Interview with Bert R. Francis and Arlayne Francis, December 11, 2017

Interview Summary

Bert Francis served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. In this interview, he talks about his decision and preparation to go to Vietnam and describes the status of the war at that time. He describes his 28 day journey to Vietnam on a ship, off-loading at Chu Lai, and eventually arriving in Da Nang. He describes his first impressions of Vietnam and talks about his interactions with civilians and their customs. Bert Francis talks about his missions in I Corps, the DMZ, Da Nang, and Chu Lai as part of the force troops providing artillery support. He talks about his leadership as an officer in the Marine Corps and talks specifically about the difficulties of the responsibility of command. He recounts in detail his memories of various commanding officers in Vietnam.

Interview Keyword

Twentynine Palms (Calif.) Military training camps Manners and customs Civilians in war. Politics and war. Psychic trauma. Stress (Psychology) Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements

Interview LC Subject

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans--United States Attitude (Psychology) United States. Marine Corps--Military life United States. Marine Corps--Officers. Leadership. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Equipment and supplies. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Campaigns. Military supplies Weapons. Strategy. Tactics Infantry. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Psychological aspects Artillery War casualties Combat

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 only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.