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Catalog number: VIS 201.0787
In this interview, Bob Babcock recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army infantry during the Vietnam War. He describes his growing up years in Oklahoma, his education, and how and why he volunteered for the infantry. He remembers his training and how his unit traveled to Vietnam together by ship. He reflects on how diverse his unit was, how their intensive training at Fort Lewis provided the men the opportunity to learn and understand each other's strengths, and how that process made a big difference in how successful they were in the field. He describes his first days in Vietnam and reflects on the men with whom he served and their leadership. He recalls in detail how the best rifleman in their company came to be a conscientious objector and the outstanding job he later did as their radio operator. He describes combat operations in which he took part; comrades who were injured and killed in combat; living conditions in the field and in rear areas; the letters he received from his wife and his mother; and experiences he had while in Saigon. He reflects on the South Korean soldiers of the White Horse Division and describes the extreme differences in punishment between Korean and United States forces. He describes his journey home; his post-military careers; his second marriage; and his service with various veterans organizations including the National 4th Infantry Division Association. He recalls his visits to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and reflects on how important the Veterans History Project is in documenting and preserving veterans' stories.