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Resource Guide Pages

Dustoff / Medevac Oral Histories

Oral Histories are a great way to observe an individual’s actual experiences and perceptions of the war. The interviews are conducted with people after the events have occurred, sometimes right after the event or many years later. Most of the oral histories below show a brief biography of the subject, interview length and a typed transcript. Click on the gramophone icon to listen to the interview on your computer or the PDF icon to read the transcript.

Dustoff/Medevac - General

  • Interview with Peter Faber
  • Interview with Keith Erdman
    • Item #: OH0085
    • Keith Erdman Collection
    • Length: 02:48:59 hr/min/sec
    •  (USMC) Keith Erdman served with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He initially served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division in I CTZ in Da Nang and along the Laotian border. He later served as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Police Field Forc... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Keith Erdman Link to Interview with Keith Erdman
  • Interview with John Haseman
  • Interview with Randall Kunkleman
  • Interview with Roman Martinez
  • Interview with David Shelly
    • Item #: OH0120
    • David A. Shelly Collection
    • Length: 1:44:20 hr/min/sec
    •  (USA) David Shelly served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He served as a rifleman, machine gunner, and squad leader with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 1st Cavalry Division. (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with David Shelly Link to Interview with David Shelly
  • Interview with Steve Harding
  • Interview with Theodore Mataxis, Jr.
  • Interview with Phil Dorsey
    • Item #: OH0169
    • Phil Dorsey Collection
    • Length: 01:38:87 hr/min/sec
    •  (USA) Phil Dorsey served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. He served as a Health Care Administrator with the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku. Interview conducted by Kim Sawyer. (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Phil Dorsey Link to Interview with Phil Dorsey
  • Interview with Russ McDonald
  • Interview with James E. Scales
  • Interview with Sumner Clayton
    • Item #: OH0238
    • Sumner Clayton Collection
    • Length: 04:05:36 hr/min/sec
    •  (USN) Sumner M. Clayton III, originally from O'Donnell, Texas, served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 until 1980. He served in Vietnam from 1970 until 1971 as part of the Naval Advisory Group at Cua Viet assigned to Vietnamese Mine Interdiction Division 92 where they operated on the Cua Viet River. He... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Sumner Clayton Link to Interview with Sumner Clayton Link to Interview with Sumner Clayton Link to Interview with Sumner Clayton
  • Interview with Bill McCollum
    • Item #: OH0248
    • Mr. Bill McCollum Collection
    • Length: 02:29:16 hr/min/sec
    •  (USN) Bill McCollum, originally from New York City, New York served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1969. He went to Vietnam in August 1968 and served as an engineman aboard an Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) with Task Force 117, River Assault Division 111 near Dong Tham in the Mekong Delta. There h... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Bill McCollum Link to Interview with Bill McCollum
  • Interview with Don Cuneo
    • Item #: OH0249
    • Mr. Don Cuneo Collection
    • Length: 05:35:41 hr/min/sec
    •  (USMC) Don Cuneo, originally from San Francisco, California served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 until 1967. Don went to Vietnam in 1966 and served with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and 1st Battalion, 4th Marines as a Radio Operator and Forward Air Controller (FAC). As a Radio Operator and... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Don Cuneo Link to Interview with Don Cuneo
  • Interview with Jackie Wright
    • Item #: OH0252
    • Jack Wright Collection
    • Length: 04:24:36 hr/min/sec
    •  (USA) Jackie V. Wright, originally from Jefferson County, Oklahoma served in the U.S. Army from 1960 until 1980. After graduating from Midwestern State University in 1960, where he completed the Army ROTC program, he underwent training at Ft. Benning (GA), Ft. Rucker (AL), and Ft. Riley (KS) and d... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Jackie Wright Link to Interview with Jackie Wright Link to Interview with Jackie Wright Link to Interview with Jackie Wright
  • Interview with Eddie Jones
    • Item #: OH0258
    • Eddie Jones Collection
    •  Eddie Jones served as an Artillery Officer with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1964 to 1965. He served as a District Advisor in the Mekong Delta region, IV Corps Tactical Zone. He worked with the Motivation, Indoctrination, and Training Teams (MIT Teams) and Popular Forces. Interview condu... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Eddie Jones
  • Interview with Martin Montemore
    • Item #: OH0309
    • Mr. Martin Matthew Montemore Collection
    • Length: 3:42:42 hr/min/sec
    •  (USAF) Martin M. Montemore, originally from St. Joseph, Missouri, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 until 1975. Martin went to Southeast Asia in 1969 as a C-130 pilot and was stationed at Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan, with the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron. From CCK, he flew multiple missio... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Martin Montemore Link to Interview with Martin Montemore Link to Interview with Martin Montemore Link to Interview with Martin Montemore
  • Interview with William Holmes, Jr.
    • Item #: OH0357
    • William Holmes, Jr. Collection
    •  (USMC) William B. Holmes, Jr., originally from Greenville, Texas served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961 until 1965. Bill grew up in Lubbock, Texas and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1962 where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, the U.S. Air Force ROTC program, and the U... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with William Holmes, Jr. Link to Interview with William Holmes, Jr.
  • Interview with Robert M. Rankin
    • Item #: OH0370
    • Dr. Robert Rankin Collection
    • Length: 4:14:59 hr/min/sec
    •  (USN) Robert M. ('Mike') Rankin was born in 1937 in Arkansas. In 1959 he graduated from the University of Arkansas, where he was in ROTC, and he earned an MD from the University of Tennessee in 1963. Drafted under the Berry Plan, in 1964-65 Mike served with Destroyer Division 102 and then was the Se... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Robert M. Rankin Link to Interview with Robert M. Rankin Link to Interview with Robert M. Rankin Link to Interview with Robert M. Rankin Link to Interview with Robert M. Rankin
  • Interview with Thomas J. Barnes
    • Item #: OH0371
    • Thomas J. Barnes Collection
    • Length: 17:25:59 hr/min/sec
    •  (USA/Foreign Service) Thomas J. Barnes was born in St. Paul, MN in 1930. He earned a BA in 1950 and an MA in 1951, both from the University of Minnesota. Tom was commissioned in the US Army in 1951 and, as an interrogator, he was assigned first to the 500th MI Group in Japan and then to the 525th M... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Thomas J. Barnes Link to Interview with Thomas J. Barnes
  • Interview with Rosemary Burke
  • Interview with Joseph J. Welsh
  • Interview with Patrick Curry
    • Item #: OH0434
    • Patrick Curry Collection
    • Length: 15:01:51 hr/min/sec
    •  (USA) Pat Curry, originally from Temple, Texas, served in the U.S. Army from 1966 until 1991 and retired a Lieutenant Colonel. Pat served in South Vietnam with the HHC 1/5 Cavalry, 1st Cav Division between November 1968 and April 1969 in Tay Ninh, at LZ Dolly, and other areas as a Logistics and Admi... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Patrick Curry Link to Interview with Patrick Curry Link to Interview with Patrick Curry Link to Interview with Patrick Curry Link to Interview with Patrick Curry Link to Interview with Patrick Curry Link to Interview with Patrick Curry
  • Interview with Paula D. Wright
    • Item #: OH0437
    • Paula D. Wright Collection
    •  (USA) Paula D. Wright, who served as 'Paul D. Wright,' was born in 1950 in Lubbock TX. She graduated from Coronado High School in Lubbock in 1969, and volunteered for the US Army. After advanced training in helicopter maintenance at Ft Rucker AL, she arrived in Vietnam in January 1970. During her f... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Paula D. Wright Link to Interview with Paula D. Wright Link to Interview with Paula D. Wright
  • Interview With Timothy Vail
    • Item #: OH0445
    • Mr. Timothy (Tim) P. Vail Collection
    • Length: 15:29:03 hr/min/sec
    •  (USA) Tim Vail was born in Altoona, PA, and grew up in Norfolk, VA. His father was a twenty-three year U.S. Navy veteran and was a submariner in World War II. Tim served in the U.S. Army from July 1968 until July 1970. He was drafted in July 1968, did his Basic Training at Ft. Benning, GA, and hi... (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview With Timothy Vail Link to Interview With Timothy Vail
  • Interview with Robert Kreger
    • Item #: OH0448
    • Dr. Robert D. Kreger Collection
    • Length: 12:48:36 hr/min/sec
    •  Robert Kreger discusses his experiences with the Special Forces in Vietnam, as well as his time as a rifle company commander with the 23rd Americal Division. (open complete record) 
    • Link to Interview with Robert Kreger Link to Interview with Robert Kreger
  • Interview with Robert Ordonez

