Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing James Andrew Sawvell Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; Company B, 4th Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment
- Location of Service: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Hood, Texas; Cu Chi, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/6036
When James Sawvell enlisted in the Army, he thought volunteering would give him the opportunity to serve somewhere other than Vietnam. But it was 1968, the height of U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia, and Sawvell's leadership skills were badly needed. Once he was in the field as a platoon sergeant, he didn't back down from danger, and he lost a portion of his hearing when his tank hit two land mines. Sawvell's turnaround was complete by the end of his tour, when he attempted to extend it. He offers vivid and detailed accounts of life on patrol in the jungle.
Interview / Recording
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PlayArriving in Vietnam only to find that the unit he was assigned to, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, had just been ambushed by the North Vietnamese Army; difference between the NVA and the Viet Cong; seeing the casualties and wondering what he had gotten into. 00:14:43.8 - 00:16:31.4
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PlayPulling road guard for the Rome plows, which cleared the underbrush to keep the NVA and VC from using them as cover; effectiveness of Agent Orange in defoliating vegetation. 00:20:13.6 - 00:21:14.5
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PlaySenior commander coming up with "unique" way to clear landmines from the road and get soldiers to their missions on time; losing his hearing after running over two landmines; joining scout platoon; concern about landmines, RPGs, and booby traps; brush with death after tripping a wire. 00:21:16.3 - 00:24:36.9
More Resources
Interview / Recording
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PlayDescription of ambush team mission; discovering trails off the Saigon River all heading into a clump; daytime insertion; Bravo Troop ambush team getting ambushed on way to ambush site; realizing they had inserted themselves in a Viet Cong base camp; VC taking away their dead; Charlie Troop rescue. 00:00:11.6 - 00:06:55.1
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PlayA 1969 New Years Eve ambush; a Viet Cong stepping on the arm of his sleeping buddy who started screaming; not knowing the exact location of the VC; calling in gunship and artillery support; having a "party" shooting off everything they had, not realizing they were being shot at; the colonel calling to congratulate him on being the first unit to make contact in 1970. 00:08:16.3 - 00:11:55.9
About this Item
Title
- James Andrew Sawvell Collection
Names
- Willie, Michael Lloyd
- WRCB-TV Channel 3
- Sawvell, James Andrew
- Bowen, Sarah
Home State
- Tennessee
Headings
- - Sawvell, James Andrew
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; Company B, 4th Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment
- Location of Service: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Hood, Texas; Cu Chi, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1968-1971
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1971)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [7 items] -- Photograph (collected 1969-1970)
- Video: Betacam SP [2 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-11-27)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/6036
Cite as
- James Andrew Sawvell Collection (AFC/2001/001/6036), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
- 25th Infantry Division
- 37th Armored Regiment
- 3rd Squadron
- 4th Battalion
- 4th Cavalry Regiment
- Company B