Vietnam War Interview Forum

Guest

Dave Wright, Pvt - Sergant

>1) When were you sent to Vietnam?

Nov. 1968

>2) What was the atmosphere of the group of soldiers you were in when you first arrived?

They were a pretty tight group who had been through hard times together.  I wasn't accepted until after my first fire fight when they knew how I would react.

>3) What kind of role did you take on in your group? (medic, machine gunner, etc)

Point man

>4) What were the guys in your group like?

All ethic groups, different levels of education, innocnet to hard drug users, kids forged relationships with others that would not have naturally happened outside of the war.

>5) What were the villages you visited like?

very small and poor.

>6) What is it like to crawl into a suspected VC tunnel?

I never did that.  There were people who would but it was one of my biggest fears, more so than walking point.

>7) What do you think about that keeps you going during the war?

The war didn't stop and we couldn't raise our hand to be excused.  You had to live with it moment by moment the best you could.  Going crazy wasn't an option, it would most likely get you and others killed.

>8) What kind of recreational things do you do when you guys were not on the move?

There was no recreation opportunities in the small fire bases we came into.  No bars, no movies, no PX and no girls.  We read/wrote letters, ate, slept, played cards, listened to the radio and smoked and joked.

>9) When were you pulled out of action?

Normally we would come in two weeks prior to our departure date.  I nearly had a nervious breakdown after walking point for ten months and was allowed to spend my last two months in a fire base.

>10) How did you adjust back from the war to normal life at home?

I thought I could bury all the memories and deny that Vietnam could bother me.  I tried to return to life as it was before I left but I always felt different.  I had a different perspective on what life was about than "normal" people.  I no longer try to live a normal life, my life is what it is including the exsperiences from Vietnam.

>Thank you so much. I appreciated the time.