      • Dustoff/Medevac Pilot & Crew

      • Interview with John Buesseler
      • Interview with Larry Fraser
      • Interview with John Nelson
        • Item #: OH0073
        • John Nelson Collection
        • Length: 02:18:16 hr/min/sec
        •  (USAF) Captain Nelson served in Vietnam from 1968-1970 in the 314th TAC and the 345th TAC based out of Saigon, Tuy Hoa and Cam Rhan Bay. As a C-130 pilot, Captain Boling flew numerous missions to and from every airbase in South Vietnam. (This interview was made possible through grants from the Helen... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with John Nelson Link to Interview with John Nelson
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      • Interview with Robert Smithee
        • Item #: OH0080
        • Robert Smithee Collection
        • Length: 3:43:59 hr/min/sec
        •  (USA) Robert Smithee served in Vietnam from 1969-1970 in the 4th Medical Battalion at Dau Tieng, the 58th Medical Battalion at Long Bien , and 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division. Mr. Smithee was a member of a Medevac crew, assisted in surgery, accompanied infantry units on combat missions and ... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with Robert Smithee Link to Interview with Robert Smithee
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      • Interview with David Martin
      • Interview with Marius Burke
        • Item #: OH0127
        • Marius Burke Collection
        • Length: 03:48:30 hr/min/sec
        •  (USMC, Air America) Marius Burke served as a helicopter pilot with the United States Marine Corps from 1958-1963. He then joined Air America and served as a helicopter pilot in Southeast Asia until 1975. Marius was present during the last hours of the war and participated in the evacuation of Saigon... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with Marius Burke Link to Interview with Marius Burke
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      • Interview with James Laible
      • Interview with David Hause
        • Item #: OH0176
        • David Hause Collection
        • Length: 03:20:50 hr/min/sec
        •  (USA) David Hause served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. He served as a door gunner, Crew Chief, and Aircraft Mechanic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. During Operation Lam Son 719, his unit kept Highway 9 open to Khe Sanh and took ov... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with David Hause Link to Interview with David Hause
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      • Interview with Robert Eaton
      • Interview with Ernie Sylvester
        • Item #: OH0240
        • Ernie Sylvester Collection
        • Length: 06:43:32 hr/min/sec
        •  (USA) Ernest J. Sylvester, originally from New Orleans, Louisiana served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps from 1963 until 1985. Ernie went to Vietnam in March 1964 and served as a Medical Evacuation Pilot with the 57th Medical Detachment (RA) at Soc Trang. After rotating back to the U.S. in... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with Ernie Sylvester Link to Interview with Ernie Sylvester Link to Interview with Ernie Sylvester Link to Interview with Ernie Sylvester
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      • Interview with John Arick
        • Item #: OH0268
        • John C. Arick Collection
        • Length: 8:05:09 hr/min/sec
        •  (USMC) John C. Arick, originally from Washington, D.C., served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1962 until 1992 and retired a Brigadier General. He is a 1962 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. John served two tours in Southeast Asia. During the first, from 1966 to 1967, he was station... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick Link to Interview with John Arick
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      • Interview with Ron Ballweg
        • Item #: OH0296
        • Mr. John Ron Ballweg Collection
        •  (USA) John Ron Ballweg, originally from Baltimore, Maryland served in the U.S. Army from 1964 until 1968 and in the Army National Guard from 1970 until 1989. Ron served one tour in Vietnam between August 1966 and August 1967 with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ('Blackhorse') based at Xuan Loc a... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with Ron Ballweg Link to Interview with Ron Ballweg
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      • Interview with Steven D. Vermillion
        • Item #: OH0406
        • Mr. Steven D. Vermillion Collection
        • Length: 4:18:14 hr/min/sec
        •  Steve Vermillion was a United State Army Dustoff helicopter commander in Vietnam in 1969. He flew 1450 missions with 1127 combat hours. His many awards during the Vietnam War included Air Medals, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Vermillion retired from the Army in 1993 as a Lieut... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with Steven D. Vermillion Link to Interview with Steven D. Vermillion
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      • Interview with John W. Hammett
        • Item #: OH0721
        • Mr. John W. Hammett Collection
        • Length: 02:29:59 hr/min/sec
        •  In this interview John Hammett describes his experiences in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. During World War II, Hammett served as a fighter/recon pilot in Italy. During the Korean War, Hammett flew helicopter medevac missions. Finally, during the Vietnam war Hammett served as the operations offi... (open complete record) 
        • Link to Interview with John W. Hammett Link to Interview with John W. Hammett
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      • Interview with Sidney B. Baird, Jr.

Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive

© 2026 Texas Tech University    © 2026 Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive    February 17 2026