Tag Archives: history

David Willkomm served toward the end of the American ground-based conflict in Vietnam, and by then, he witnessed a sad breakdown of G.I. morale within his unit. Drug use, racial tension, and alcoholism were all too common, according to Willkomm, who later became a counselor at the Gainesville Veterans Affairs …

Raymond Harris’ service was unlike that of any other veteran interviewed for this series. He was a member of a unit called MACV-SOG, or Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Special Operations Group. His job was “running recon,” gathering intelligence about North Vietnamese military operations, often behind enemy lines. Harris later …

Lewis Alston’s military career was over by age 19. His time as a reconnaissance scout in the U.S. Marine Corps ended after he was wounded, but he faced what turned out to be a 15-year struggle to leave “a dark place — very, very dark.” He’s battled the effects of …

David Gold will admit he lacked direction in 1968, so when he was drafted into the Army, it was a little more welcome than it was for most. After excelling in training, he found himself in the middle of the Battle of Hamburger Hill as a member of 101st Airborne Division. …

One-sixteenth of an inch isn’t much by most standards, but for George Guy Sr., it was the difference between staying home or going to war. Guy missed the Army’s height limit of 6’6” by 1/16th of an inch in 1968. He ended up taking part in the Tet Offensive and in …

Anyone familiar with the tragic boot camp experience at Parris Island that is depicted in the film “Full Metal Jacket” will recognize a thread in Allen Davis’ personal history. Davis says author Gustav Hasford arrived at Parris Island not longer after, and Hasford later collaborated with Stanley Kubrick on the …

Tom Hennessey, PhD, carries a well-informed perspective on American military history and involvement during the past half-century. He and his father both served 28 years in the Army, with the son serving from July 1965 to January 1993, then earning his doctorate in public policy from George Mason University, where …

David Colburn emerged from the ROTC program at Providence College and was eventually promoted to the rank of captain in the Army. He said he didn’t serve on the front lines, but he was mortared and shot at. The beauty of Vietnam and the goodness of most civilians captivated him, …

His story is well known within the Gainesville veterans community, but after all these decades, Scott Camil will still sit down to show and tell those willing to listen about his evolution from well-trained soldier to peace activist. He was twice wounded as a Marine in country, then again by …