Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Candy Sweet Lovett Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Persian Gulf War, 1991
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 10th Mountain Division
- Location of Service: Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; Iraq
- Highest Rank: E-4
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/92101
A single mother, Candy Sweet Lovett enlisted in the Army in 1990, motivated in part by the promise of GI Bill benefits. Lovett deployed to the Persian Gulf with the 10th Mountain Division, where her Supply and Services Division recovered U.S. casualties and buried Iraqi war dead, including mass burials alongside the Basra "Highway of Death." She identifies this grisly work detail as but one facet of her PTSD. While deployed, she suffered sexual assault at the hands of her fellow soldiers.
Candy Sweet Lovett Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayRashes and illness following handling and burial of Iraqi war dead; describes scorched vehicles and personnel on the "Highway of Death." 00:05:59.0 - 00:10:39.0
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PlayCoping mechanisms; PTSD analysis and treatment; mental health issues derived from sexual trauma and concentrations of heavy metals in her bloodstream. 00:17:35.0 - 00:21:02.0
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PlayEmotional trauma of the Persian Gulf War; STD; sexual assault and "blackmail" threats of adultery charges from Commanding Officer; exhaustion induced-injury; burden of proof placed on victim of sexual assault 00:21:07.0 - 00:26:18.0
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PlaySeveral comrades in the Fort Drum burial detail are since deceased; describes extreme symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome; Activated to testify at Gulf War medical board in Washington, D.C. 00:28:26.0 - 00:32:39.0
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PlayVeterans for Peace; Iraq Water Project; Returned to Iraq and met Iraqi civilians whose family members died during the Gulf War. 00:42:50.0 - 00:46:20.0
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PlayReflections; views on service and loss of patriotism 00:48:30.0 - 00:49:46.0
About this Item
Title
- Candy Sweet Lovett Collection
Names
- Landingham, Gregory S.
- Lovett, Candy Sweet
- University of Florida Samuel Proctor Oral History Program
Home State
- Florida
Headings
- - Lovett, Candy Sweet
- - Persian Gulf War, 1991 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Form
- CD
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Persian Gulf War, 1991
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 10th Mountain Division
- Location of Service: Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; Iraq
- Highest Rank: E-4
- Dates of Service: 1990-1994
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2013-03-06; 2013)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/92101
Cite as
- Candy Sweet Lovett Collection (AFC/2001/001/92101), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio