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Description
Oral History interview of Johnny Chastain. Interview conducted by Koonce, Kristina at Vet Center in 5575 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL.
Log
0:01 Introduction; 0:50 Early Life/ Family's Military Service; 1:30 Reason for joining the Air Force; 2:21 Specialized Training in the Air Force; 3:05 Basic Training/ Viewing "Full Metal Jacket" as preparation; 4:52 Memories of Serving Abroad/ Adjustment to Middle East; 6:32 Support Role in Air Force; 7:45 Camaraderie in the Air Force; 8:52 Recreation; 9:37 Humorous Story from Military Service/ Air Plane Crash Site in the Desert/ Driving Accident and Camel in the road; 11:29 Journalizing or Photographing in the Caribbean; 12:15 Medals Awarded in Air Force; 12:58 Communication with Home while in the Middle East; 14:02 His service during Desert Shield and Desert Storm; 14:34 Medical Discharge and Transition to Civilian Life; 16:35 Staying in Contact with other veterans/ Veteran's Organization; 18:24 Veteran's Outreach Program; 19:15 Reflection on the Value of recent Military operations; 20:20 Reflection on his military service; 22:27 Other Branches Considered; 23:18 Vocational Rehabilitation Services/ Decision to complete the Masters in Social Work; 25:35 Community's Reception of Veterans; 26:43 Advice and Recommendation for Veteran's Affairs; 28:39 Purpose of the Interview; 29:02 Recommendation for the Project/ Differences between soldiers of different branches; 30:09 His service and last job in the Air Force/ Individual nature of military service; 31:28 Veteran's Transition to Florida job market/Decision to move here; 34:25 Medical Board and Impact on Retirement/Advantages on working in Federal Government; 35:48 Value of Individual Soldier's stories.
Date of Birth
1962-08-24
Place of Birth
Atlanta (Ga.)
Gender
Male
Race
White - Non Hispanic
Home State
Georgia
War or Conflict
Persian Gulf War
Status
Veteran
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
1990-05-18
Type
Video; MovingImage
2000-06-24
Entrance into Service
Enlisted
Branch of Service
U.S. Air Force
Unit of Service
3380 Transportation SQ Keesler AFB Biloxi MS. Home Station. Deployed to Saudi Arabia 4404th Composite Wing (Provisional)
Location of Service
Middle East
Highest Rank
Staff Sergeant; SSgt
Prisoner of War
Unspecified
Service Related Injury
Yes
Battles
Operation Desert Storm
Medals
Southwest Asia Service Medal; Air Force Good Conduct Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; National Service Medal
Achievements
1st Deployment in 1992, Vehicle Operator in transportation unit. Transported aircrews and service members from base operations, base shuttle bus and heavy equipment operations such as AT Forklift and military series trucks moving air cargo to and from flight line. Deployed to Qatar in 1994 serving in bases safety department. Overseeing all ground operations, flight line operations and weapons storage areas.
Note
"Supported Operation Desert Storm from Saudi Arabia. Was medically discharged in 2000 due to service related injury. Took advantage of VA's Chapter 31 Voc Rehab program and completed a Master's Degree in Social Work from UCF in 2010. Currently employed by VA Affairs, The Orlando Vet Center as a Therapist counseling warzone veterans to reduce adjustment after they have served. Been employed with the vet center program since 2010. Been at the center 10 years, work-study student, UCF Intern then GS employee for 10 years. Love the job enables me to give back to those who serve." - The Veteran.
City of Birth
Atlanta
Country of Birth
United States
Interviewer
Koonce, Kristina
Interview Date
3-25-2015
Location of Interview
Vet Center in 5575 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL.
Subjects
Chastain, Johnny; Persian Gulf War Era, 1990-2003 -- Personal Narratives; United States. Air Force
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
Koonce, Kristina
Length of Interview
37 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
Recommended Citation
Central Florida, RICHES of, "Chastain, Johnny interview" (2015). Veterans Oral Histories. 361.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/361