Eppy Gonzalez, interview
2017
31 mins
Eppy was drafted into the U.S. Army Signal Corps and served in the Vietnam War. He as in the Army for just under 3 years. He was stationed in the central highlands of Vietnam on a mountain with a view of the city of Quinn Yan.
Jack Sikora
2002
1, 4.5 x 5.5" color print
Sikora at a Western Matters video interview
Jack Sikora Interview
60 minutes
Captain Jack Sikora was born in Norwich Connecticut, and grew up in New London. He came from a military family, although his mother was opposed to him going off to war. Sikora attended Danbury State Teachers College as a history major. He didn’t want to leave for war before finishing his degree, however his plan from the beginning was to serve. He clearly felt a sense of duty to his country and wanted to give something back. Because of this he spent a year in the Vista Program, working in impoverished communities in the South. He was stationed in Belvins Creek, North Carolina. Sikora then started graduate school at Appalachian State until he was commissioned by the Airforce. He then completed officer training school. At which time, he entered the war in Vietnam as an intelligence officer. Sikora was stationed at Otis Airforce Base as a signals control officer. He flew numerous reconnaissance missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. His responsibilities were to find out where the VC were and to report back to those on the ground what they found. Sikora expressed his regret of not joining the Marine Corps, in his mind this would have been more honorable. He says his perspective on the war has changed over time. Originally, he felt the involvement was valid. After returning home, and pursuing a career in academia, he was exposed to a different school of thinking; in turn his perspective changed. Sikora also shared his experiences with battling PTSD, and transitioning back to civilian life. He felt as though he was self medicating for many years. Eventually he was able to find help. He like many other Veterans kept quiet about his experiences overseas for many years. Eventually, he helped write the book Bat Cats. This experience gave Sikora and many other families’ closure about the war. Lastly, he reflects on the war involvement as a whole. At which time he said “I like to think that there are some people alive today, because of what we did.”
English
Recorded Interview
Vietnam War Interview
11/23/16
0-5 mins: Born in Norwich Connecticut, grew up in New London, Connecticut; Danbury State College; History Major; Family military history.
5-10: Class of 65; Knowledge of Vietnam; Vista Program; "Hey what's a year?"; Blevins Creek, North Carolina.
10-15 mins: Graduate school; Appalachian State; Officer training exams; Air Force.
15-20 mins:Family reactions towards Vietnam; Patriotism; Commissioned as an intelligence officer; Trained in aviation.
20-25 mins: Otis Air Force Base; Signals control officer; National priority #2; Ho Chi Minh Trail; Bat Cats; 553 reconnaissances wing; 121 reconnaissance plane.
25-30 mins: Identifying targets; Equipment; Lose of 2 crews; Evading the Vietcong; Reflection on other U.S. military branches.
30-35 mins: Regrets of not joining the Marine Core; Knew coordinates not locations; Protests back home; Back then involvement was valid.
35-40 mins: Academic perspective of the war; Active duty; Finishing education; Teaching; Transition back to civilian life.
40-45 mins: PTSD; Loneliness; Finding help; Serious health issues.
45-50 mins: Salvation; Supporting veterans and their families; "Never expected a pat on the back, but I did not expect a kick in the ass."; Staying quiet.
50-55 mins: Bat Cats the book; Helping families gain closure; Reflection on war involvement.
55-end: Faulty strategies; "Get the hell out of my office."; "I like to think that there are some people alive today, because of what we did.";
George Robinson Interview
Vietnam 1970-1972
42 minutes
George Robinson was born in Manhattan New York, but grew up mainly in the Bronx. He attended college at Holy Cross. When the draft numbers came out, he enlisted into the Airforce. Robinson did not want to join the army, but still wanted to serve. Robinson entered Vietnam in May, 1970, and re-upped in 1971. He was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Airforce base. As an advisor his responsibilities were to teach English to South Vietnamese Officers who were in the process of becoming pilots. All air traffic controllers and pilots, use English. His job was teach the officers English, in order to take the pilots exam. Robinson elaborates on his rewarding experiences teaching these individuals. He recalls that one of the most common sayings among the South Vietnamese Officers regarding learning English was, “If you know two languages, you are worth two people.” In his view, he was helping them fight their war, so that American soldiers could go home. Part of the problem was many of the South Vietnamese did not want to fight the war. He says similar to the Civil War for America, the Vietnamese were supposed to fight against people “who looked, acted, and talked similarly.” Robinson gives his opinion on the American strategy in Vietnam, the domino theory, and what could have been done differently. He says that in the beginning America should have supported Ho Chi Men. Also, he expressed the problems that go along with having soldiers who were not in for the duration of the war. In many cases, you did your year and went home. While in World War II, you would be in for the duration of the war. Robinson discusses having jitters, and nightmares during his transition back into civilian life, not unlike many other veterans.
