T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME:   Unidentified Vietnam Veteran           COLLECTION:  4700.2086

IDENTIFICATION:   Vietnam veteran

INTERVIEWER:   Donald Pierce

PROJECT:   Americans in Vietnam

INTERVIEW DATE:   unknown

FOCUS DATES:   unknown

ABSTRACT:

Tape 1442.2

Vietnamese replaced tobacco in cigarettes with marijuana, sold packs to soldiers; busting soldiers for possession of marijuana; seldom smoked marijuana while on duty; applying for a promotion; following suspected dope dealers.

Tape 1443

Following suspected dope dealer story continues; found eighty-five pounds of red rock heroin hidden in his trunk; suspects organized crime rings put people into the military to work for them there; military determined to put an end to the drug use; fairly low crime rate in Vietnam; prostitution; similarities between Vietnam and Thailand; Bangkok, a modern and cosmopolitan city; traffic in Bangkok; prevalence of English speakers in Asia; joyriding in jeeps on Sundays through rice fields; basket makers in the countryside; village that makes crafts from coconut shells; got man to make him an AK-47 in Thailand; village housing; snakes; interiors of houses, furnishings; house girl who worked for $8/month; holidays celebrated in Vietnam; un-cheery Christmas on the base; understaffed in his area, overworked; investigated a death while on temporary duty in Thailand; narcotic busts; penalties for drug use; believes there are still American POWs in Vietnam; soldiers should have been given freer hand to do what needed to be done; people got rich off war; small countries shouldn't trust U.S. for help.

TAPES: 2 (1442.2, 1443)                                         

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 30 minutes

# PAGES INDEX:   2 pages

RESTRICTIONS:   Copyright is retained by the interviewee and interviewer and their heirs.