Additional Resources Relating to Tony Lee's Interview

Online Resources Relating to the Gulf War:

• An overview of the Gulf War (also known as Desert Storm) from Gale US History in Context.
• PBS also did special coverage of the Gulf War and their website contains oral histories, war stories, and more information on weapons and technology. 
• The topic page about the Gulf War from the History Channel. 
• An overview of the Gulf War with the focal point being President George H.W. Bush and his decisions. From PBS's American Experience. 
• The United States Department of State present a summary of the Gulf War from the Office of the Historian.
• A 1992 New York Times article explaining the report the Pentagon released containing detailed information about the Gulf War.

Items From NYPL's catalog: 

• Available at the Schwarzman Building, a book that looks at Army medics from 1775 to 2003. Published in 2005 by John Greenwood.
• Persian Gulf War by Rodney Carlisle, published 2003, is a look at the war, major battles, strategies, and historical background.
• Author Rick Atkinson follows the 42 day in his book entitled Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War, published 1993. 
• Into the Desert is edited by historian Jeffery Engel and exaimes the Gulf War more than a decade after the fact. He pulls in a variety of sources and readings to help create a picture to reassess this war.
• A History Channel documentary on the Gulf War, providing a visual history of the Iraqi invasion into Kuwait and America's involvement. 
• Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir is by Joel Turnipseed, published in 2003. Turnipseed, similiar to Lee, was part of the Marine Corps Reserve and when Iraq invades Kuwait, Turnipseed is called into action. 

Items Related to Stories Told in Interview:

• At the start of the interview, Lee talks about conscription laws. From Credo Reference, a brief history on conscription in the United States.
• When Lee first joined the Army, he trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and then later, when he joined the Air Force, his base was the McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
• The day that ultimately changed Lee's life was when Kuwait was invaded. The BBC On This Day provides details of this fateful invasion.
• While Lee does a nice job of discussing Saudi Arabia's landscape and culture, make sure to check out the CIA's World Factbook on this country.
• When Lee was in Saudi Arabia, he learned that he had to be secretive. He used the phrase "loose lips sink ships." To learn the history on this phrase, see the condensed handout on the Eyewitness to History's website or watch a video about keeping those lips tight circa World War II from the Prelinger Archives.
• Lee mentions the backdraft is how he ended up serving six months in Saudi Arabia. This issue has still been a concern in the past few years. CBS did a a story on the backdraft or "stop loss" in 2009, and NPR discussed it when a movie entitled Stop Loss was released in 2008. If you're interested in learning more about the movie, make sure to check out the trailer.
• Lee mentions he is the commander for the Disabled American Veterans chapter in New York City. They have a webpage you can explore or you can contact them if you're looking for more information.

Resources for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

• A general overivew of what PTSD is as well as links to other articles and books. From Credo Reference.
• A definition of PTSD in the context of the Vietnam War. Found through Credo Reference, from the Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History.
• A 2012 editorial in the New York Times about the treatment of Vietnam veterans who were given other-than-honorable charges because they believe their PTSD pushed them to do something they normally wouldn't do.
• United States Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD. The goal of this center is to continue to research and make strides knowledge about PTSD as well as help people understand what PTSD is and how to help others who have it.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Victim's Guide to Healing and Recovery by Raymond B. Flannery, published 2004. This is a book which can be checked out through NYPL.
• The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Relationship: How to Support Your Partner and Keep Your Relationship Healthy by Diane England, published 2009. A resource for someone whose loved one is experiencing PTSD.

Return to Tony Lee's interview

Return to The NYC Veterans Oral History Homepage