Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Daniel Edward Burress Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/1811
A "gung-ho" Marine recruit at 21, Daniel Burress received a liberal education when he was shipped off in 1967 to Vietnam, where "a good day was a dry day" and "a bad day was stacking bodies." During battles, he found little racial tension, but back at the garrison, it was a different story. The news of Martin Luther King's assassination only fed his disillusionment about a war in which he trusted very few people. But on his last night in country, he did find himself sharing a bottle of whiskey with a white Marine to whom he had spoken very little during his tour.
Daniel Edward Burress Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
-
PlayAnswering if he experienced combat; Vietcong playing mind games; giving respect to the guys who went out on reconnaissance. 00:05:54.2 - 00:08:31.1
-
PlayA good day in Vietnam and a bad day there. 00:08:48.3 - 00:12:23.8
-
PlayFeeling disconnected from back home; hearing about Martin Luther King's assassination; overcoming morale problems. 00:16:34.9 - 00:17:41.7
-
PlayAbsence of racism on the battlefield; knowing that it will all start up back in the world. 00:17:46.3 - 00:20:44.4
-
PlayFighting for survival is the only objective; not trusting the Vietnamese people; boredom among soldiers leading to "dumb things." 00:20:58.9 - 00:26:41.4
-
PlayFriendships forged in battle; his last night in country; bonding with a white Marine; regretting not keeping in touch with some of the men he served with. 00:26:57.5 - 00:33:46.8
-
PlayBelieves that blacks died in disproportionate numbers in Vietnam; feeling unpatriotic after he came back. 00:43:27.2 - 00:46:56.4
-
PlayVietnam not a just war because it wasn't declared; fighting the "white man's war." 00:49:55.1 - 00:53:10.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Daniel Edward Burress Collection
Names
- McKinney, Ashley
- Burress, Daniel Edward
- McCarthy, Erin A.
- Columbia College Chicago
Home State
- Illinois
Headings
- - Burress, Daniel Edward
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1964-1968
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected unknown)
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2002; 2004-11-10)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-04-18)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [4 items] -- Photograph (collected 1964-1968)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/1811
Cite as
- Daniel Edward Burress Collection (AFC/2001/001/1811), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text