Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Thomas H. Hodge Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: Truck Company, Force Logistic Support Group (FLSG) B, Force Logistics Command, 3rd Marine Division
- Location of Service: Parris Island, South Carolina; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Okinawa, Japan; Da Nang, Vietnam; Quang Tri, Vietnam; Dong Ha, Vietnam; Khe Sanh, Vietnam; Rockpile, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/3736
Thomas Hodge didn't expect to live long when he got to Vietnam. After he was assigned to a truck company, he heard that the life expectancy of a wartime truck driver was three days. At first, he took that remark for a joke; then he got to Vietnam and saw what a dangerous job he was in for: working 18 hour shifts, dodging enemy fire, and hoping that his truck, often loaded with explosives, didn't hit a land mine.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
-
PlayThe life expectancy of a truck driver in Vietnam. 00:05:16.0 - 00:09:14.0
-
PlayComing home as an individual, not in groups. 00:19:29.0 - 00:20:46.0
-
PlayDealing with death as part of war. 00:21:15.0 - 00:22:50.0
-
Play"Is it going to be my day to come back?" 00:24:21.0 - 00:25:12.0
-
PlayShortcoming of the Vietnam Memorial. 00:29:51.0 - 00:32:04.0
-
PlayLessons of war. 00:38:44.0 - 00:40:01.0
About this Item
Title
- Thomas H. Hodge Collection
Names
- Hodge, Thomas H.
- Cathedral High School/Lyman Memorial High School
- Robinson, Henry
- Perreault, Leslie
Home State
- Massachusetts
Headings
- - Hodge, Thomas H.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: Truck Company, Force Logistic Support Group (FLSG) B, Force Logistics Command, 3rd Marine Division
- Location of Service: Parris Island, South Carolina; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Okinawa, Japan; Da Nang, Vietnam; Quang Tri, Vietnam; Dong Ha, Vietnam; Khe Sanh, Vietnam; Rockpile, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1968-1971
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran notes that he served with the Marine Corps active reserve from 1971 to 1976.
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected 2002-11-20)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2011-12-19)
- Audio: DAT [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-11-20; 2004)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-11-20)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/3736
Cite as
- Thomas H. Hodge Collection (AFC/2001/001/3736), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- Camp Pendleton, California
- Da Nang, Vietnam
- Dong Ha, Vietnam
- Khe Sanh, Vietnam
- Okinawa, Japan
- Parris Island, South Carolina
- Quang Tri, Vietnam
- Rockpile, Vietnam