T. Harry Williams Center for Oral
History Collection
ABSTRACT
INTERVIEWEE NAME: Ronald J. Guerin #
4700.0954
IDENTIFICATION: Vietnam veteran
INTERVIEWER: Bert Magruder
PROJECT: Americans in Vietnam
DATES: 4/30/74
FOCUS DATES: June 14, 1952-1974; Aug 20,
1965-June 20, 1966; Jan. 2, 1969-Feb. 7, 1970
ABSTRACT:
T 1391
Louisiana resident; family background; always wanted to join
military; enlisted in Army Airborne in 1952; training; stationed
in Germany in 1953; Special Forces; in 1956, re-assigned to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, where began nine-year stint with 101st
Airborne Division; decision to make Army a career; went to
Vietnam first time in 1965; re-assigned to 1st Cav at
Fort Benning; 31-day ocean trip to Vietnam; assignment as mortar
platoon sergeant; type of combat in Vietnam; second tour January
1969-February 1970; became first sergeant of a rifle company;
then became 1st sergeant of Ranger company; getting
Purple Heart for taking shrapnel from an ROPG rocket; first tour
was more difficult; high opinion of American youth, especially in
combat; didn't witness any serious misconduct; little contact
with Vietnamese; good opinion of ARVN soldiers; heard that ARVN
leaders were corrupt; opinions on the war; US as international
defender of democracy; could have fought better war if allowed to
be on offensive; US has only won wars when on offensive; access
to US media in Vietnam; family tries not to burden you with their
problems in letters; feelings against anti-war protestors;
neither tour was voluntary but would have volunteered if he felt
his services were necessary; racial problems in military; Army's
adaptation to war in Vietnam; Guerin did recruiting for Rangers
in Vietnam; screening and recruiting process; Ranger training;
Rangers usually operated as 4-5 man patrol teams; collecting
information on enemy plans; atrocities in war; war based on body
counts; accuracy of body counts.
TAPES: 1
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 40 minutes
# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 17 pages
RESTRICTIONS: none