Loading...

Media is loading
 

Description

Oral History interview of John Wyatt. Interview conducted by Wyatt, John at Orlando Public Library, Orlando, FL.

Log

0:01 Introduction; 0:24 Early life in Los Angeles and Family’s Military Background; 2:14 Moving and Growing up in Michigan and Ohio; 2:33 Siblings; 2:39 Parents as Only Family Members in Service; 2:44 Perspective on Military Involvement in Vietnam and Volunteering for the Draft; 5:02 Family’s Reaction to Military Involvement and Relationship with Parents; 6:09 Induction in Cleveland and Experience in Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia; 8:01 Interaction with Different Kinds of Service Members: Draftees, Enlisted Members, and National Guard Members; 8:39 Graduating from Basic Training; 8:48 Advanced Training to Drive Tanks and Decision-Making About Special Training; 12:00 Infantry Officer Candidate School; 15:28 Role as Defense Counsel for 10th Aviation Group; 18:57 Defense Case that Led to his Orders to Leave for Flight School; 23:05 Reflections on the Military Justice System; 25:16 Flight School, Advanced Helicopter Training, and Accommodations during Training; 26:27 Treatment of Draftees, Enlisted Members, and Minorities, and Media Depictions of the Vietnam War; 31:18 Drug Usage Amongst Troops; 32:00 Conflicts with Tactical Officer and Lack of Time to Eat; 34:03 Aviation in the Army, Role as Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam, and Information about Division; 37:53 Reaction to Being Sent to Vietnam; 38:27 Traveling to Vietnam; 38:55 Location in Vietnam and First Impressions; 39:31 Flight Training in Vietnam and Duties as Platoon Leader and Operations Officer; 42:44 Details about Missions, Interaction with Colin Powell, and Flying Hours; 45:08 Alcohol and Drug Usage Amongst Pilots, Night Missions; 47:15 Plane Models and Their Features; 49:22 Incorporating Techniques Used in Vietnam in Recent Training for Afghanistan and Iraq; 50:49 Teaching Helicopter Students and Diversity of Students; 51:53 Returning to Vietnam as a Skycrane Pilot for Second Tour; 53:06 Flying Skycranes in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Da Nang, Vietnam; 53:56 Parachute School, Advanced Individual Training Company Commander, and Deciding to End Service; 54:48 Role during Second Tour, Progression of the War, and the Impact of Borders; 57:53 "On Strategy" Book by Harry Summers, Politicization of War, and Comparisons between Vietnam and Iraq, Afghanistan; 1:01:12 Drinking, Beach Going, Movies, and Games for Relaxation in Vietnam, Rest and Relaxation Time, Relaxation in Iraq and Afghanistan; 1:03:44 Prevalence and Details about Drug Usage in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan; 1:08:19 Relationship with Fellow Pilots and Officers, Leadership Decisions, and Success as a Pilot; 1:13:07 Interaction with Locals in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand; 1:16:54 Communicating with Friends and Family via Letters, Radios, Phones, Computers, and Satellites; 1:20:56 Emotions and Friendships during Vietnam War, Involvement in Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association; 1:23:23 Leaving the Military, Joining the Army National Guard, and Therapeutic Environment of the Army National Guard; 1:27:10 Preparations for and Deployment to Iraq; 1:29:29 Comparing Experiences in Vietnam and Iraq; 1:37:30 Leaving the Service and Reception by People in the States; 1:38:57 Reflections on President Bush and Weapons of Mass Destruction, Supporting Orphanage in Iraq; 1:40:14 Reflections on Importance of Service and Patriotism; 1:40:39 Helmet from Vietnam, Photographs, and Newspaper Article Featuring Flight to Fallujah; 1:43:11 Conclusion.

Date of Birth

1946-12-08

Place of Birth

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Gender

Male

Race

White - Hispanic

Home State

California

War or Conflict

Vietnam Era; Operation Iraqi Freedom

Status

Veteran

Begin/End date of Service - 1st

1966-09-19

Type

Video; MovingImage

1973-09-12

Begin/End date of Service - 2nd

1973-09-24

2006-11-08

Entrance into Service

Drafted

Commissioned

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

U.S. Army National Guard

Unit of Service

F troop 8th Cavalry American Division; 478th Heavy Helicopter 1st Aviation Brigade; Troop N (AIR) 107th Armored Cavalry Regiment: Company B, 1st Battalion 171st Aviation Brigade

Location of Service

Chu Lai (Vietnam); Da Nang (Vietnam); Iraq

Highest Rank

Captain; CPT; Major; MAJ

Prisoner of War

No

Service Related Injury

Yes

Battles

Unspecified

Medals

Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal; Bronze Star; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal

Achievements

Cavalry Aero-Rifle Platoon Leader; Cavalry Operations Officer; Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader; Cavalry Troop Commander; unit training officer; Army Flight School Instructor Pilot.

Note

Type II diabetes due to agent orange exposure, hearing loss due to 39 years as a helicopter pilot. Served as: Instructor pilot at Fort Walters, Texas; Platoon Leader, Operations Officer 8th can; Air troop Commander 107th ACR. 40 years total service (active and national guard). Won Distinguished Flying Cross twice, Air Medal 32 times, Army Commendation Medal 3 times; total medals 27.

City of Birth

Los Angeles

Country of Birth

United States

Interviewer

Wyatt, John

Interview Date

3-29-2016

Location of Interview

Orlando Public Library, Orlando, FL.

Subjects

Wyatt, John W.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives; Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, 2001-present -- Personal Narratives; United States. Army; United States. Army National Guard

Collection Description

Contains logs, audio and video recordings of interviews with Central Florida's veterans as part of a history class project for the students at the University of Central Florida (UCF). The UCF Community Veterans History Project(CVHP) started in fall 2010. It collects, preserves, and makes accessible to the public the experiences of Central Florida's veterans so that future generations will better understand the realities of conflict. It is a collaborative endeavor supported by multiple departments and offices at UCF. The veterans' histories are archived and made digitally available through the UCF library and selected materials are contributed to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.

Contributor Affiliation / Organization

RICHES; University of Central Florida

Contributors

Wyatt, John

Length of Interview

103 Minutes

Publisher

Department of History, University of Central Florida

Type

video

Rights

All rights are held by the respective holding institution. This material is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, (407) 823-2576. http://library.ucf.edu/about/departments/special-collections-university-archives/

Repository

University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives

Contributing Project

UCF Community Veterans History Project

Document Type

Interview

Semester

Spring

Download Interview


Share

COinS