An American Marine in Con Thien, Vietnam - Interview

here at County and near the Demilitarized Zone this is Lance Corporal a buddy man from Duvall's bluff buddy how long have you been here about 36 days have you seen a lot of action during those 36 days just a little bit not too old much little incoming here and there how does it feel to be down in your bunker with all of that artillery coming in a little bit shaky me I'm a natural born chicken we understand back home that this was one of the roughest places in the war would you agree with that I certainly what it is pretty bad could you tell us about some of your experiences since you've been here a lot of artillery incoming rounds and mortars it's not much you can say about it have you had some pretty close calls not too close pretty close I'm still here what do you do when you when you hear those rounds coming in you get out just about as fast as you can then after they slack up a little bit you find your hole and keep you here down how long have you been here 36 days in Vietnam four months four months in two days how much longer you got well I hope just eight more months but maybe nine to do in Vietnam how does this country compared with the Vols Bluff head no none whatsoever I just I'd like to be back there how much longer you going to be here at Con Thien we supposed to leave in the morning I hope so going to go on a little R&R oh I'd like that I'd like to go to Hawaii and even why how long you been married Oh about a year in six months when was the last time you saw you on in June she's living back into Vols Bluff now what note with her mother are you going to get home for Christmas this year no no way let's be your first Christmas away from home right first one away from home I've got a little girl three months old I've never seen before what's her name Janet Allen do you get many letters from your wife telling her telling you about your little girl kevro the day sometimes every day we can't get mail up here every day I'm kind of the weather most of most every day we have mail call I get a letter you'll be glad to get out of here Oh certainly will

Channel: Janet Mann-Stewart

Views: 283,512

Rating: 4.9585114 out of 5

Keywords: American Soldier, Marine, Vietnam War Interview, Con Thien, DMZ, United States Marine Corps, NVA, artillery

Id: mE7iReNtzKs

Length: 2min 37sec (157 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 03 2013

Reddit Comments

[u/Fapstory]

According to Vietnam Veterans Memorial fund website (http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/32209/GARLAND-R-MANN), Garland Mann was killed 12/6/1967, just later that year. Damn...

[u/dougiesloan]

This kid was 20 years old. How many other 18, 19 and early 20-somethings got drafted into this murky conflict and had their lives literally and figuratively stolen from them and their loved ones, and for what? I know it's common knowledge that the war in Vietnam was a farce, but seeing interviews like this really hit close to home knowing he lost his life shortly after :(

[u/ForestEye]

If anyone watching this video is interested in the the all encompassing story of how, why, and what happened in Vietnam I HIGHLY recommend the Ken Burns documentary aptly named "The Vietnam War."

It starts out with the state of Vietnam years before the war broke out leading up to everything that happened there and in the US during the conflict.

It is available on Netflix, but I'm sure you can find it elsewhere if you don't have Netflix.

[u/GrimmHellblazer]

This is heartbreaking.

[u/IHeartmyshihtzu]

You can hear the trauma in his voice. He's sitting, not under any exertion yet he speaks as if he's short of breath, almost trembling. He's scared.

[u/WE_FAM_NOW]

What a stupid fucking war

[u/briel44]

Growing up I felt like I heard older folks say that these boys were all "just kids man" but being so young they looked like grown army men to me. Now as Ive gotten older these types of videos really play a tune on my heart strings, these boys look just like me and my buddies, the only differences is the atrocities of war burned into their souls. Whenever I see this kind of stuff on here I try to just step back for a moment and remember that these were not just soldiers out on them front lines, they were young men, with a thirst for life, and hopes for their future, that sadly many never got to see through.

[u/publicsync]

That exhale @:45 seems pretty intense to me. Looks and sounds like a lot was going through his head at that moment. Terrible things. What an awful war.

[u/YouWantALime]

That reporter has the same exact voice and speech patterns as a therapist.