Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Carol A. Scott Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/11082
Captain Carol Scott grew up as an "Army brat" and was determined to make a career as an Army officer. After becoming an infantry officer and completing Airborne school and Ranger school, she volunteered to go to Vietnam. Her experiences in Vietnam quickly soured her on her chosen profession, however. Scott and her comrades felt betrayed when they were ordered to call off the search for a missing soldier from their company. Furthermore, they promptly realized that although they were still being asked to risk their lives in combat, the higher-ups were concerned only with withdrawal and there was no strategy in place to achieve victory in Vietnam. Scott maintains a high opinion of the rank-and-file soldiers that she served with in Vietnam, however, and contends they ought to have been treated with more respect.
Interview / Recording
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PlayRequesting orders for Vietnam; growing up as an "Army brat" and her determination to make a career in the Army; training in preparation for Vietnam. 00:05:24.0 - 00:07:17.0
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PlayReporting to 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division to an outpost on the DMZ; overview of assignments in Vietnam; conditions at Firebase Alpha 4 and in the field. 00:07:18.0 - 00:10:27.0
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PlayMemories of her first combat patrol, during which one of her soldiers was wounded by a booby trap; typical conditions on patrols. 00:12:14.0 - 00:14:02.0
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PlayRecounts patrol when her company was ordered to stop searching for a missing soldier, and how this betrayed her beliefs regarding military ethics. 00:14:05.0 - 00:16:45.0
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PlayRecalls how the government and military higher-ups did not communicate a purpose behind the mission in Vietnam; guerrilla tactics employed by the enemy; illogical policies; difficult conditions faced. 00:16:45.0 - 00:21:43.0
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PlayThanksgiving 1970 at Firebase Alpha 4, when they were visited by Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., who wanted to be as close as possible to his son who was a prisoner of war in Hanoi. 00:21:44.0 - 00:24:17.0
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PlayNorth Vietnamese attacks that violated ceasefire agreements and resulted in the deaths of American soldiers; "senseless deaths" from mistakes and accidents. 00:25:58.0 - 00:29:49.0
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PlayReturning to Fort Campbell from Vietnam, where they were strip-searched for drugs. 00:31:51.0 - 00:33:18.0
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PlayExposure to Agent Orange and diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma a few years after leaving Vietnam. 00:36:05.0 - 00:37:30.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Carol A. Scott Collection
Names
- Virginia Air and Space Center
- Scott, Carol A.
- Byers, Donald J.
Home State
- Oregon
Headings
- - Scott, Carol A.
- - 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: 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1969-1975
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2003; 2003-11-17)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1976-06-18)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1970)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [17 items] -- Photograph (collected 1970-1972)
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-11-16)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2003-11-16; 2007-11-15)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/11082
Cite as
- Carol A. Scott Collection (AFC/2001/001/11082), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video