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Sgt. Floyd Smith served in the Army infantry, 101st Airborne Division Artillery, in-country from September 1970 to September 1971.  This interview was conducted on Jan. 22, 2020, at the Blount County Public Library by Billy Minser.Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

John Dean Moss was an Airman First Class with the U.S. Air Force, in which he was a munitions handler, serving in-country from May 1968 to May 1969. He enlisted at age 20, and served at Nha Trang Airbase, which came under frequent attack by Viet Cong. He won the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service. Dean was interviewed on May 21, 2019, at the Blount County Public Library.Full audio interview: http://bit.ly/vv-deanmossVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Joseph Michael (Joe) Dabney served in the U.S. Army, in-country from December 1965 to July 1966, when war-related injuries caused him to be sent home. In Vietnam, he was a small-arms maintenance person. He enlisted at age 18. His awards include a Purple Heart, and his unit was awarded the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm for a June 1966 battle. Joe was interviewed on June 16, 2019, at his residence in Greenback, Tennessee.Audio interview: http://bit.ly/vv-joedabney  

Lee Barbee served 25 years in the military, including a tour in Vietnam in the K-9 corps.  He enlisted in the Air Force in 1970.  Part of his military career was as a reservist. His working years were spent in security, a career he continued upon his retirement from the military in 2005.Lee was interviewed on September 17, 2019, at the Blount County Public Library.His full audio interview is athttp://bit.ly/vv-leebarbeeVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)Part of the Vietnam Voices project is the Tennessee Vietnam War Roundtable, a monthly online meeting (via Zoom) of people who have been interviewed for the project and others interested in the Vietnam War. You are welcomed and encouraged to join us on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Eastern time.The Zoom link to join us is:  https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/99528787603

Michael "Bo" Millsaps served in-country with the U.S. Marines from February 1969 to August 1970, a time he characterized as living in the bush, trying to find the enemy and at other times trying to keep from being found.   His awards included a Purple Heart and the Cross of Gallantry. This interview was conducted May 2019 at the Blount County Public Library.Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)Part of the Vietnam Voices project is the Tennessee Vietnam War Roundtable, a monthly online meeting (via Zoom) of people who have been interviewed for the project and others interested in the Vietnam War. You are welcomed and encouraged to join us on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Eastern time.The Zoom link to join us is:  https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/99528787603

Jerry Cunningham served in the Marine Corps, September 1967 to October 1968, primarily as an attorney.  In this episode, he recounts defending a young Marine whose squad executed some South Vietnamese farmers who were mistakenly identified as Viet Cong.   In that incident, Cunningham met the soldier's civilian attorney, who turned out to be F. Lee Bailey, later of O.J. Simpson-trial fame.  Cunningham served in Vietnam from September 1967 to October 1968. A Maryville native, he enlisted at age 24 and was assigned primarily as attorney, but he served in various capacities with and without a rifle. He was interviewed January 15, 2020, by William Minser. His full audio interview is at http://bit.ly/vv-jerrycunninghamThis excerpt is from an interview, conducted by Billy Minser, at the Blount County Public Library in January 2020.Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)Part of the Vietnam Voices project is the Tennessee Vietnam War Roundtable, a monthly online meeting (via Zoom) of people who have been interviewed for the project and others interested in the Vietnam War. You are welcomed and encouraged to join us on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Eastern time.The Zoom link to join us is:  https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/99528787603

William Beaty retired from the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator, serving in-country from November 1970 to June 1971.  He was part of Attack Squadron 25 aboard the U.S.S. Ranger.  He enlisted at age 19, entered Naval ROTC at Vanderbilt University in 1963, and was commissioned as ensign in September 1967. Bill flew 155 combat missions in an A-7 Corsair, an attack aircraft, which he selected because “I always wanted to fly low and fast.” This interview was conducted on August 14, 2019, by Ed Caudill at the Blount County Public Library. The full audio interview is at http://bit.ly/vv-billbeaty.Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)Tennessee Vietnam War RoundtablePart of the Vietnam Voices project is the Tennessee Vietnam War Roundtable, a monthly online meeting (via Zoom) of people who have been interviewed for the project and others interested in the Vietnam War. You are welcomed and encouraged to join us on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Eastern time.The Zoom link to join us is:  https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/99528787603 

James Kagley served in Vietnam from February 1969 to February 1970.  His primary duty was as a heavy-machine operator, often near the A Shau Valley, cite of fierce fighting.  He hauled fuel to various points in the area.   Kagley now resides in Blount County, Tennessee.  Kagley was drafted at age 20.  His hometown is Maryville, Tennessee, and he now resides in Blount County.  He was honorably discharged. The full audio interview with Kagley can be found at http://bit.ly/vv-jimkagley.Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Brent Hammonds served in-country from September 1967 to March 1968.  He was a Communication Center Specialist, in an aviation company.   It involved finding enemy locations, but often dealing with classified information and forwarding it to military authorities in Saigon.  In this excerpt, he recounts coming under mortar attack while on base. He received medals and honors for Good Conduct, Vietnam Service, National Defense Service, Expert M14, Marksman M16. He enlisted at age 19, and trained at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Gordon, Georgia, to become a Communication Center Specialist. His full audio interview is at http://bit.ly/vv-brenthammondsThis podcast is drawn from an interview conducted on September 11, 2019, at the Blount County Public Library. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Timothy Lomperis was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Military Intelligence Branch. He served in a variety of training positions, including a Vietnamese Language Course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California in 1970 and 1971. His honors include a Bronze Star the Vietnamese Army Staff Medal First Class, which is the highest non-combat medal issued by the South Vietnamese Army. He enlisted at age 22. Tim was interviewed on July 29, 2019, at the Blount County Library.His complete audio interview is at http://bit.ly/vv-timlomperisVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Richard Chandler was a captain in the Army Corp of Engineers, serving in Vietnam from October 1971 to October 1972, during which he was a dump truck company commander, responsible for hauling rock, gravel, and asphalt for road building.He was a company commander, responsible for building roads in Vietnam, roads that he and the interviewer characterized as the beginning of that country's interstate system.   Prior to the paved roads, much of the system was dirt roads.  This interview was conducted January 2020 by William Minser. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Robert Jones was a petty officer, first class, serving in an air attack squadron aboard the USS Intrepid in the Gulf of Tonkin.   He was an aviation electronics technician, dealing with navigational communications, anti-missile systems, and other electronic firepower.  When he went to Vietnam in September 1968, he was part of the USN's Rolling Thunder campaign, in which Hai Phong Harbor and the Ho Chi Minh trail were heavily bombed.  This podcast is drawn from an interview conducted in January 2020 at the Blount County Public Library.  It is published in "Vietnam Voices, Vol. 2." Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Horace "Buddy" Mitchelll served in Vietnam June 1969 to June 1970  in the First Air Cavalry.    He was an artillery sergeant in the Fire Direction Center, but spent much of his time in what he described as a "Peace-Corp-with-a-rifle,"  in which he worked extensively with the Vietnamese people.   It was part of the larger "hearts and minds" campaign being conducted at the time to aid the people. He was interviewed October 9, 2019, by William Minser.The full audio interview can be heard at: http://bit.ly/vv-buddymitchellVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2) 

Corporal Anthony “Tony” Joyce was with the 1st Battalion 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, 1964-1965. It was the first combat battalion to land and fight in the Vietnam War. This interview was conducted February 26, 2020, at the Blount County Public Library by William Minser and Ed Caudill.The full audio interview: http://bit.ly/vv-anthonyjoyceJoyce was with 1st Battalion Marines, in-country 1964-1965.   Here, he recollects when, as a young Marine, he comes across a bear trap, and thinking it would be a great souvenir.   But he realizes it was too obvious and could well have been a booby trap, which were a common and deadly hazards. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Even when you were in a non-combat position, you always had to be ready to respond to danger when you were in Vietnam. That's what Jerry Cunningham found out during his tour in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.USMC Captain Jerry Cunningham served in Vietnam from September 1967 to October 1968. A Maryville native, he enlisted at age 24 and was assigned primarily as attorney, but he served in various capacities with a rifle. He was interviewed January 15, 2020, by William Minser. The full audio interview can be found at: http://bit.ly/vv-jerrycunninghamVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

William Beaty retired from the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator, serving in-country from November 1970 to June 1971.  He was part of Attack Squadron 25 aboard the U.S.S. Ranger.  He enlisted at age 19, entered Naval ROTC at Vanderbilt University in 1963, and was commissioned as ensign in September 1967. Bill flew 155 combat missions in an A-7 Corsair, an attack aircraft, which he selected because “I always wanted to fly low and fast.” This interview was conducted on August 14, 2019, by Ed Caudill at the Blount County Public Library.  The full interview can be heard at HTTP://bit.ly/vv-billbeatyVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Army Capt. Russ Hanson served with a field artillery unit, serving two tours in Vietnam. This interview was conducted January 22, 2020, at the Blount County Public Library by William Minser.The full interview is in the audio archives of the Blount County Public Library.Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Billy Minser spent six months of his year-long tour in Vietnam as a forward observer for an Army combat unit. In 1970, that unit was ordered into Cambodia where they met up with a unit of the North Vietnamese Army.William G.“Billy” Minser served in the U.S. Army, Artillery, First Cavalry Division, 1st 30th Artillery and the last six months, 1st 77th Artillery, attached to B Company, 2nd of the 8th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division, Sept. 1969-Sept. 1970. His awards include three Bronz Stars (two for heroism) and an Air Medal. Minser is a retired faculty member, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee. He resides in Blount County, where he remains active as wildlife biologist and land conservationist.hat full interview (approx. 40 minutes) be heard at this link: http://bit.ly/vv-billyminserVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)

Aubrey Moncrief joined the Air Force and trained to be a medic for one of his service's units. Instead, he was assigned to a Green Beret team and headed to Vietnam where he either went on patrol with the unit or spent his days in the field hospital operating room.This episode has Aubrey describing one of the many missions he was on where direct  contact was made with the Viet Cong and two helicopters he was on were shot down.Aubrey Moncrief served in 1968, including the Tet Offensive, with the 22nd Medical Group and the 5th Special Forces, part of a Green Beret team. He was trained as an operating room technician. This full interview with Aubrey was conducted on February 19, 2020, at the Blount County Public Library. That full interview (approx. 40 minutes) be heard at this link: http://bit.ly/vv-aubreymoncriefVietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links:Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1)Vietnam Voices: Stories of  Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2)