Vietnam Veterans Archive

The Vietnam Veterans Archive is a collection of oral histories, documents, photographs, memorabilia, and letters from veterans or family members. The project was initiated by David Taylor '66 and Beth Taylor, co-director of Brown’s Nonfiction Writing Program, to capture the stories of Brown University alumni who served in the military during the Vietnam War.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

Items in this collection

Pigs feet [in Sam Hi Village market] [photo 17]

Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Photograph Descriptions

Photograph Descriptions

Brown University

Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Overseas Service ribbon with numeral 2

Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts, Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Oral history interview of James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) by Professor Elizabeth Taylor - Edited Transcription

James Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history interview conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor at the John Hay Library on January 28, 2010. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. <emph render="bold">Correction: </emph> Frederic Read Chesebrough (1942-1967) was Class of 1964. He was known as "Derek" to peers and was President of Psi Upsilon. His last name has been misspelled as "Derek Chesborough" in James Gardner (1965) and Barry Kowalski's (1966) oral histories and profiles. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Andersen (1931-1989), Brown Class of 1953, was spelled Lieutenant Colonel "Anderson" in Gardner's documentation. James Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history interview conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor at the John Hay Library on January 28, 2010. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. <emph render="bold">Correction: </emph> Frederic Read Chesebrough (1942-1967) was Class of 1964. He was known as "Derek" to peers and was President of Psi Upsilon. His last name has been misspelled as "Derek Chesborough" in James Gardner (1965) and Barry Kowalski's (1966) oral histories and profiles. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Andersen (1931-1989), Brown Class of 1953, was spelled Lieutenant Colonel "Anderson" in Gardner's documentation. Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Oral history interview of James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) by Professor Elizabeth Taylor - Audio Recording

James Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history interview conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor at the John Hay Library on January 28, 2010. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. <emph render="bold">Correction: </emph> Frederic Read Chesebrough (1942-1967) was Class of 1964. He was known as "Derek" to peers and was President of Psi Upsilon. His last name has been misspelled as "Derek Chesborough" in James Gardner (1965) and Barry Kowalski's (1966) oral histories and profiles. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Andersen (1931-1989), Brown Class of 1953, was spelled Lieutenant Colonel "Anderson" in Gardner's documentation. James Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history interview conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor at the John Hay Library on January 28, 2010. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. <emph render="bold">Correction: </emph> Frederic Read Chesebrough (1942-1967) was Class of 1964. He was known as "Derek" to peers and was President of Psi Upsilon. His last name has been misspelled as "Derek Chesborough" in James Gardner (1965) and Barry Kowalski's (1966) oral histories and profiles. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Andersen (1931-1989), Brown Class of 1953, was spelled Lieutenant Colonel "Anderson" in Gardner's documentation. Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Nomex flight suit

Nomex flight suit

Brown University

"Nomex fire resistant suit introduced around 1968 to replace international orange and tan suits. Colors and materials were an advantage in Vietnam:--On left sleeve there was an area for pencils, pens and a small pocket for miscellaneous stuff like morphine or small escape equipment;--On the left hip was a pocket for a K-Bar (United States Marine Corps issued knife);--On the lower legs were pockets for maps and checklists." David Taylor [Photograph in this collection shows David Taylor with his CH53 wearing this suit and boots.] "Nomex fire resistant suit introduced around 1968 to replace international orange and tan suits. Colors and materials were an advantage in Vietnam:--On left sleeve there was an area for pencils, pens and a small pocket for miscellaneous stuff like morphine or small escape equipment;--On the left hip was a pocket for a K-Bar (United States Marine Corps issued knife);--On the lower legs were pockets for maps and checklists." David Taylor [Photograph in this collection shows David Taylor with his CH53 wearing this suit and boots.] Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

My tent at Quang Tri [photo 35]

Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Mr. Du performs Buddhist Burial Ceremony at Jerry Zimmer's crash site in the Que Son Mountains (Photo L)

Mr. Du performs a Buddhist burial ceremony at Jerry's crash site in the Que Son Mountains. Mr. Du performs a Buddhist burial ceremony at Jerry's crash site in the Que Son Mountains. Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Military documents relating to Fenton, Ross W.

Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts, Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Mike Carley (on right) and Mike Kennett on the transit line at Cubi Point.

Mike Carley walking outside with Mike Kennett. Caption under photo: "Mike Carley and JD "Smokey" Norton on the transit line at Cubi Point on one of those light days. These were good times. Photo by Joel Vignere." Comment added later as correction: "The guy on the right is indeed Mike Carley, but the fellow with the mustache is Mike Kennett, not Smokey Norton." Mike Carley walking outside with Mike Kennett. Caption under photo: "Mike Carley and JD "Smokey" Norton on the transit line at Cubi Point on one of those light days. These were good times. Photo by Joel Vignere." Comment added later as correction: "The guy on the right is indeed Mike Carley, but the fellow with the mustache is Mike Kennett, not Smokey Norton." Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Michael Carley and Deak Warner in "Ugly Angel" hootch, Vietnam

Mike Carley standing in his underwear inside the hootch. Caption on photo: "Mike Carley screwing around in an Ugly Angel hootch. Despite his bizarre appearance in this photo, Mike took such great pride in his appearance that his nom de guerre was "PigPen." Mike was killed in February of 67 at Nui Dang, southeast of Quang Ngai. Beside him in the photo is Bob "Deak" Warner who flew Mike's body back to Ky Ha after the incident. Photo by Joel Vignere." Comment added by Dick Moser: "The guy on the right whose head is barely visible is, I think, Dick Jesse, who was our logistics officer. The skinny kid bending over in the background is me." Mike Carley standing in his underwear inside the hootch. Caption on photo: "Mike Carley screwing around in an Ugly Angel hootch. Despite his bizarre appearance in this photo, Mike took such great pride in his appearance that his nom de guerre was "PigPen." Mike was killed in February of 67 at Nui Dang, southeast of Quang Ngai. Beside him in the photo is Bob "Deak" Warner who flew Mike's body back to Ky Ha after the incident. Photo by Joel Vignere." Comment added by Dick Moser: "The guy on the right whose head is barely visible is, I think, Dick Jesse, who was our logistics officer. The skinny kid bending over in the background is me." Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Michael Carley and Connie Worthington wedding group

Pictured from left to right: George Gurney, Charles E. "Chas" Milmine, Bill Worthington, W. Chesley "Chet" Worthington, Connie Worthington, Michael John Carley, Richard A. "Dick" Carley, Richard L. Carley, Jay Stevens Pictured from left to right: George Gurney, Charles E. "Chas" Milmine, Bill Worthington, W. Chesley "Chet" Worthington, Connie Worthington, Michael John Carley, Richard A. "Dick" Carley, Richard L. Carley, Jay Stevens Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)

Market [in Sam Hi Village] [photo 22]

Digital object made available by : Brown University Library, John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts , Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, U.S.A., (http://library.brown.edu/)