Interview with William Rice, Ronald Gilbert, May 19, 1985

Partial Transcript: Um, Ronnie, let's start with you and find out, uh, where you're from originally and a little bit about you before you, uh, went into the military.

Segment Synopsis: William "Billy" Rice and Ronald Gilbert introduce themselves and talk about their life before the military. Rice and Gilbert describe their training and early assignments.

Keywords: Family; Military service experience; Training; United States Army; United States Military; Vietnam; Vietnam-era drafts

Subjects: Draft; Fort Knox (Ky.); Military life.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Partial Transcript: Any initial impressions of the country stand out in your mind? Uh, how you--what you-- anything stood out that when you saw it or were there for the first time?

Segment Synopsis: Rice and Gilbert talk about first arriving in Vietnam, and their assignments in country. Rice talks about his living conditions and responsibilities in the supply depot. Gilbert describes life with his fellow soldiers as a tanker.

Keywords: Armor; Base camp; Employment; Living conditions; Logistics; Medical treatment; Military service experience; Military supplies; Tanks; Vietnam

Subjects: Military life.; United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Medical care.

Partial Transcript: How did you react to being placed in actual combat? What was your reaction to that?

Segment Synopsis: Gilbert describes his feelings on combat and his impressions of combat with the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. Rice talks about his impressions of the South Vietnamese he worked with at his supply depot.

Keywords: Combat infantry tactics; Guerrilla warfare; Infantry; Morale; North Vietnamese; Viet Cong

Subjects: Combat.; Vietnam; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Psychological aspects; War casualties.

Partial Transcript: Um, Ronnie, uh, could you describe what, what, uh--how you spent your time during your off hours? You know, when you weren't out on, on a mission and you were just at the base camp.

Segment Synopsis: Rice and Gilbert talk about what they and their fellow soldiers did in their off time.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Command and control systems; Drugs; Equipment; Marijuana; Non-commissioned officers; Recreational activities; Training

Subjects: Alcohol; Drug abuse; Leisure.; Military life.; Recreation; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Partial Transcript: How effective were tanks?

Segment Synopsis: Gilbert talks about what he, as a tanker, did in the war. Rice talks about some of his memories from working at the supply depot.

Keywords: Combat infantry tactics; Injured; Killed in action (KIA); Logistics; Military supplies; Officers and soldiers; Strategy; Tanks

Subjects: Soldiers; United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Equipment and supplies.; War casualties.

Partial Transcript: Billy, I guess that, you know, while, while you were over there that you, you realized probably how lucky and fortunate you, you had been...

Segment Synopsis: Rice talks about how fortunate he was to have had the assignment he did. Gilbert talks about his feelings towards the replacements he encountered during his tour of duty.

Keywords: Armor; Deaths; Injured; Killed in action (KIA); Logistics; Military supplies; Tanks; Training

Subjects: Military life.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; War casualties.

Partial Transcript: Were you all single when you were over there?

Segment Synopsis: Rice and Gilbert talk about coming back from Vietnam. Gilbert speaks more in depth about his eye injury and his discharge from the Army.

Keywords: Correspondence; Family; Gunshot wounds; Leisure; Lexington (Ky.); Marriage; Parents; Police

Subjects: Medical care; Military discharge; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Medical care; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects.; Wounds and injuries.

Partial Transcript: How did you feel about your, your coming home? Did you feel welcome back? Uh, did, uh--was it a positive, uh, return for you?

Segment Synopsis: Rice and Gilbert talk about how it felt to be home. Gilbert then talks about his opinions of the war as a whole, and how he feels as a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Keywords: Civilians; Veterans programs

Subjects: Korean War, 1950-1953--Veterans; Politics and war.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.