Preserving Stories Through Oral History
Video Clips
Take a peak at clips from the Testimony Theater within the Vietnam Era Museum and Educational Center. By presenting oral histories of the people who lived through this era, we can bring the story even closer to our visitors. This vast array of memories helps bring a personal voice to the many faces of the war. From a wife who lost her husband, to a war protester to a two-tour veteran, these individuals represent the millions of people whose lives were forever changed by the Vietnam War and bring the hard, cold facts into the proper perspective.
The one hour presentation is broken down by topic into several shorter segments on each of the following topics. These are just a few of the clips from the video. You can view the full video when you visit the Vietnam Era Museum and Educational Center.
Please click the links to watch.
Want more?
To learn more about the people featured in the video clips below, click here.
To watch videos produced by NJN of Vietnam veterans answering frequently asked questions by students, click here.
Want to learn how to conduct an Oral History? Are you an educator who wants to teach your students how to conduct and analyze Oral Histories? We host a Teaching Oral History workshop for Educators. To learn about our workshop view our past flier here.
Arriving in Vietnam
The following clip contain interviews discussing the experience of arriving in Vietnam.
Arrival in Vietnam Part 1
Part 1 of Arriving in Vietnam contains an interview with George Zaraycki describing his flight to Vietnam. Tom Conti also speaks of the climate and environment of Vietnam in contrast with the United States. Zaraycki also talks about the great intense fear that hit him upon his arrival in the foreign country. Robert Clarke speaks of how quickly he grew up after his tour of duty.
Recalling the Vietnam War
The following clips contain interviews discussing various topics from Vietnam warfare, a wife saying her final goodbye to her husband, a Marine describing a battle, the personnel unit, being a door gunner, a medic, and much more.
Recalling the Vietnam War Part 1
Part 1 of Recalling the Vietnam War contains an interview with Andrew McFarlane who speaks of the difference in the warfare in Vietnam verses other wars. Anna Hickman discusses how she said goodbye to her husband before he left to go to Vietnam and how she worked through the grief of his passing.
Recalling the Vietnam War Part 7
Part 7 of Recalling the Vietnam War contains an interview with Nick Mihalic discusses how he was shot in the battle and had to mend himself before he could assist others as a medic. Harry D'Ascenzo describes even further the feeling of being in a battle.
Contradictions of the Vietnam War
The following clips contain interviews focusing on the contradictions during the Vietnam War, from how officers acted during battles to the role of anti-war demonstrators on the outcome of the War.
Contradictions Part 1
Part 1 of Contradications contains an interview with Tom Conti who describes how you had to fight for yourself to survive in the Vietnam War. Howard Green talks about his involvement in anti-war demonstrations. Anna Hickman discusses how she felt that the anti-war demonstrators maybe prolonged the war while Howard Green disagrees.
Departure from Vietnam
The following clips contain interviews focusing on leaving Vietnam from culture shock after landing in the U.S.
to the fear of being shot down after take off.
Departure from Vietnam Part 2
Part 2 of Departure contains an interview with Linda Caldwell who took a plane from Vietnam to San Francisco with 6 soldiers and a plane load of caskets. Robert Clarke describes traveling to Seattle and eating a good steak dinner.
Reflections
The following clip contains interviews describing reflections individuals have on their experience in the Vietnam War ranging from acknowledging years later that they may not agree with the mission of the War to having not wanting their own children to fight in another war.
Reflections
In Reflections Robert Clarke struggles to understand if the War was just. David Martin fears having his own son sign up for the Marines. Harry D'Ascenzo reveals that he would not be able to be part of a war again because he could not physically take another life.
Coming Home After the Vietnam War
The following clips contain interviews discussing the difficulties associated with coming home from the Vietnam War, to the lack of appreciation for their service, the stereotypes associated with being a Vietnam Veteran, and how their friends and families ignored their involvement in the War.
Coming Home Part 2
Part 2 of Home contains an interview with Robert Clarke who is uncertain what the stereotype of a Vietnam veteran is, since he believes they are all different. George Zarzycki talks about how his first wife burned all his letters he had sent home the first day he came home.
Loss
The following clip contain interviews discussing loss associated with the Vietnam War ranging from a wife talking about a deceased father to her children and the waste of life resulting from the War.
Loss Part 2
Part 2 of Loss contains an interview with Howard Green who talks about how weak he believed the case for our involvement was in Vietnam. Richard Buncamper describes how his role in the War has made him believe that we have to avoid war at all costs. Tom Conti discusses how Vietnam does not go away and it is necessary to focus on it and try to understand it before it destroys you.