Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Mark Ryan Black Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment; Papa 3 Combined Action Company
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Camp Pendleton, California; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Philippines; Cam Lo, Vietnam; Dong Ha, Vietnam; Hue, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Lance Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/12749
Upon departing for training, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Mark Ryan Black told his family, "Don't expect me to write much." Contrary to expectations, he spent much time in country composing both written letters and tape-recorded audio letters, communicating the details of what he was seeing, feeling, and experiencing. Speaking into a tape recorder allowed him to "talk" to his family, friends, and community back home; in his letters, he provided frank descriptions of combat and going on patrol. Stationed in Quang Tri Province with a Combined Action Company (CAC) unit, he was killed by enemy fire during an attack on his compound on August 14, 1967. His letters, transcribed by his mother after his death and presented along with 341 photos that he took in-country, eloquently document one Marine's service in Vietnam.
Vietnam Remembers
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Too Young To Die
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Slideshow of Mark Black's photographs from Vietnam, unnarrated
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Audio letter from December 10, 1966
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Audio letter from December 23, 1966
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Audio letter from December 25, 1966
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Audio letter from January 5, 1967
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Show more resources (26)
About this Item
Title
- Mark Ryan Black Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- Black, Paul
- Black, Mark Ryan
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Black, Mark Ryan
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment; Papa 3 Combined Action Company
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Camp Pendleton, California; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Philippines; Cam Lo, Vietnam; Dong Ha, Vietnam; Hue, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Lance Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1966-1967
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2009-06-24)
- Manuscript: None [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2008)
- Audio: None [1 item] -- Audio correspondence (collected 1966-1967; 2008-10-18)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Slide Presentation (collected 2011-01-01; 2011-01-02)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2008-11-23)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 1967-1980; 2008-08-09)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 1966-1967)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Home movie footage (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Scrapbooks [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1987)
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 1967; 2003-04-15)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/12749
Cite as
- Mark Ryan Black Collection (AFC/2001/001/12749), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- audio
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Cam Lo, Vietnam
- Camp Pendleton, California
- Dong Ha, Vietnam
- Hue, Vietnam
- Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Philippines
- San Diego, California