Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by David Addison. Recorded at the Aptos Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, August 14, 2017.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island in May 1940, Christopher DiMaio attended the University of Rhode Island as a pre-med student, and graduated from Georgetown Medical School. After finishing his internship in Long Island, and New York, he decided to join the Navy, as the need for physician rose dramatically in the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. He served 13 months in Vietnam. For 6 months, he followed and served a battalion later known as the "Walking Dead," one of the units that suffered the highest causalities in the history of Marine Corps. DiMaio's job is to serve American lives in the field -- stopping blood flow, wrapping bandages and inserting chest tubes -- all under enemy fire (Santa Cruz sentinel, June 29, 2015). DiMaio has received many service awards and medals, such as Veteran of the Year in 2015, National Service Medal, Vietnam Combat Action Ribbon, Service Medal with FMF Combat Insignia, 3 Bronze Stars, Vietnam UN Campaign Medal, and Navy Commendation in Field Combat. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Creator
DiMaio, Christopher
Addison, David
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
8/14/2017
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-DIMAIO
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1970s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
1:00 introduction, date and place of birth
3:00 early life and family military history
6:00 joined service and education and medical school history
15:00 sent to Vietnam
19:30 showed pictures from Vietnam
22:59 had Vietnamese interpreter
26:00 assigned to Battalion 19 also known as ‘Walking Dead’
31:00 talked about first day of battle with Battalion 19
34:52 relationship with Oliver
46:06 helicopter assault
49:00 hit by Viet Cong—wounded with concussion
51:00 pictures of him after months of being there
52:42 came down with cerebral malaria
54:37 parents notified he was alive
54:53 on hospital ship thought he was a prisoner, tried to escape twice
1:01.00 went back to Da Nang and third battalion
1:03.00 created a unit to help with diseases
1:06.00 pictures of triage unit
1:09.00 brain damage from concussion
1:10.00 met Robert Shippen
1:15.00 Bon Voyage after 13 months
1:16.00 received Navy Commendation Medal
1:18.29 came home, couldn’t sleep without a rifle by his side
1:19.00 stationed at Treasure Island
1:20.00 moved to San Francisco
1:23.06 decided to go into psychiatry
1:24.14 went back East before San Francisco, residents at hospital angry at him for going to Vietnam
1:25.29 moved to San Diego for last two years of residency
1:27.32 bought organic apple farm in Santa Cruz
1:31.12 bought two safe houses in Southern California to help with other veterans
1:33.00 eventually moved to Santa Cruz
1:35.50 help start first PSTD group in Santa Cruz
1:38.16 met Ed Mugge and Bill Motto
1:40.00 stories of helping vets in crisis
1:46.56 head of psychiatry at VA in San Jose then moved to Kaiser
1:47.07 went to reunion with other soldiers he was in the war with, 3rd Medical Battalion
1:50.31 went to the Vietnam Memorial Wall
1:51.45 retired, still volunteers helping veterans
1:53.47 nominated for Veteran of the Year
1:53.48 first married couple of the same gender to be recognized in California in the VA
1:55.00 started VET Advocate Program
1:57.10 dedicates himself to peace and taking care of returning veterans
1:58.00 how service changed his thinking about military and war: went to as an agnostic and is now
Spiritual, thinks people should do 2yrs. Service of any kind of service, more veterans should be
In politics, war should be last option
2:00.00 advice for future generations: military could be a good career, anyone who is qualified should be able to join the military
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at the Downtown Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, February 5, 2015.
Born in Berkeley, CA in 1947, Leonard Foreman served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1970 during the Vietnam War. In order to have a job after getting out of the service, Mr. Foreman chose to attend Microwave Communications Technician (MCT) School at Fort Monmouth, NJ for one year which extended his service for 3 more years. He was an MCT in the 362nd Signal Company of the 1st Signal Brigade at Ban Me Thout, Vietnam. In addition to his regular duties, he taught English to Vietnamese children at a nearby French Catholic School 2 to 3 days a week, and spent his final year in the Army as an instructor at Ft. Monmouth, NJ. He received the Vietnam Campaign Medal and reached the rank of Specialist 4th Class.
Creator
Foreman, Leonard
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
2/5/2015
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-FOREMAN
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1960s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by David Addison. Recorded at the Branciforte Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, October 22, 2015.
