Lawrence, Douglas Gordon: my United States Army recollections (February 15, 2012)
PublicRank: Private.
Interviewer: Lundeberg, Faelan
Interviewee: Lawrence, Douglas Gordon, b. 1949
ABSTRACT: At age 19, Doug Lawrence, a Canadian citizen was drafted into the US Army while living in California on a green card. After basic training and Artillery training he was sent to Vietnam to serve in the 1st Cavalry Division. Lawrence served around Ahn Khe supporting the 1st and 7th Cavalry Divisions and the 101st Airborne. Doug served from 1968 to 1969 before going home to the United States and eventually returning to his native Canada. Part one: 0:00 – 01:46- Growing up in Canada and the United States, getting drafted 01:46 – 04:55- Doug and his family’s reaction to him being drafted 04:55 – 08:55- Basic training, outbreak of spinal meningitis on the base, request for artillery, loyalty test, being a Canadian in basic training 08:55-15:50- Artillery training, self propelled artillery pieces, 30 day leave, vetting for top secret security clearance 15:50- 21:10 -Ways of coping with going to war, first impressions of Vietnam 21:10- 25:35-Mood of the troops, war weariness, life as a “FNG”, racial tensions 25:35- 32:00- Work with 1st Cavalry, trip up to Ahn Khe, harassment and interdiction Part 2: 0:00- 2:45- Interaction with Vietnamese civilians 02:45- 06:38-Body counts, civil disobedience within the military 06:38- 11:54 -tenacity of the Viet Cong/ NVA, grudging respect for the enemy Part 3: 0:00-03:51-Working with the ARVN, animosity towards South Vietnamese Army, friendship with NVA/VC defectors 03:51- 07:20-The impact of a one year tour of duty for soldiers, rituals for last days at front, isolation for first and last 30 days 07:20-11:14-Racial tension in rear area, lack of representation for hippie generation reflected in Armed Forces Radio, being a Canadian in Vietnam Part 4: 0:00- 03:40- Fighting in Michelin Rubber plantations, restrictions on firing 03:40-05:20-Lack of knowledge about historical and political context of the war 05:20-07:30-On leave in Bangkok 07:30-12:15- Agent Orange exposure, lack of support from the VA 12:15-18:56-Leaving Vietnam, plane ride home 18:56- 27:21-Returning to the States, being met by protesters, near death experience, feelings of animosity towards returning veterans, readjusting to civilian life 27:21- 29:28- Remembering watching the fall of Saigon on TV 29:28- 40:52- Returning to Vietnam, trying to apologize for the war
An interview/narrative of Private Doug Lawrence's experiences during the Vietnam War whilst serving with the United States Army 1st Cavalry Division. Interview took place on February 15, 2012.
- In Collection:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Press coverage
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans--United States
- Civilians in war
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, Canadian
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion
- United States--Army--Recruiting, enlistment, etc.
- Rubber plantations--Vietnam
- United States--Army--Equipment and supplies
- United States--Army--Cavalry, 7th
- Basic training (Military education)
- United States--Army--Military life
- Veterans, Treatment of
- Defectors--Vietnam
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Equipment and supplies
- Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
- Viet Cong
- Agent Orange
- Vietnam (Republic)--Qua?n l??c
- Deployment (Strategy)
- Ahn Khe (Vietnam)
- United States--Army--Cavalry, 1st
- United States--Army--Mobilization
- Vietnam (Democratic Republic)--Qua?n ?o??i
- United States--Army--Leaves and furloughs
- Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)
- United States--Army--Artillery--Drill and tactics
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements
- Race relations
- Vietnam (Republic)--Army
- Harassment in the military
- United States--Army--Personal narratives, Canadian
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans--Canada
- Ma??t tra??n da?n to??c gia?i pho?ng mie??n nam Vie??t Nam
- North Vietnamese Army
- United States--Army--Race relations
- United States--Army--Airborne Division, 101st
- United States--Veterans Administration
- Civil-military relations
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- United States--Marine Corps--Kit Carson Scout Program
- Military morale
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Civilians
- Draft
- Lawrence, Douglas Gordon, 1949- --Interviews
- 4 sound recordings (MP3)
- 39.76, -98.5
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- LD_716
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- February 15, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
This page supports the Zotero and Mendeley browser extensions simply click on the extension widget in your browser to save the objects citation.
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Visibility | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail | Public |
|
|
|
Lawrence_D_0716_01.mp3 | Public |
|
|
|
|
Lawrence_D_0716_02.mp3 | Public |
|
|
|
|
Lawrence_D_0716_03.mp3 | Public |
|
|
|
|
Lawrence_D_0716_04.mp3 | Public |
|