Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Oscar James Gary Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: Company M, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force (FMF); Company D, 1st Battalion and Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, FMF
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Camp Pendleton, California; El Toro, California; Okinawa, Japan; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/58626
Oscar James Gary enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1964, thinking it would be a great adventure, and early in his deployment to Vietnam, he described himself as "gung ho, like John Wayne." But his combat experiences and news of riots in the United States made him rethink his role in a conflict so far from home. Though his service left him with PTSD and questions about the utility of war, in his VHP interview he expresses no regrets, saying, "I didn't even have to go. But I'm kinda glad I did."
Oscar James Gary Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayDescribing patrols; Marine killed in a friendly fire incident; Search and destroy mission in a local village; rifle jamming during combat. 00:10:46.0 - 00:27:27.0
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PlayOperation Double Eagle; enemy aimed for machine gun team; Marine injured in a remote location, corpsman killed attempting to rescue him. 00:32:57.0 - 00:39:38.0
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PlayEarly warning that the enemy is in the area; attitude towards combat changed; questioning the purpose of the war; role of civilians in war. 00:48:43.0 - 00:59:14.0
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PlayDeclining to reenlist because he didn't want to go back to Vietnam; becoming a Military Policeman. 01:05:50.0 - 01:11:03.0
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PlayWork after service; becoming a job developer; reception veterans received returning from Vietnam. 01:18:37.0 - 01:23:33.0
About this Item
Title
- Oscar James Gary Collection
Names
- Gary, Oscar James
- Lugar, Richard
- Graves, Alex
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Home State
- Washington (State)
Headings
- - Gary, Oscar James
- - 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
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: Company M, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force (FMF); Company D, 1st Battalion and Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, FMF
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Camp Pendleton, California; El Toro, California; Okinawa, Japan; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1964-1967
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran also served in the Military Police (MP) Company, Service Battalion, Headquarter Regiment, Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton. The veteran notes he has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2007-10-28)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [5 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1964-1970)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2007)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/58626
Cite as
- Oscar James Gary Collection (AFC/2001/001/58626), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Battles & Campaigns
Service Unit
- 1st Battalion and Company H
- 1st Marine Division
- 1st Marine Regiment
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 3rd Marine Division
- 9th Marine Regiment
- Company D
- Company M
- Fleet Marine Force (Fmf)
- Fmf