Resource Guide Pages
Tet Offensive: 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.
- Categories on this page:
Major Battles:
Saigon
- Interview with Richard Detra
- Item #: OH0126
- Richard (Dick) Detra Collection (188th Assault Helicopter Company Association)
- Length: 2:23:26 hr/min/sec
- In this interview Richard (Dick) Detra describes his experiences as a door gunner with the 188th Assault Helicopter Company. (open complete record)
- Interview with Bobbie Keith
- Item #: OH0159
- Bobbie Keith Collection
- Length: 2:06:48 hr/min/sec
- (USAID, AFVNTV) Bobbie Keith served with USAID and Armed Forces Vietnam Television in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. She served as a secretary with USAID and was known as 'Bobbie the Weather Girl' on AFVNTV. Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner. (open complete record)
- Interview with Les Strouse
- Item #: OH0193
- Lester D. Strouse Collection
- (USAF) (Air America) Les Strouse served with the United States Air Force until 1964 and worked for Air America in Southeast Asia from 1965 to 1975. We conducted this interview over the internet using instant messenger. As a result, there is no audio recording, only a transcript. (open complete record)
- Interview with Myron Everton
- Item #: OH0233
- Mr. Myron M. Everton Collection
- Length: 02:30:21 hr/min/sec
- (USAF) Myron M. Everton, originally from Columbia, North Carolina served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 until 1972. During World War II, Myron served in the U.S. Maritime Service. In 1949, he volunteered for the U.S. Air Force in which he trained in B-25s, B-29s, served as a flight instructor, a ... (open complete record)
- Interview with Antoine Roy
- Item #: OH0255
- Mr. Antoine Edward Roy Collection
- (USA) Antoine E. Roy, originally from Gardner, Massachusetts served in the U.S. Army from 1966 until 1969 and served three tours in Vietnam between 1967 and 1969. Andy first went to Vietnam in April 1967 as a member of C Company, 4th Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. In ... (open complete record)
- Interview with Theodore Acheson
- Item #: OH0291
- Ted Acheson Collection (Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO))
- (USA) Theodore T. Acheson, originally from Flint, Michigan served in the U.S. Army from 1967 until 1969. As a member of the Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO) based out of Hawaii, Ted first went to Southeast Asia in late 1967 TDY to Bangkok, Thailand where he documented on f... (open complete record)
- Interview with Kaye Biggar
- Item #: OH0351
- LT. COL Kaye H. Biggar Collection
- Length: 5:23:08 hr/min/sec
- (USAF) Kaye Biggar was born in Spokane WA in 1932. He graduated from Gonzaga University, where he was in the Army ROTC, but he was commissioned in the Air Force in 1955. Kaye completed Officer Orientation at Lackland AFB and Advanced Training at Scott AFB. He was assigned to Turner AFB; Hahn AB, ... (open complete record)
- Interview with William Anderson
- Item #: OH0064
- William Anderson Collection
- Length: 01:12:50 hr/min/sec
- (USAF) William Anderson was born in Meadville, PA. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and served as a F-86 Gun-sight mechanic until 1952 when he entered pilot training. He graduated and received his commission as a 2LT in September 1953. After serving as an instructor pilot for three... (open complete record)
- Interview with Richard Gamez
- Item #: OH0185
- Richard Gamez Collection
- (USAF) William Anderson was born in Meadville, PA. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and served as a F-86 Gun-sight mechanic until 1952 when he entered pilot training. He graduated and received his commission as a 2LT in September 1953. After serving as an instructor pilot for three... (open complete record)
- Interview with James Holt
- Item #: OH0195
- James Holt Collection
- Length: 03:30:51 hr/min/sec
- (USA) James Holt served with the US Army in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment where he served as a crewmember and commander of an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). Interview conducted by Jonathan Bernstein. (open complete record)
- Interview with Charles Conn
- Item #: OH0341
- Mr. Charles Roy Conn Collection
- Length: 2:45:24 hr/min/sec
- (USA) Charles R. Conn, originally from Battle Axe, Michigan, served in the U.S. Army from January 1967 until December 1968. Charlie went to South Vietnam in December 1967 with the 212th Military Police Co. as a Military Police Sentry Dog Handler. He was based at Long Bien where he worked as a carpe... (open complete record)
- Interview with Leo LaBell
- Item #: OH0414
- Kara Dixon Vuic Collection
- Length: 02:40:33 hr/min/sec
- Leo LaBell served as a Nurse Anesthetist with the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam from 1968 until 1969. (open complete record)
- Interview with David Crawley
- Item #: OH0083
- David Crawley Collection
- Length: 02:21:30 hr/min/sec
- (USMC) (Rhodesia) David Crawley served with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He served as a rifleman with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. After his service in Vietnam, he worked in Rhodesia. (open complete record)
- Interview with Donald Davis
- Item #: OH0274
- Donald McRae Davis Collection
- (USAF) Donald M. Davis, originally from Tulia, Texas served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 until 1969. He was stationed at CCK AB in Taiwan with the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron for 14 months in 1967 and 1968 as a C130 Aircraft Commander. Operating out of Tuy Hoa, Don flew 458 airlift missions... (open complete record)
- Interview with John Hargesheimer
- Item #: OH0293
- Mr. John Hargesheimer Collection
- Length: 04:08:04 hr/min/sec
- (USMC) John M. Hargesheimer, originally from Jeffersonville, Indiana served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 until 1968. John went to South Vietnam in November 1967 and was assigned to the 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion, Ontos Co., stationed at Phu Bai. He was at Khe Sanh from January until April 1968... (open complete record)
- Interview with John Pierce
- Item #: OH0302
- John Pierne Collection (A-37 Association)
- Length: 2:41:19 hr/min/sec
- John Pierce served with Bravo company of the 229th Helicopter Assault Battalion from 1967 to 1968. (open complete record)
- Interview with William Hancock
- Item #: OH0311
- Mr. William R. Hancock Collection
- (USMC) William R. Hancock, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 until 1969. Bill went to South Vietnam in March 1967 and served as a rifleman in Hotel Company, 2/26th Marines, until April 1968. With Hotel Co., he took part in numerous combat operations includi... (open complete record)
- Interview with Tony Gleaton
- Item #: OH0377
- Tony Gleaton Collection
- Length: 3:24:53 hr/min/sec
- (USMC) Tony Gleaton, originally from Detroit, Michigan, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967 until 1970. While based at Camp Hansen in Okinawa before deploying to South Vietnam, Tony volunteered to go to Khe Sanh in the middle of the siege. Upon exiting the aircraft upon landing, he was woun... (open complete record)
- Interview with Bruce Horton
- Item #: OH0690
- Mr. Bruce W. Horton Collection
- Length: 02:22:20 hr/min/sec
- Bruce Horton served in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam with C Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. Among the operations that Horton participated in was Operation Buffalo and Operation Scotland (the battle of Khe Sanh. (open complete record)
- Interview with Robert Cahill
- Item #: OH0720
- Mr. Robert Cahill Collection
- Length: 2:20:42 hr/min/sec
- In this interview Robert Cahill describes his experiences as a Navy Corpsman with Delta Company of the 1st Battalion 26th Marines. Cahill served at Khe Sanh and other areas in I Corps from 1968 until 1969. (open complete record)
- Interview with Jerry Williams
- Item #: OH0764
- Jerry Williams Collection
- Length: 04:52:17 hr/min/sec
- In this interview Jerry Williams describes his experiences as a Marine artilleryman with Battery B of the 1st Battalion 13th Marines. During his time in Vietnam, Williams participated in numerous battles and operations including Con Thien and Khe Sanh. (open complete record)
- Interview with John Wear
- Item #: OH0232
- Mr. John F Wear II Collection
- Length: 03:31:59 hr/min/sec
- (USMC) (open complete record)
- Interview with Bill Quigley
- Item #: OH0299
- Mr. Bill Quigley Collection
- Length: 3:26:21 hr/min/sec
- (USMC) (open complete record)
- Interview with Michael Ward
- Item #: OH0301
- Mr. Michael Ward Collection
- Length: 3:44:08 hr/min/sec
- (USMC) (open complete record)
- Interview with Alfred Alvarez
- Item #: OH0614
- Alfred Alvarez Collection
- Length: 2:36:59 hr/min/sec
- Alfred Alvarez discusses his experineces with the First Cavalry Division as a door gunner, crew chief, and flight engineer in a Chinook helicopter. Mr. Alvarez was involved in the Battle of Dak To, November 1967, as well as in the Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive 1968, serving with the 228th A... (open complete record)
- Interview with Larry Casselman
- Item #: OH0664
- Mr. Larry Casselman Collection
- Length: 05:43:41 hr/min/sec
- Larry Casselman served as a Navy Corpsman with the 1st Battalion 5th Marines from May of 1967 until February of 1968. In this interview Casselman describes his participation in several Marine operations including: Union II, Cochise, Swift, and the Tet Offensive. (open complete record)
- Interview with David E. Adcock
- Item #: OH0666
- David E. Adcock Collection
- Length: 02:52:10 hr/min/sec
- David Adcock shares his experiences serving in Vietnam with C Company, 1st/7th, 1st Cavalry Division from June 1967 to June 1968. He was an RTO for the mortar platoon during the Tet Offensive of 1968 in the area of Hue and Phu Bai. (open complete record)
