Interview

Kevin Williams Interviewed by Charmayne Bennett, 2017

 
 
INTERVIEW LOG
 
Name of person(s) interviewed: Kevin Williams
 
Other people present: Charmayne Bennett
 
Researcher: Charmayne Bennett
 
Date of interview: May 7, 2017
 
Location of interview: Wildhorse Resort and Casino RV Park
 
Special conditions (noise, interruptions, etc.): Train horn, birds chirping, van drives by in the background, and car door shutting
 
General description of contents: Vietnam War Veteran who served three tours in Vietnam
 
Length of interview: 21:15
 
 
TOPIC SUMMARY
 
Time & Contents
0:05-0:48
Background of his life

0:48-2:46
Enlistment into and Boot camp experiences

2:46-13:49
Experiences going to and during time in Vietnam

13:49-15:05
Discharge and Injury/Sickness Details

15:05-19:55 
Life after being discharged
Friendships during and after war

19:55-21:14
Final thoughts

Mr. Kevin Williams
Interviewed by Charmayne Bennett, 2017

Kevin Williams was raised in Twickenham, Oregon, located just outside of Mitchell, Oregon. He attended and graduated from high school there.

In 1967, just a few short days after graduating, he and some fellow classmates enlisted in the service. He enlisted in the Marines at the age of 17. His mother had to sign to allow him to enlist. They all felt an obligation to join the service and fight for the country. He, along with one of his close friends, went in on the buddy plan. He enlisted to fight in the Vietnam War.

Kevin would then attend boot camp in San Diego where he went through combat training. For his infantry training, he was in Camp Pendleton. The training he did was completed in eight weeks, which was three weeks shorter than normal. He trained to be an O3-11 and went on to see combat in Vietnam.

He and his outfit were deployed to Vietnam in December of 1967 and Kevin himself served three tours. He had a 30 day leave between each tour that he spent at home.

He and his outfit first went to Okinawa before heading to Danang. When first landing, he explained it as a dark night that was going into the unknown. He explained it as going into something not knowing what you were getting into. The marines in Vietnam were at siege for 77 days and nights straight before having relief come in from the air force and army.

During the war, he kept his faith in his religion for protection. He kept a positive attitude in his letters that he wrote home. His letters typically were positive notes about how he was doing and usually nothing about the war. He recalls very few humorous situations. He remembers going to get a pallet of beer to bring back to his outfit.  

He received many awards that he doesn’t give a whole lot of thought to. He was discharged on March 17, 1970, Saint Patty’s Day. He relates to this as he has an Irish background. He was discharged in El Toro, California. He and all others that were being discharged spent eight days in rehab to bring them back to better health before heading home. He suffered from Hepatitis once and also was in the hospital for around a month from a nearby explosion. He had 83 days of leave still that he was paid for after being discharged.

He would return to normal work for his brother shearing sheep and tying wool just one week after being discharged from the Marines. He didn’t go back to school directly after being discharged as he was, as he said, not in the right mind set directly following the war.

He eventually married and had two kids, Kim and Robert, of his own. His kids have since married themselves and he now has many grandkids, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. He keeps in good contact with one friend who resides in Prineville, Oregon. He would join the VFW and later the American Legion and has been a member for the last 15 years. He is retired and has settled down in Parma, Idaho.

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