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The NYC Veterans Oral History Project: Gerald Brown, Veteran Interview

February 13, 2013

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Brief Biography:

Gerald Brown recorded his oral history on February 13th, 2013 at the James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Bronx, NY. Mr. Brown was an E-4 in the Army during the Vietnam War. Coming from an Army family, Mr. Brown forged his enlistment papers at 17. While his parents weren't thrilled, they still let him go. Throughout this fascinating interview, Mr. Brown continues to stress, "Not all of Vietnam was bad."

Major points in interview:
  • 2:35: 1st kill in Vietnam
  • 6:15: Another kill that haunts Brown
  • 11:56: "A GI's Prayer," poem by Brown
  • 15:30: Return to civilian life
  • 22:10: Happy moments in Vietnam
  • 25:28: "Not all Vietnam was bad..."
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Comments

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Draft

During this period there was draft induced volunteers into the navy and Air force and the waiting list was long. The Navy did draft during WWII as did the Marines and Army. So the real answer should be that the Navy and Airforce were prefered branches which did not draft in the manner that the army and marines did, specially during the Vietnam war. So i think this vet is ill informed.

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