- Interview with Larry Bender
- Item #: OH0802
- Larry Bender Collection
- Length: 08:51:26 hr/min/sec
- Maj. Larry Bender (USMC, ret.) discusses his three tours in Vietnam. Bender served in-country with the 3/9 Marines and landed at DaNang as part of the first USMC forces to arrive in Vietnam in March 1965. During his second tour Bender served near Hue during the Tet Offensive of 1968, as well as othe... (open complete record)
- Interview with Alvin J. Cole
- Item #: OHD0018
- Donated Oral Histories Collection
- Length: 58:35 hr/min/sec
- Alvin James Cole served in Vietnam/South East Asia from 1968-1969. Cole was in the Army during Vietnam in the 6/33 Artillery supporting the 1st Air Cav. Throughout the war Alvin remained a Private First Class. He participated in the Tet Offensive, Battle at Hue, and the siege of Khe Sanh. (open complete record)
- Interview with Richard Schaffer
- Item #: OH0279
- Rev. Richard T. Schaffer Collection
- (USA) Richard T. Schaffer, originally from Johnson, New York, served in the U.S. Army from 1966 until 1969. He went to South Vietnam in July 1968 as an Air Defense Radar Repairman in the 322nd Aviation Support Detachment based at Quan Loi. In September, Richard moved to Phouc Vinh as part of the 3... (open complete record)
- Interview with Eric Kenney
- Item #: OH0205
- Eric Kenney Collection
- Length: 2:18:28 hr/min/sec
- (USA) Richard T. Schaffer, originally from Johnson, New York, served in the U.S. Army from 1966 until 1969. He went to South Vietnam in July 1968 as an Air Defense Radar Repairman in the 322nd Aviation Support Detachment based at Quan Loi. In September, Richard moved to Phouc Vinh as part of the 3... (open complete record)
- Interview with Michael Morris
- Item #: OH0263
- Michael James Morris Collection
- Length: 02:1:54 hr/min/sec
- (USA) Michael Morris served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He served as an infantryman, squad leader, and platoon sergeant with the 25th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, and Task Force Oregon. (open complete record)
- Interview with Eliseo Perez-Montalvo
- Item #: OH0314
- Eliseo Perez-Montalvo Collection
- (USAF) Eliseo 'Pete' Perez-Montalvo, originally from Monterrey, Mexico served in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 until 1972. He went to South Vietnam in December 1967 and was stationed at Da Nang AB with the 15th AMS(Aviation Structural Mechanics-Structures) unit. Pete left the RVN in December 1968... (open complete record)
- Interview with Robert Lathrop
- Item #: OH0360
- Robert Lathrop Collection
- (USMC) Robert G. Lathrop, originally from Walla Walla, Washington served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965 until 1970 and the USMC Reserve from 1970 until 1972. He first went to South Vietnam in early 1968 as a pilot in the Navy Ferry Squadron 12 when he flew an A-4 from San Diego to Da Nang. He... (open complete record)
- Interview with Frances Shea Buckley
- Item #: OH0438
- RADM Frances Shea Buckley Collection
- Length: 12:00:36 hr/min/sec
- Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Frances T. Shea Buckley served in the Nurse Corps, U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. With the ranking of Rear Admiral, she has achieved the highest rank held by women of the U.S. Uniformed Services. (open complete record)
- Interview with Jerry Goller
- Item #: OH0740
- Mr. Jerald (Jerry) R. Goller Collection
- Length: 05:21:51 hr/min/sec
- Jerry Goller discusses his experiences in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, 1966-1968. Goller served as an infantryman with Kilo Company, 3/3 Marines, and later served in Combined Action Platoons Poppa 5 and Romeo 5 and 6. Goller also participated in the Battle for Cam Lo during the Tet Offensive of... (open complete record)
- Interview with L.W. Clement
- Item #: OH0021
- Colonol L.W. Clement
- Length: 1:53:49 hr/min/sec
- Colonal L.W. CLement entered the Amry in November of June 1957. He was first sent to Vietnam June of 1967 and was assigned as the Maintenance Officer to the 69th Maintenance Battalion. After six months in that position he was reassigned as the Battalion Commander of the 63rd Maintenance Battalion ... (open complete record)
- Interview with Michael Benge
- Item #: OH0207
- Michael D. Benge Collection
- Length: 8:16:09 hr/min/sec
- (IVS, USAID, POW) Mike Benge served with International Voluntary Services from 1962 to 1964 in the Mekong Delta, Ban Me Thuot, and Kontum. In 1965, he began work with USAID in Ban Me Thuot until his capture during Tet 1968. After a long and arduous journey North, Benge remained imprisoned in North V... (open complete record)
- Interview with R. Dale Copsey
- Item #: OH0731
- R. Dale Copsey Collection
- Length: 03:35:02 hr/min/sec
- Dale Copsey (Lt. Col., USAF, ret.) discusses his experiences as Air Force Chaplain in Vietnam from 1967-1968. Copsey served at the air base at Pleiku and experienced the Tet Offensive of 1968. (open complete record)
