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Catalog number: VIS 201.0784
In this interview, Doug Edwards recalls his experiences serving in the United States Navy in Vietnam. He describes his early years growing up in a small town in New York and tells several stories about his father, including how his father grew up in an orphanage and later served in the Army during World War II when his Pennsylvania National Guard unit was activated for service. He explains why and how he chose the Navy after graduating college and describes his training and how he ended up with orders to Vietnam. His unit was tasked with determining how best to support remaining Navy advisors after the bulk of U. S. naval forces left Vietnam. He recalls the obstacles they faced in fulfilling that mission and how his Navy colleagues became his mentors and friends. He describes their living conditions; working hours; offduty activities; and how much they appreciated and valued the Chinese "mamasan" who took care of them. He comments on the Navy leaders with whom he worked and how often those leaders were not adequately informed of local conditions in order to make good decisions. He remembers a Vietnamese woman who married one of his unit's yeomen and how the sailor abandoned her and their child. He recalls his experiences with the Korean military and the South Vietnamese Navy. He remembers returning home, marrying his wife, and reflects on his military service and the corruption that he saw in both the South Vietnamese and the United States military.