Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Software, E-Resource Audio Recording George E. Dunn Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 13th Field Artillery
- Location of Service: Washington, DC; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Vietnam; Germany; Fort Riley, Kansas
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/9178
Enlisting in the Army in 1961, and graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1965, Lieutenant Colonel George Dunn saw the military as a place of professional opportunity. Serving for ten months in Vietnam as the executive officer of an artillery battery, he commanded a tight-knit unit, made up of soldiers who bonded over the unconventional tactics required for combat in-country. Encountering a harsh reception from the public upon his return to the States, he has struggled to reconcile his identity as a Vietnam veteran, and the outcome of the war, with the larger scope of his military career.
George E. Dunn Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayInterest in military from young age; deciding to enlist because of opportunities available; didn't have any knowledge of American involvement in Vietnam. 00:01:28.00 - 00:05:57.0
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PlayFirst assignment in Vietnam; working as the survey officer for the headquarters battery of the 13th Field Artillery. 00:16:04.0 - 00:18:10.0
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PlayServing as the executive officer of a artillery battery; tightness of unit; difference in how artillery was used in Vietnam versus other wars. 00:22:30.0 - 00:28:05.0
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PlayTraining in Hawaii because of environmental similarities to Vietnam; assignments to particular divisions. 00:32:57.0 - 00:35:59.0
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PlayUnder his leadership, his unit suffered no casualties in ten months; thoughts on luck and skill of his unit; movements of his unit. 00:39:31.0 - 00:44:23.0
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PlayDoesn't like to be perceived as only a Vietnam veteran; reception when he returned to the United States; told not to wear his uniform while traveling. 00:44:52.0 - 00:48:12.0
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PlayMilitary treatment of returning casualties during Vietnam; still hard to let go of the Vietnam era. 00:48:17.0 - 00:54:17.0
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PlayThoughts on the end of the war; demoralizing to see the war end as it did; thoughts on how the military handled itself in Vietnam. 00:59:03.0 - 01:04:21.0
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PlayDecision to enlist in the military and what it meant given the context of Vietnam; felt like his service was a success because he took the best care of his men that he could. 01:08:42.0 - 01:11:30.0
About this Item
Title
- George E. Dunn Collection
Names
- Dunn, George E.
- Shaull, Philip A.
- Lugar, Richard
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Dunn, George E.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
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: Army
- Unit of Service: 13th Field Artillery
- Location of Service: Washington, DC; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Vietnam; Germany; Fort Riley, Kansas
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1961-1985
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [2 items] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2006-10-01)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2003-08-12; 2008-09-24)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-08-12)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-03-23; 2006-03-23)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/9178
Cite as
- George E. Dunn Collection (AFC/2001/001/9178), 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
- Fort Campbell, Kentucky
- Fort Riley, Kansas
- Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- Germany
- Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
- Vietnam
- Washington, DC