Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Barry L. Romo Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: A Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade
- Location of Service: Fort Benning, Georgia; California; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/106
Enlisting in the Army fresh out of high school, First Lieutenant Barry Romo felt a strong sense of purpose when he headed to Vietnam to serve with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. His experiences in combat quickly eroded this idealism. After a few weeks in the field, his focus had narrowed to getting his men home safely, rather than a commitment to any particular political agenda. Bearing witness to the atrocities of war led him to become a strident pacifist; upon returning from Vietnam, he participated in demonstrations against the war.
Barry L. Romo Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayGetting orders to go to Vietnam; excited and nervous; arriving in Saigon; asking to be assigned to the mountains; assigned to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade 00:06:01.0 - 00:09:09.0
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PlayLosing idealistic view of the mission after a few weeks in country; the first person he killed while out on patrol; feeling haunted by the casualties he caused. 00:09:25.0 - 00:15:49.0
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PlayTwo pivotal events that changed his view of the war; trying to help a small Vietnamese child who had been burned; being rejected by the Navy hospital; response to his nephew being drafted; his nephew being killed; escorting his nephew's body home to Oakland. 00:22:18.0 - 00:30:59.0
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PlayTaking a patrol of 20 men out on a search and destroy mission; being caught in the open; ordering a charge; being given a crazy order by his commander. 00:32:47.0 - 00:40:14.0
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Barry L. Romo Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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About this Item
Title
- Barry L. Romo Collection
Names
- McCarthy, Erin A.
- Columbia College Chicago
- Romo, Barry L.
- Ruvalcaba, Cesar
Home State
- Illinois
Headings
- - Romo, Barry L.
- - 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: A Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade
- Location of Service: Fort Benning, Georgia; California; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Dates of Service: 1966-1969
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2010)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2001-04-07)
- Audio: CD [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-11-06; 2006-11-06; 2009-08-20)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/106
Cite as
- Barry L. Romo Collection (AFC/2001/001/106), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text