Box 1

Scope and Contents Says a desire to travel motivated him; his first time on an airplane was to North Carolina for basic training at age 22. Told his unit was being sent to Vietnam, he asked for a hardship discharge because he was the only one who could provide for family. Shipped out from Oakland. He describes a stop in Okinawa as similar to home. Avoided seasickness through prayer. Describes landing in Vietnam, experiencing a first mortar attack, the racial situation among soldiers. Describes an episode when he...