- Interview with Chad Spawr
- Item #: OH0006
- Chad Spawr Collection
- (USA) (open complete record)
- Interview with Curtis Knapp
- Item #: OH0179
- Curtis Knapp Collection
- Length: 01:54:52 hr/min/sec
- (USA) Curtis Knapp served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He served as a helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division where he flew Command and Control ships. He has an extensive slide collection. Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner. (open complete record)
- Interview with Allan Lavelle
- Item #: OH0358
- Allan Lavelle Collection
- (USAF) LTCOL Allan J. Lavelle was born in Denver CO in 1920. He developed an early interest in flying, and while attending Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia he entered the Civilian Pilot Training Program. During World War II he served as an aviation instructor for the Navy, and remained on ... (open complete record)
- Interview with William Giles
- Item #: OH0432
- Mr. William S. Giles II Collection
- Length: 1:40:10 hr/min/sec
- USA - William 'Bill' Giles was born in Chicago IL and attended school there, graduating from St. Elizabeth's High School in 1960. He earned an undergraduate degree in 1964 and was studying pharmacy at the University of Illinois when he was drafted. He entered the Army in 1967, was trained as a medic... (open complete record)
- Interview with Steve Sumrall
- Item #: OH0145
- Steve Sumrall Collection
- Length: 2:32:44 hr/min/sec
- USA - William 'Bill' Giles was born in Chicago IL and attended school there, graduating from St. Elizabeth's High School in 1960. He earned an undergraduate degree in 1964 and was studying pharmacy at the University of Illinois when he was drafted. He entered the Army in 1967, was trained as a medic... (open complete record)
- Interview with Thomas Brown
- Item #: OH0192
- Thomas L. Brown Collection
- Length: 01:26:43 hr/min/sec
- (USA) Thomas Brown served as an RTO with MACV Advisory Team #52, attached to the 9th ARVN Division (1967-1968); Minh Duc Subsector, near Vinh Long, in the Mekong Delta, IV CTZ. Interview conducted by Jonathan Bernstein. (open complete record)
- Interview with Joseph Calamia
- Item #: OH0619
- Joseph Calamia Collection
- Length: 1:55:03 hr/min/sec
- Joseph Calamia discusses his experiences as a crewmember of LST 786 Garrett County in the Mekong Delta, 1967-1968. The Garrett County supported PBRs and Navy SEAL operations, and participated in the Tet Offensive of 1968. (open complete record)
- Interview with Charles Baker
- Item #: OH0745
- Charles Baker Collection
- Length: 05:38:50 hr/min/sec
- In this interview Charles Baker describes his experiences as a Birddog Pilot with the Army's 199th Recon Air Company in the Mekong Delta. Baker served in country with the 199th from July of 1967 until July of 1968 and experienced the Viet Cong attack on Vinh Long City during the Tet Offensive. (open complete record)
- Interview with Nikki Fillipi
- Item #: OH0022
- Nikki Fillipi Collection
- Length: 2:01:49 hr/min/sec
- (USA, Air America) Nikki Fillipi joined the US Army in 1955 and served in military intelligence. He later attended Army helicopter flight training and served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam in 1965. While in Vietnam, he participated in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley and also served in th... (open complete record)
- Interview with Joel Packman
- Item #: OH0058
- Joel Packman Collection
- Length: 01:33:13 hr/min/sec
- (USA) Joel Packman served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. He served as a transportation movement specialist with the 507th Transportation Group. (open complete record)
- Interview with James H. Willbanks
- Item #: OH0063
- James Willbanks Collection (Counterpart Association)
- Length: 02:44:37 hr/min/sec
- (USA) James Willbanks served with the United States Army in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972. He served as an officer with the Special Liaison Detachment, Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force in Vietnam. He later served with Advisory Team 87, the Combat Assistance Team assigned to the 18th ARVN Division. (open complete record)
- Interview with John C. Fischer
- Item #: OH0161
- J. C. Fischer Collection (Counterpart Association)
- Length: 2:00:11 hr/min/sec
- In this interview JC Fischer describes his experiences as a MACV advisor to the 17th Riverboat Company of the South Vietnamese Navy. Fischer served in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam and was in country from late 1967 until later 1968. (open complete record)
Tan Son Nhut
Long Binh II Field Force HQ
Khe Sanh
Hue
Hue Massacre
Other Attacks By Corps:
I Corps
II Corps
III Corps
IV Corps
May Offensive Mini-Tet
Political Impact of the Attacks on the War
Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive
-
Address
Texas Tech University, Box 41041, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
(806)742-9010 -
Email
vnca@ttu.edu