Charles (Charlie) Gill was born in 1946 in the village of Ballston Spa, near Saratoga Springs, New York. After graduating from Cortland State Teachers College in 1968, he joined the U.S. Army and flew to Fort Fix, New Jersey for basic training. It was his first time in an airplane. Gill served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970, starting with the 47th Regiment, 9th infantry in the Mekong Delta, and later rotated to War Zone C in the highlands and mountains above Saigon. He received his first assignment as a driver of an armored personnel carrier, but was soon promoted to fire team leader, and squad leader. He reached the rank of E5. Gill won various medals for his military service, such as Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals, the Military Merit Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Bronze Star with a V. After returning home, Gill found it difficult to be readjusted to civilian life with his Vietnam experience, and with the realization that his fellow soldiers were fighting a war that was not winning for their country. Gill does not regret his decision to enlist in the Army. It is the military that taught him loyalty and discipline.
Creator
Gill, Charles
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Addison, David
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
10/22/2015
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-GILL
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1960s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at Headquarters, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, January 8, 2015.
Born at Fort Benning, GA in 1940, Richard P. Guthrie served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1991. In those 34 years he was assigned to Panama, Vietnam, Korea, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and various places in the United States. He was stationed at Fort Meade, MD, and Bamberg, Germany as an Artillery Battery Computer with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1965-1967, he served with the 8th Special Forces Group, Fort Gulick, Canal Zone in Panama. In 1967 he was the commander of Company B, First Battalion, 50th Infantry (Mechanized) and was stationed in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. In 1978-1980, he was the commander of the 2nd Battalion, and 34th Infantry at Fort Stewart, GA. In 1985-1987, he was the Chief of Allied Staff in Berlin, Germany. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" and Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. Decorated by the governments of France, Spain, Brazil, and Guatemala, Guthrie was authorized to wear parachute jump wings from the American, Guatemalan and French armies. He reached the rank of Colonel.
Creator
Guthrie, Richard
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
1/8/2015
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-GUTHRIE
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1970s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at the Aptos Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, January 26, 2015.
Born in Michigan, Ann M. Kilty was trained at the Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to become a recreational worker in Vietnam, commonly known as "Donut Dolly." She landed in Saigon on her 21st birthday. From October 1970 to October 1971, Ms. Kilty served in Vietnam, rotating every three months in different military bases, with her first rotation at Bien Hoa, and later in Quihnon and Chu Lai. Her typical daily routine consisted of making Kool-Aid, playing pool, conversing with soldiers, and other activities designed to alleviate the stress on soldiers in a war zone. After her service in Vietnam, she rejoined the Red Cross, working in a burn unit at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, and attended nursing school. Her experience in Vietnam enhanced her sensitivity to all veterans. "Everybody's got a story and we have to allow them to say it with legitimacy and honor. We have to honor that experience," she said in the interview.
Creator
Kilty, Ann
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
1/26/2015
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-KILTY
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1970s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by David Addison. Recorded at Headquarters, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, May 19, 2016.
Born in San Diego, CA in November 1928, Arthur R. Lee, son of a naval machinist assigned to Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the Navy at age of 17. It was in Alameda Air Station that he found his true calling as a flight mechanic. Lee was assigned to Guam several times, with the first time in 1950 at the beginning of the Korean War. Later his squadron flew from Moffett Field to Pacific islands delivering high priority parts in a rotation resembling the Pony Express. After 12 years of service, he was assigned to ship duty on the USS Ranger. In 1970, he received orders to Cam Rahn, Vietnam, as an Assistant Aircraft Officer in the Naval Air Facility. Lee is a recipient of many medals and service awards, such as the WWII Victory Medal, the Korean War Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and a Purple Heart. Lee achieved the rank of commander. After 30 years of military service, he retired and returned to school on the GI Bill to complete a masters' degree in Business Management. Lee is a published author for such journals as Smithsonian, Air & space, Vietnam magazine, and Sea magazine. Married with four children, he currently lives in Santa Cruz, and is an honorary member of the Santa Cruz Pearl Harbor Survivors group.
Creator
Lee, Arthur
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Addison, David
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
5/19/2016
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-LEE
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1970s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Remembering our own: the Santa Cruz County military roll of honor 1861-2010. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2010.
