Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Richard R. DeLeon Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: A Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment
- Location of Service: Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Specialist
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/9210
As a medic in Vietnam, Richard DeLeon, who had prided himself as a street-tough New Yorker, saw things he would never see in Manhattan. What impressed him most was the camaraderie the men felt for him and one another, the kind of fierce loyalty that drove his best buddy to rescue the lone survivor of a copter crash at the risk of his own life. DeLeon had a difficult time readjusting to civilian life, especially when he saw how cavalier his co-workers on Wall Street were about the casualties of war.
Richard R. DeLeon Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayThe aims of basic training. 00:01:50.0 - 00:02:31.0
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PlayMission along the Ho Chi Minh Trail; getting ambushed. 00:05:25.0 - 00:13:18.0
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PlayReunited with his company to make contact with the enemy; copter crash and rescuing a survivor. 00:14:55.0 - 00:32:36.0
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PlayHis buddy Dave Nava, decorated but lacking a battlefield commission. 00:39:16.0 - 00:42:05.0
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PlayMail call; troubles with readjustment to life back in the States. 00:46:24.0 - 00:49:22.0
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PlaySoldiers' resentment of lack of support back home; postwar job on Wall Street and dealing with colleagues' indifference; remembering his buddies. 00:51:17.0 - 00:53:54.0
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PlayWar's effect on him; his re-entry to civilian life; commemorating two men he served with. 00:55:14.1 - 01:02:21.5
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Richard R. DeLeon Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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About this Item
Title
- Richard R. DeLeon Collection
Names
- New York Public Library
- McLoughlin, Cathleen T.
- Muller, Maura
- DeLeon, Richard R.
Home State
- North Carolina
Headings
- - DeLeon, Richard R.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: A Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment
- Location of Service: Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Specialist
- Dates of Service: 1968-1970
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a platoon medic.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Speech (collected 2006-08-06; 2004-12-31)
- Audio: CD [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected 2002-10-30)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [1 item] -- (collected 1971)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [4 items] -- Photograph (collected 1969-1970)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-10-30)
- Video: VHS-C [1 item] -- Speech (collected 2006-08-06)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2002-10-30; 2006-03-23)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2002-10-30)
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2002-10-30; 2007-08-22)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/9210
Cite as
- Richard R. DeLeon Collection (AFC/2001/001/9210), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text