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Calabaza, Avelino (Vietnam), 2003

 File — Box: 1, DVD: 2

Scope and Contents

Infantry, 101st Airborne, 3/27th, Second Battalion, Recon Hawks Platoon, “No Slack”. 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company in the field. Mentions A Shau Valley, “White Horse Mountain". Discusses protecting civilians, ambushes, taking casualties and killing enemy soldiers. Has to stop the interview a couple of times to composes himself; describes the difficulty of talking about war and being required to kill the enemy. Describes experiences of PTSD and the effect on his family. Still experiencing PTSD decades later. Before the war, he grew up farming; he describes that life as beautiful. Played guitar in a band, “The First Americans”. After high school, he attended a BIA program in San Francisco, California, studying architecture. Drafted and sent to Basic Training at Fort Ord, California and then Airborne School. Recounts the story of a night ambush. Recounts a mission to recover bodies of comrades killed on a reconnaissance mission; he was wounded when thrown from a helicopter. Total 22:06.

Dates

  • 2003

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 1 box (.25 cu. ft.)

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451