English
Recorded Interview
Vietnam War Interview
11/14/16
0-5 min: Bronx NY; Family life; ROTC; Holy Cross; Physical; Failed eye exam; Military family; Draft numbers; Airforce; Didn't want to be a grunt.
5-10 min: Enlistment; Getting there; Culture shock; Processing; 6 weeks of training;
10-15 min: Teaching the South Vietnamese; Pilots exam; Teaching English; If you know two languages you are worth two people; Entertainment; Getting comfortable; Downtown Saigon.
15-20 min: Reunions; Gulf of Tonkin Resolution; We were lied to; Advising; No limited war; American strategy in Vietnam.
20-25 min: The Domino Theory; Communism; Good boy; Catholic school; Followed authority; The splitting of North and South Vietnam.
25-30 min: We know the right way mentality; Vung Tau; Protesting; Going up north; Dangers of not having your rifle.
30-35 min: Making a living in a war zone; Being short; Being next; Leaving Vietnam; Transitioning back to civilian life; Teaching back home.
35-42 min: Nightmares; jitters; Being alert; Tae Kwon Do; No one should have gone to Vietnam; Facing fear; The students; It is the people you remember; Was there a clear strategy?; Doing your year and going home; Not in for the duration of the war.
John Sheeran Interview
Vietnam 1970-1971
55 minutes
John Sheeran served in Vietnam from 1970-71 as a United States military advisor. With generations of his family serving in the United States military as well as growing up in a pro-military environment, Sheeran enrolled in the Virginia Military institute and entered active service in 1969 operating rifle ranges for Recruits while also being promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant before being shipped off to Vietnam in 1970.
Sheeran’s role as a U.S. military advisor was to help the local Vietnamese militias in a wide variety of ways from military actions such as coordinating ambushes and medavacs to humanitarian projects such as bridge building and village reconstruction. Sheeran as well as his five man advisory team rotated throughout South Vietnam going to places such as the Kien Hoa Province, Tan Phu Trung and Tuaduc. Sheeran’s experience in Vietnam differs from the common U.S. soldier, because he rarely saw any combat during his tour.
Once Sheeran finished his tour in Vietnam, he was never faced with any war opposition and never suffered the common after effects of war such as having nightmares or PTSD. But he uses his experiences to educate the post-Vietnam generations.
English
Recorded Interview
Vietnam War Interview
10/30/16
Western Connecticut State University
0-5 min: Family history; Katonah Ny; School teaching; Virginia Military Institute; Military History; WWII; Military society;
5-10 min: The 60's; growing up; conservative society; Government support; Highschool; Entering the war; 1969 active duty; Basic training; Officer; rifle ranges;
10-15 min: Heading to vietnam; Resignation; Getting off the plane; Military advisory command; Training camp for advisory command; Helping the Vietnamese help themselves;
15-20 min: Kien Hoa Province; advising team; Villages/working with villagers; MAT 6; 5 member team; Tan Phu Trung; Militia groups;
20-25 min: Officer; Humanitarian efforts; militias; Village chiefs; Local relations; Civil action; Bridge building; local commerce; Locals - appreciative;
25-30 min: Successes; Propaganda teams; welcomed; Stated objectives of advising team; Tuaduc; Morale building;
30-35 min: Food; Day to day living; Immersed in culture; tour coming to an end; Going home;
35-40 min: Dangerous incidents; Vietcong; Ambush; Shadow governments; Rocket fire; Medevac; John's experience;
40-45 min: War opposition; Stepping back into the U.S.; Surprise homecoming; United States strategy;
45-50 min: Domino theory; communism; War in Vietnam; Good experience; Helping others;
50-end: Pictures; Teaching vietnam; impact of the war; veterans; Chicken hawks; Resourcefulness of Vietnamese;
Paul Gassner Interview
Vietnam 1967-1970
55 min
Paul Gassner served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1967-1970. He came from a military family. His father was a World War II veteran, and his grandfather, a World War I veteran; Paul is third generation military and second generation cavalry. He enlisted in the army, hoping to avoid being drafted into the infantry. Paul entered into a chemical platoon, chemistry being his best subject in high school and later in college as well. Upon his arrival in Vietnam his base at Cam Ranh Bay was rocketed by the VC. At this point in the interview he said “welcome to Vietnam.”
