James B. Coles, Vietnam Veteran, Interviewed by Christine Steinmetz, 2017
Name of Person Being Interviewed: James B. Coles Other People Present: N/A Researcher: Christine Steinmetz Date of Interview: May 19th, 2017 Location of Interview: Helix School, 120 Main St., Helix, Oregon Special Conditions: People came in and out of the school library. General Description: Early Life, Training, Traveling, Childhood Comparison with today’s kids, Family Length of Interview: 34:28
INDEX 0:00-0:05 Opening 0:05-0:22 Who were your parents? 0:22-1:03 How did they meet? 1:03-1:36 What year were you born/ have any siblings/ where were you born ? 1:36-1:46 Where did you grow up? 1:46-2:01 When did you meet your wife? 2:01-2:06 How many kids do you have? 2:06-2:28 Was this before or after you were in the military/ when you met your wife? 2:28-3:32 When did you decide to enlist? 3:32-4:49 How did it feel to get that letter? 4:49-7:41 Did you have to leave the states/ where did you go to start your training? 7:41-9:07 Did you do a lot of traveling over there? 9:07-10:10 How did it feel to travel everywhere/ were you excited? 10:10-11:20 Did you ever see combat? 11:20-11:40 Are you still in contact with anyone? 11:40-12:54 How did your parents feel about when you were enlisted? 12:54-14:22 Since your father was in WW2, would you say your childhood is a lot different than those of today? 14:22-15:04 Is there anything you would change/ regret/ or are very proud of? 15:04-15:49 Do you have any pictures/ documents/ or family heirlooms? 15:49-17:11 Did you receive/ write a lot of letters home? 17:11-17:34 Do you think your experience in Germany help make you into who you are today? 17:34-17:43 Would you say it helped strengthen your relationship? 17:43-18:25 How much time overseas did your wife experience with you? 18:25-18:50 How old were you when you enlisted/ how old were you when you got out? 18:50-20:14 You’re no longer involved with any of the military? 20:14-24:38 Could you elaborate on what your training was like? 24:38-26:04 Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience? 26:04-28:54 Were things a lot different there?
Mr. James Coles Interviewed by Beth Steinmetz, 2017
James B. Coles was born to a World War Two veteran and his wife. Coles was the oldest son of three boys but had three older sisters from his father’s previous marriage.
Growing up Coles’ childhood wasn’t much different than those of today, minus the electronics. He knew as he got older that there was a chance he would end up being called to serve his country. All boys at that time during the Vietnam War, when they came to a certain age, were required to register for the draft, and there was a chance of being called to war.
Coles knew this, but wanted to stay out of the service and become a school teacher. James received a letter in the mail saying he was to be enlisted and shipped out for training. Before Coles left, he met a woman named Nancy who would later become his wife. Nancy and James met through his sister, and he was utterly convinced that his sister had planned to have the two meet since she worked with Nancy.
Coles fought to not be shipped for training because he wanted to be a teacher; he didn’t want to see war and what would come of it. But he ended up having to go anyway. After training, he was signed to go to Germany where he was away from his wife for about six weeks before she would join him for the rest of his service.
While overseas, they spent their whole time traveling and seeing Germany, they were told where to go because not only were there places where tourists don’t go but also Germany was split in two at that time, West Germany and East Germany. Nancy would go and buy things from the base in Germany for her and James; sometimes she would buy meat or cakes from the local communities. The beds were not like how they are here in America, instead of a mattress, they had two really thick bed spreads, one to lay on and one to go over you. The people there weren’t much different either, they just had a different culture and different celebrations.
Coles continues on to express how great their cakes were. Coles hopes to go back to visit with his wife someday, but doesn’t want to ruin their memory of it because he knows it just wouldn’t be the same as it was back then.
After they returned home, Nancy and James had two little girls and settled down in Helix, Oregon while the kids grew up. Coles became a teacher and taught at the Helix High School. He is no longer involved with the military.