Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Solomon Reed Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Persian Gulf War, 1991; Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Concord (AFS 5); USS Yellowstone
- Location of Service: Great Lakes, Illinois; Jacksonville, Florida; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; London, England; Miramar, California; Washington, DC
- Highest Rank: Command Master Chief
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/7936
His dream as a sharecropper's son was to join the Navy and see the world. What Solomon Reed didn't know as a teenager enlisting in that branch of service was that he would be given an opening to train in technical skills he might not have received in civilian life. He served in intelligence support during the most intense years of the Vietnam War, stationed in England. But he did see the effects of that war up close, on two brothers who served in combat. Reed held fast to his faith in the Navy, in spite of antiwar sentiments back home and racial tensions on board ships.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayDream of escaping his hard life via the sea and how it influenced his decision to join the Navy; differences between commissioned and warrant officers. 00:00:31.6 - 00:04:38.6
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PlayStationed in England during the Vietnam War, doing intelligence work. 00:05:58.6 - 00:12:28.4
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PlayRace relations in London contrasted with those back in America; dismay with anti-war and anti-military movement back home; tense race relations aboard Navy ships. 00:15:19.6 - 00:22:41.7
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PlayTaking advantage of an opening to train in a technical area; how the Navy changed and weeded out those on both extremes of the racial spectrum. 00:22:52.6 - 00:27:34.5
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PlayAttitudes of the British toward the American military; having to lock down their offices during anti-war demonstrations. 00:31:26.8 - 00:33:31.8
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PlayLonging to go to Vietnam but missing that chance; accepting that he had his own role to play in the war; lack of support for the war from the public and lack of support for the military leaders by politicians undermining the effort. 00:33:44.8 - 00:42:33.7
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PlayThe negative effect of serving in Vietnam on his brothers. 00:51:46.8 - 00:55:05.6
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PlayOpinion of Daniel Ellsberg, leaker of the Pentagon Papers; taking the long view of that event. 00:59:53.7 - 01:02:21.0
About this Item
Title
- Solomon Reed Collection
Names
- King, Jennifer
- Pearson, Patricia O.
- Reed, Solomon
- James Madison High School
Home State
- Virginia
Headings
- - Reed, Solomon
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
- - Persian Gulf War, 1991 -- Personal Narratives
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Concord (AFS 5); USS Yellowstone
- Location of Service: Great Lakes, Illinois; Jacksonville, Florida; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; London, England; Miramar, California; Washington, DC
- Highest Rank: Command Master Chief
- Dates of Service: 1964-1995
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
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Persian Gulf War, 1991
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2003-06-07)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 1003-06-07)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/7936
Cite as
- Solomon Reed Collection (AFC/2001/001/7936), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Great Lakes, Illinois
- Jacksonville, Florida
- London, England
- Macdill Air Force Base, Florida
- Miramar, California
- Washington, DC