As part of a chemical platoon of the 1st Calvary Air Division, Paul worked with several different chemical agents, primarily tear gas. Spraying chemicals around the bases to prevent the growth of vegetation etc. He notes the use of Agent Orange, and many of the long term health consequences associated with these chemicals. Paul, also talks about feeling unprepared for the war in terms of the training he was given. Despite this, he was till promoted to Sergeant.
He felt as though there was a lack of a clear strategy in Vietnam. He, like many other soldiers, felt abandoned by the politicians, and blamed for the war by their peers at home. Leaving Paul, and thousands more to feel completely isolated from society. Paul discusses how relieved he was to leave Vietnam. “Happy to have survived.” He said. When he returned home, he hung up his uniform, and kept quiet about the war for over forty years. He discusses his experiences with nightmares, and battling PTSD; also how counseling has helped him deal with this.
English
Recorded Interview
Vietnam War Interview
October 19th, 2016
0-5 min: Family History; Branch; Rank; Time of Service; Volunteer; Chemical Platoon;
5-10 min: Arrival in Vietnam; Jungle Rot; Cam Ranh Bay Naval Base; Base is Attacked; Welcome to Vietnam;
10-15 min: Chemical Platoon; 1st Cavalry Air Division; Chemical Agents; Tear Gas and Agent Orange; Training; "I'm in over my head.";
15-20 min: Promotion; Rank; Waste; Responsibilities; Claymores;
20-25 min: Use of Chemicals; Agent Orange; Birth Defects; Beer; Free Time;
25-30 min: Rocket Attacks; Combat Instincts; Government Abandonment;
30-35 min: Leaving Vietnam; Happy to Have Survived;
35-40 min: Hanging up the uniform; Wife's Sickness; Pressure/Stress; Dreams and Nightmares; Counseling;
40-45 min: Lack of clear strategy; Government Opinion; FTA; Censorship;
45-end: No regrets; Combat life to civilian life; Coming Home; de-segregation;
Edward A. Hagan Interview
Vietnam 1969-1970
53 min
Edward Hagen is a Vietnam Veteran that served from 1969-1970. He is now currently an English professor here at Western Connecticut State University. Ed was in ROTC at Fordham University, and was brought into the war as an intelligence officer. He was assigned to the S-2 advisors office in Phong Dinh Province on October 29th 1969, where he went to work for the pacification effort in Can Tho City. He was a member of a team of about 150 army and civilian intelligence advisors. Ed discusses how “preposterous” the idea was of a 22 year old man advising people that were twice his age.
Generally speaking, although there really is no such thing when talking about war, his duties were to read and draft intelligence reports, go on scouting missions in the helicopter to spot the VC, and to advise the South Vietnamese, in their efforts against the VC. Ed also discusses the lack of a coherent strategy for the United States in terms of bringing about victory. He talks about why pacification isn’t a winning strategy. Ed elaborates on his experience of being in a helicopter that was shot down by the VC. He said they were flying too low and as a result they were shot down. The co-pilot was killed in this incident; remarkably, everyone else survived.
Ed explains why he believes the United States should have stayed out of Vietnam. He also gives his opinion on the “fighting godless communism” and the domino theory. Ed gives his thoughts on staying quiet about the war, and what compelled him to write his memoir.
Cody Clark
English
Recorded interview
Vietnam War Interview
October 12th, 2016
0-5min: Introductions; ROTC; Fordham University; Draft Discussion; Draft Test; War Opposition;
5-10min:POW/MIA; Draft Board; College Graduation; Military/Family History; Military Skepticism;
10-15min:Arriving in Vietnam; Intelligence Officer; S-2 Advisory Team; General Responsibilities; Scouting and Reconnaissance;
15-20min:Intelligence Briefings and Reports; CIA;
20-25min:Buying Intelligence Reports; Major Ambush; Advisors; Maycon Delta;
25-30min: Major Incidents; Ambush; Strategies for Victory; Pacification; Peace Corps Programs;
30-35min:"Normal Day" in Vietnam; Briefings; Directives; Casualties;
35-40min:What kept the war going?; Going to war anonymously; Going Home; Helicopters and Gunships;
40-45min:Helicopter Shot Down; VC Confrontation; Friendly's and Civilians;
45-50min:War Opposition; Was it a war for the U.S. to be in?; Politics of the 1960's; Goldwater; Laos; Cambodia; Better Dead Than Red; Godless Communism;
50-55min:Staying Quiet; Writing a Memoir;
Oral history interview with Robert Moody
2007
32 min
Immigration and Memory Project
Oral History