Interview with David C. Brown, Larry J. Tackett, May 19, 1985

Interview Summary

David Brown and Larry "Joe" Tackett talk about their employment history prior to their military service. Brown talks about his reaction to being drafted and expecting to go to Vietnam. Tackett talks about his military training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Brown describes his military training at Fort Hood, Texas and being assigned to the Fourth Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. Brown describes his arrival in Vietnam by troopship, USS John Polk, off of Qui Nhon in July of 1966 and experiencing fear. Tackett gives his first impression of Vietnam and being assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Long Binh in July of 1969. Brown discusses his experience with harassment and interdiction fire (H&I) and being assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Pleiku where they conducted search and destroy missions, "hump the bush" patrols, and encountered free fire zones, claymore mines, had an incident with a South Vietnamese Civilian Irregular Defense Group, and engaged in combat with the North Vietnamese regular army. Tackett talks about his platoon being ambushed and losing fifteen of twenty men, and the Army commanders' determination to recover all wounded and dead after combat. He discusses morale in the 82nd Airborne and Eighth Infantry divisions. They discuss their homecoming and Brown's reception upon returning home and having no trouble finding employment at Armco Steel, contrasted with Tackett's inability to find employment. Tackett gives his opinion of those people who fled to Canada to avoid service in Vietnam. Brown describes his reaction to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. and discusses the lack of respect for Vietnam veterans in Kentucky.

Interview Keyword

Attitude (Psychology) Combat. Military training camps Politics and war. United States. Army. Airborne Division, 82nd Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Monuments. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects. War casualties. War memorials. Wounds and injuries.

Interview LC Subject

Discrimination in employment Draft Military life. Soldiers Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.