Interview with Robert L. Whetstone, May 8, 2022

Interview Summary

In this interview Robert B. Whetstone describes his experiences in the Vietnam War. Whetstone first began his military service through the enlistment program with the Navy in December of 1966. He began active duty with the Navy in March of 1967, where he started boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. In June of 1967, he finished boot camp and received orders to go to North Carolina Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for training. Upon completion he carried a MOS 84-04, which was for mobilization for hospital training with marines. He then received orders to a Naval hospital where he served for 15 months. He went to Naval Station Treasure Island in California for a week, and Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan for a week. At this time, he received orders to head to Vietnam, about 35 miles Southwest of Da Nang. He served in the field, attached to the 1st marine division FMF (fleet marine force), specifically the 1st battalion, 11th marines alpha battery, referred to as the 111. His battery’s main weapons were six, 105 mm M101A1 Howitzer cannons. He was the only corpsman and was responsible for the healthcare and treatment of 100-125 men. He served there for 13 months on independent duty, meaning he had no supervision and he performed his own tasks. After Vietnam, he came back to the United States and was reassigned to a Naval dispensary. He was then offered to serve in the Medical Service Corps in the Army where he eventually commanded a couple companies. He was mobilized and served in Medical Logistics as an Pharmaceutical Affairs Officer in Europe for Desert Storm/Shield, and finally retired from the military in 2001.

Interview Keyword

Selective Service Military Occupation Specialty Draft deferment Veteran organizations Bootcamp

Interview LC Subject

Camp Lejeune (N.C.) United States. Marine Corps Đà Nẵng (Vietnam) Post-traumatic stress disorder Veterans

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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