and several assignments in military intelligence , including in the Air Intelligence Agency and with the Directorate of Education and Training. After leaving active service in 1982, Kaye embarked upon a new career in real estate in San Antonio, and remains active in the Air Force Association and in local philanthropic initiatives.

Title:
Interview with Gary Blinn
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Gary Blinn Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
Length currently unknown
Description:
(USN) Gary R. Blinn, originally from Valentine, Nebraska served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1970. A 1966 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Gary served in Southeast Asia, beginning in 1967, aboard the USS Benjamin Stoddard in Operation SEA DRAGON and then in Operation MARKET TIME as a Patrolcraft Fast (PCF) captain in the Mekong Delta as a member of Coastal Division 13 based out of Cat Lo and Coastal Division 15 based our of Cam Ranh Bay until May 1968. Interview conducted by Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Roy Boehm (by: Matthew Lerner)
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Roy Boehm Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
56:30 min/sec
Description:
Roy Boehm was a SEAL Team 2 Commander.

Title:
Interview with Fred Wayne Boling
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Fred Wayne Boling Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
01 28:30 min/sec
Description:
(USAF) Fred Wayne Boling was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. He attended college at Texas Tech University where he participated in the Air Force ROTC program. Upon graduation in 1970, Mr. Boling attended several specialized/advanced Air Force training programs. Mr. Boling served in Vietnam from January 1972 until 1973. While in Vietnam he was a pilot and copilot for a 119k gunship. Mr. Boling was involved in truck interdiction missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and South Vietnam. He also participated in the Battle of An Loc in 1972, as well as the defense of numerous airbases. He was a member of the 56th Special Operations Wing and the 18th Special Operations Squadron. (This interview was made possible through grants from the Helen Jones and CH Foundations). Interview conducted by Kim Sawyer and Stephen Maxner.

Title:
Interview with Alexander R. Bolling, Jr. (by: Stephen Maxner) - August 19, 2002
Interview Date:
19 August 2002
Collection:
Alexander Bolling Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
1:09:04 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USA) Major General Bolling graduated from West Point and was assigned to the 66th Infantry Division as a platoon leader at Ft. Robertson, Arkansas. In 1943 he was reassigned to the 94th Infantry Division to be deployed to England in 1944. In 1945 he was captured by the 11th Panzer Division where he was held for sixty-seven days before escaping. After being rescued he finished serving in World War II in 1945 with the 334th Infantry. Upon arriving back in the States he served as a German instructor at West Point. General Bolling went to Brazil in 1948 to serve as an aide-de-camp and a Portuguese interpreter. He then served as an advisor in Vietnam under the Kennedy administration.

Title:
Interview with Frank Bonansinga (by: Stephen Maxner) - April 16, 2001
Interview Date:
16 April 2001
Collection:
Frank Bonansinga Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
04:36:29 min/sec
Description:
(USN, Air America) Frank Bonansinga entered service as a Midshipman Naval Aviator in 1949. While in the Navy, Frank flew various propeller aircraft and was checked out in a jet before leaving in 1955. After leaving the Navy, Frank went to work with Raytheon where he flew as a test pilot for ten years and was elected into The Society for Experimental and Test Pilots for his work there. Frank left Raytheon in 1965 and served with Air America as a fixed wing pilot. He flew a number of aircraft and missions over Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos from 1965 to 1973. Later he flew in Latin America.

Title:
Interview with Anthony Borra (by: Richard B. Verrone, PhD) - March 25, 2003
Interview Date:
25 March 2003
Collection:
Anthony G. Borra Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
Length currently unknown
Description:
(USAF) Anthony G. Borra, originally from Queens, New York City, New York, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 until 1970. He spent 22 months in Southeast Asia as a C-130 pilot with the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron based in the Philippines (at both Mac Tan and Clark AFB). In country, Tony was based out of Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay with the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing and flew over 1000 combat sortie hours including missions into the A Shau Valley and Khe Sanh during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Title:
Interview with Kevin Bovill (by: Ronald Frankum) - May 5, 2000
Interview Date:
5 May 2000
Collection:
Kevin Bovill Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
3:49:27 hr/min/sec
Description:
(USA) Interview conducted by Ronald Frankum.

Title:
Interview with Robert Bowen - November 11, 2005
Interview Date:
11 November 2005
Collection:
Robert Bowen Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
58:55 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by Philip F. Napoli, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Frances Box (by: Ron Frankum) - September 6, 2002
Interview Date:
06 September 2002
Collection:
Frances Box Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
54:35 min/sec
Description:
(USN) Mrs. Frances Box, Sara Box Green, and Julie Box Lea remember their brother Thomas Belue Box. Thomas was aboard the USS Frank E. Evans when it collided with the HMS Melbourne and he is one of over seventy missing sailors that were aboard the ship.

Title:
Interview with Joe Boyer (by: Stephen Maxner) - April 18, 2002
Interview Date:
18 April 2002
Collection:
Joe Boyer Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
02 32:06 hr/min/sec

Title:
Interview with Michael Bradbury
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Michael D. Bradbury Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
Length currently unknown
Description:
(USMC) Michael D. Bradbury, originally from San Francisco, California served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 until 1969 and in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 until 1988. Mike served in South Vietnam in K Company, 3/26 Marines, 3rd Marine Division, from September 1967 until October 1968. He participated in operations around Camp Evans in the Cobi Tanh Tan Valley, in Hue and around Quang Tri City, and was on Hill 861 during the siege at Khe Sanh. Interview conducted by Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Martin Brady
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Martin Brady Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
Length currently unknown
Description:
(USA) Martin Brady, originally from Swoersville, Pennsylvania served in the U.S. Army from 1961 until 1981. Martin was in South Vietnam as a Special Forces medic with the 5th Special Forces Group (SFG) from June to December 1963 and December 1964 to December 1965, and with the 1st SFG operating out of Okinawa, Japan, from June 1967 to February 1968 and July 1969 to July 1970. Interview conducted by Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Philip Brady (by: Allen Richardson)
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
US Marine Corps History Division Oral History Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
12:31 min/sec
Description:
USMC Captain Philip Brady discusses his experiences as assistant infantry advisor to the ARVN 4th Marine Battalion.

Title:
Interview with Forrest Brewer - November 11, 2005
Interview Date:
11 November 2005
Collection:
Forrest Brewer Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
53:47 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by John R. Milam, Ph.D.

Title:
Interview with Richard Brockett
Interview Date:
No Date
Collection:
Richard Brockett Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Digital)
Length:
Length currently unknown
Description:
(Australian Army) Richard Brockett served with the Aurstralian Army in Vietnam from 1964 to 1966. He served on a training team in Quang Ngai.

Title:
Interview with Thomas Brown - October 22, 2001
Interview Date:
22 October 2001
Collection:
Thomas Brown Collection
Media Type:
Oral History (Mini Disc)
Length:
01 26:43 min/sec
Description:
(USA) Thomas Brown served as an RTO with MACV Advisory Team #52, attached to the 9th ARVN Division (1967-1968); Minh Duc Subsector, near Vinh Long, in the Mekong Delta, IV CTZ. Interview conducted by Jonathan Bernstein.

Title:
Interview with Ervin Lawrence Brown, Jr. - November 11, 2005
Interview Date:
11 November 2005
Collection:
Ervin Lawrence Brown, Jr. Collection (Pleiku-Ia Drang Veterans Collection)
Media Type:
Oral History (BetaSP)
Length:
48:40 min/sec
Description:
Interview conducted by John R. Milam, Ph.D.