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Description
Oral History interview of Rodney Smith. Interview conducted by Malloy, Samantha at Smith Residence.
Log
0:01 Introduction of interviewee and interviewer; 0:15 Background and childhood of Rodney Smith; 1:30 The draft; 2:27 Basic Training; 3:26 Advanced Training; 4:30 Officers Candidate School; 4:54 Deployment to Germany; 5:49 interviewing the families of German girls to Marry American guys; 6:48 Auto-accident; 8:19 Ward 41 in Walter Reed Hospital; 10:28 Soldiers and brain injuries; 11:08 Clinical and psychological testing after injuries; 11:51 Release back to active duty; 12:20 First impressions of Vietnam; 13:15 What a soldier carried in Vietnam; 13:51 Original orders for Vietnam; 14:25 Reactions to being reassigned to the 1st Cav; 14:53 Life in a Combat situation; 16:37 Kill ratios; 17:19 Being lured into a trap; 17:40 Air support/other support; 19:23 Leave to Hong Kong; 20:48 The Animals, 'We gotta get out of this place'; 21:15 Relations with the local Vietnamese; 22:17 Widening of Big Red One base; 23:41 Attack into Cambodia; 24:29 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Disability benefits; 25:42 College; 26:25 If college benefitted him; 27:24 Marriage to his first wife; 28:25 Smiths family now; 29:20 Veterans Organizations; 30:39 Contact with people served with; 33:13 Country's largest Vietnam Veterans reunion; 37:18 Preparation for the reunion; 39:29 Feelings toward career military personnel; 39:56 Treatment of veterans; 41:49 Current state of the Country; 42:24 Every citizen should serve; 43:31 Conclusion of interview.
Date of Birth
1949-07-16
Place of Birth
Chicago (Ill.)
Gender
Male
Race
Unspecified
Home State
Illinois
War or Conflict
Vietnam Era
Status
Veteran
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
1966-06-01
Type
Audio; Sound
1969-02-01
Entrance into Service
Commissioned
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Unit of Service
First Air Cavalry Division, 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion
Location of Service
Unspecified
Highest Rank
First Lieutenant; 1LT
Prisoner of War
No
Service Related Injury
Yes
Battles
Unspecified
Medals
Unspecified
Achievements
Communications Officer
Note
Currently retiring; Graduate of University of Southern Florida, 1973; Insurance broker for 38 years; Founding member of Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard - First President, Current Board Member
City of Birth
Chicago
Country of Birth
United States
Interviewer
Malloy, Samantha
Interview Date
4-5-2012
Location of Interview
Smith Residence
Subjects
Smith, Rodney E.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives; United States. Army
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
Malloy, Samantha
Length of Interview
44 Minutes
Publisher
Department of History, University of Central Florida
Type
audio
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
Recommended Citation
Central Florida, RICHES of, "Smith, Rodney E. interview" (2012). Veterans Oral Histories. 89.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/89