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
TEXT
Language
EN
Type
OBIT
Identifier
RO-HOWELL
Coverage
1960s
Rights
Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson and The Museum of Art & History.
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
Santa Cruz County's first war casualty of the Vietnam War period was not from Santa Cruz County, was not a war casualty, nor did his death occur in Vietnam, yet Watsonville designated him as one of its own. On March 23, 1965, the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian declared "Watsonville Youth Drowns in Germany."
Herbert R. Howell, one of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Lon W. Howell, was born in Clovis, New Mexico, July 2, 1946. Later the Howell family, that would grow to include seven boys and three girls, moved to the Pajaro Valley. Herbert was raised in a rural residence on Strawberry Canyon Road located between Watsonville and Moss Landing, California. While Watsonville was his urban center, his education took place at Elkhorn Elementary School and Salinas High School in Monterey County.
With his parent's permission Herbert left high school in the early part of 1963 at age seventeen to enlist in the US Army. After Private Howell completed his basic and advanced individual training in November, he was assigned to Company D of the 703rd Maintenance Battalion of the 7th Army in Europe. While serving at an undefined unit and location in Germany, Private Herbert R Howell was accidentally drowned in the Main River on March 21, 1965.
His body was returned to California and following a funeral service in Pacific Grove on April 1, 1965, was buried with full military honors in the Mission Memorial Park in Seaside California.
Remembering our own: the Santa Cruz County military roll of honor 1861-2010. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2010.
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
TEXT
Language
EN
Type
OBIT
Identifier
RO-KEEN
Coverage
1960s
Rights
Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson and The Museum of Art & History.
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
"We are sitting in the Chu River that goes through Da Nang right now," Daryl Keen wrote home from Vietnam on July 14, 1965. "We are going to load supplies and take them to a base down the coast." This would be the last that his fiancée and family would hear from him as he prepared to move down the river to supply a US Marine detachment.
Daryl La Verne Keen was born on June 8, 1944, to Kermit and Helen Keen. Daryl, along with his brothers, Don, Eugene, Jerold and James, and his sister, Sandra, grew up in the family home on Laurel Street in Santa Cruz. He was described as "a quiet, shy, good-looking blonde young man with bright blue eyes that saw a future as an architect or construction engineer."
At Santa Cruz High School Keen excelled academically and was admitted to the Hi Tow Tong boy's honor society. In addition to being a surfer and strong swimmer he was also a member of the school's undefeated wrestling team. Following his graduation from high school in June 1962, he enrolled in Cabrillo College to continue his technical studies.
In the latter part of 1962 Daryl Keen enlisted in the US Navy and after completing boot camp in San Diego, was trained as a quartermaster. In 1963, he and Susan Riep, a local Santa Cruz girl, announced their plans to marry following his discharge in June 1966.
Quartermaster Third Class Keen was sent to Da Nang where he was assigned to Assault Craft Squadron 1, Division 12. His vessel, the USS LCU 1493 based in Da Nang, supplied ammunition to US Marine units fighting in the area. While serving in Vietnam, Keen wrote home to share his impressions of the conditions he experienced.
“It is hard keeping the writing paper clean. If I take a shower, I am covered with sweat before I dry off. I guess you will have to settle for a grubby letter. The temperature must be a least 110 degrees in the middle of the day...We got a surprise and a let-down this afternoon…It looks like we won't be relieved and sent back to the states like we were supposed to be. I can say for certain we will be over here at least until September.”
Daryl also described the deep weariness of marines leaving after months of battling the Viet Cong, "they only sent the marines home who were just too worn out to fight any more."
Appreciating the problem of over-taxed sailors and marines, Daryl volunteered to extend his service time in Vietnam by an additional year to help relieve manpower shortages.
Daryl Keen was drowned on July 16, 1965, while moving ammo down a river in Quang Tin province of South Vietnam to the US Marine's Chou Lie base camp. His body was recovered and returned to Santa Cruz. Father Donald E. Strano, a close family friend, conducted a memorial service for Daryl; his remains were buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno.
(USDVA; VVMW; VVVW; SCSn July 18, 1965 Mobile Riverine Forces Association-Vietnam, Assault Squadron #1, ACD 12, www.mrfa.org/Individual.Units.htm [16 September 2008])
Remembering our own: the Santa Cruz County military roll of honor 1861-2010. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2010.
