Interview

Bill Braniff, Interviewed by Brody Hill, 2014


Index

0.00 – 1 min  Introduction

1 min- 10 min  Training

10 min- 17:20 min  Mid-Career

17:20 min- 23min  Entertainment

23min- 25:50 min  End of Career

Mr. Bill Braniff
Interviewed by Brody Hill, 2014

Bill Braniff was a tank commander and teacher who served during the Vietnam War. Because he didn’t agree with the war and he was on the verge of being drafted he decided to enlist in the National Guard. He enlisted at the age of 24 and was a college graduate with a teaching job. He also had a wife and daughter who he spent as much time with as possible.            

As a tank commander, he kept a secret that could have been career ending if they had found out: he was color blind. This was a problem because one of the requirements to be a tank soldier was to have good color vision. But, during this time, the Army was not as strict and his medical records and occupational specialist papers never got put side by side. 

Mr. Braniff talks about how he doesn’t regret his service in the military and if it hadn’t been for the Vietnam War, he wouldn’t have become a teacher. He says he would have rather done something great academically and improved the world and our current state of living. He says he may have even ended up teaching at the college level. Vietnam changed his generation and prevented a lot of people from doing the things that they wanted to do.

All in all, Bill Braniff is living an exciting and excellent life. He may not have served in combat, but he has helped our country by taking the time to work with and teach our youth.