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Catalog number: VIS 201.0796
In this interview, Doyle Mote recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army signal corps in Germany during the Vietnam War. He describes his family, growing up years, education, and reasons for attending a full four years of ROTC. After airborne training, he remembers being told he would either be posted to Alaska or to Germany and then to Vietnam. He received orders to Germany as part of the REFORGER in June of 1970 and explains the presence of United States troops in Germany. He describes living conditions in Germany and reflects on the people with whom he served, including several openly gay men. He comments on some tensions with the German people, particularly toward Black soldiers who dated German women. His wife joined him in Germany and he recalls her perceptions of the Army wives' club there and why she decided to accept a position with American Express. He describes their leisure activities and travel. He remembers the first time his base began installing security cameras in response to the threat of terrorism by the Baader–Meinhof Group as well as the Black September killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He remembers returning home to the United States for his father-in-law's funeral. He reflects on his military experience, particularly the difficulty he's had coming to terms with serving in Germany rather than Vietnam. He comments on how the war is remembered today and describes his volunteer work with veterans at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Interviewer Joe Galloway presents him with the Vietnam War 50th Commemoration lapel pin.