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
TEXT
Language
EN
Type
OBIT
Identifier
RO-BIRD
Coverage
1960s
Rights
Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson and The Museum of Art & History.
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
Harold was a corpsman who watched out for his marines during the attack on Da Nang.
Harold Alvin Bird was born to Mr. and Mrs. Maurice A. Bird on August 5, 1943, in Clymer, New York. He and his brothers, Maurice Jr., Eugene and John, joined their parents in the family move to Lompoc, California; however, his sister Nancy remained in New York. Harold completed the first two years of high school at Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. After the family resettled in Boulder Creek in 1960, he enrolled in San Lorenzo Valley High School and graduated with honors in 1962.
Harold Bird enlisted in the local US Naval Reserve Surface Division and went on active duty in 1962. After completing training at the US Naval Training Center in San Diego, he was sent to a hospitalman school to become a navy hospitalman or marine corpsman. Bird, who considered making the navy his career, was promoted to hospital corpsman third class and sent to Camp Pendleton for field training. After graduation he was sent to Vietnam.
Harold arrived in Vietnam on August 5, 1965 and was assigned to Charlie Company of the 1st Regiment, 1st Battalion of the 1st Marine Division. He had only been in Vietnam five weeks when Viet Cong guerillas attacked the Da Nang air base that his unit was guarding. In a predawn hand-to-hand assault on September 18, 1965, Hospitalman Third Class Harold Alvin Bird was shot and killed while attending to wounded marines.
His body was recovered and returned to California where he was buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery at San Carlos.
(USDVA; VNMW; SCSn September 21, 1965 1:1, September 26, 1965 10:5)
Remembering our own: the Santa Cruz County military roll of honor 1861-2010. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2010.
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
TEXT
Language
EN
Type
OBIT
Identifier
RO-LOCATELLI
Coverage
1960s
Rights
Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson and The Museum of Art & History.
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
A fellow soldier, Fred Owens, tells this story of Vincent's final battle, "Company Commander Forrest said, 'Who you got KIA?' I said, 'Locatelli.' Forrest said, 'Shit.' Locatelli was the youngest guy in the company."
Vincent Locatelli was born in Italy on March 27, 1945, to Mr. and Mrs. Adolpho Locatelli. In addition to Vincent, the Locatelli family included sons Salvatore, Adolph, John, Joseph and Mario and daughter Angela. In 1950 the family moved to Santa Cruz, California and settled into a home on Younglove Street. Vincent attended local grammar schools and later studied at Santa Cruz High School. Upon completion of his education, he found employment at the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company, where he worked until 1963.
Vincent Locatelli was drafted into the US Army during the fall of 1963. After basic training, he was sent to Fort Carson, Colorado, for advanced training. In the early part of August 1965, he was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion of the 5th Cavalry Regiment in the 1st Cavalry Airmobile. After a brief orientation program at Fort Benning, Georgia, his unit left for Southeast Asia on September 20, 1965.
Upon their arrival in Vietnam, the 1st Cavalry was sent to the Central Highland sector to prevent incursion by the Viet Cong and Viet regular units. Between September and November, Locatelli's unit was engaged in several combat encounters with the enemy, but none of the magnitude of the combat in the La Drang Valley.
On November 16, 1965, the 5th Regiment moved into the La Drang Valley in what was to become the first major US engagement of the Vietnam War. Along the route, the 550-yard column was brought to a halt and company commanders were ordered forward for consultation. During this period, the enemy ambushed the column in several locations. The fighting took place in three- to five-foot elephant grass that prevented either side from seeing the other and during the wild shooting melee, friendly fire casualties frequently occurred.
In the A Company sector, "Charley" as VC soldiers were dubbed, hurled grenades and on November 17, a grenade exploded near Private Vincent Locatelli taking his life. Vincent Locatelli's remains were returned to Santa Cruz and following a funeral service at Holy Cross Church, were entombed in the Holy Cross Mausoleum.
(VNMW; U of Tennessee, Fred Owens Part 1, Oral History Project https://my.tennessee.edu/portal/page?_pageid=91,150490&_ dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL, [16 September 2008]; SCSn November 19, 1965 1:7, November 28, 1956 14:7; Cem Survey)