Archives West Finding Aid

Darwin Hank Beuning is a Vietnam War veteran originally from Melrude, Minnesota and currently living in Utah. He began his service in 1965 as an Army radio operator translating Morse code in Phu Bai, Vietnam. After his first tour, he went into the Air Force and served as a personnel specialist in Thailand and Taiwan through 1974. Beuning tells a detailed story of the conditions and his experiences as a radio operator in Phu Bai, and the complexities of the Vietnam War. He also talks about his family and what life was like after returning from Vietnam, and gives his perspective on the wars the United States is currently involved in. Interviewer: Vicki Newman

Donald Brown's first exposure to the military was through one of his uncles. Early in his life, Brown knew he wanted to be a pilot. He went to pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas and then went to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. After pilot training, Brown went to several survival trainings, and then was sent to Vietnam. He describes some of his missions in Vietnam and the difficulties and risks he faced. Brown explains his understanding and opinions of the policies that influenced him and his missions. He talks about his experiences with the other pilots in his squadron. Brown describes the landscapes through which they were flying missions. He talks about his experience of the Tet Offensive. When he finished his service in Vietnam he was sent to Royal Air Force Base Bentwaters in England. Brown then talks about returning to America and his opinions of the war after leaving Vietnam. He also talks briefly about his career in the Air Force after his time in Vietnam. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

William W. Hansen talks about growing up in Utah and his first experiences with the military and with veterans growing up in the Rose Park area of Salt Lake City. Hansen volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1967. Throughout this interview, Hansen describes his experiences as an officer in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam, both on the battlefield and off. He talks about specific missions and battles and he explains his opinions of the war and the results and consequences of the war. Hansen also talks about his experiences transitioning to life back home after finishing his service in Vietnam and the conflicts and negativity he faced in Utah. He then describes his long career in the military, including command of the 10th Cavalry. Hansen is also involved with a project for wounded veterans called Warriors Afield and describes his work supporting veterans. Note: The interview also includes supplemental materials, which consist of the text of a speech Colonel Hansen gave at Arlington National Cemetery and a copy of his Warriors Afield business card. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Ronald Jones discusses his early life and career in the military. He talks about his training and his first assignments. Jones served two tours in Vietnam and he describes the work he did there as a pilot flying medevac missions. He tells several stories about rescues and the dangers he faced while flying. Jones then describes slides and photographs he gathered while in Vietnam. Finally, he discusses the difficulties of returning home after Vietnam and the repercussions of the war. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

From an early age, J.P. Morgan was fascinated by airplanes and flying. He went to ROTC at the University of Washington. After graduating, he went to undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. Morgan then went to survival school at Stead Air Force Base near Reno, Nevada. He then went through advanced training at Seward Air Force Base in Nashville, Tennessee and was given an assignment in France. He describes a few highlights of his time in France. Mr. Morgan then went to squadron officer's school in Montgomery, Alabama. After squadron officer's school, Morgan and his squadron started flying airlifts to Vietnam. He describes his role in Vietnam as well as his understanding and opinions of the conflict at that time. Morgan also spent time in Thailand and he explains his job in detail. He also details several specific missions in Vietnam. After Morgan's time in Vietnam, he became an instructor in Italy. He explains his opinions of the Vietnam War now. Note: The interview also includes supplemental materials, including the text of several letters and three narratives: 1, on pilot training; 2, on survival school; and 3, on Lai Khe. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Growing up, Stu Shipley idolized his uncle, who was in the Marine Corps. He left high school to join the Marines in 1964 and soon after was sent to Vietnam. He talks about his time in boot camp as well as his time training in the Philippines. Shipley was first stationed in Da Nang and describes arriving to the Air Force base there, as well as his main job there. He details a few of his assignments. He talks about the mental and emotional difficulties of the war. He also describes the political difficulties back home that affected him and his fellow soldiers. Mr. Shipley talks about his transition back to civilian life and the shifts in public opinion about the Vietnam War. When he returned home he worked as a truck driver. Shipley explains his opinions of the way the war was portrayed in the media. Shipley also describes his struggles with PTSD after returning home. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

William Rutledge was drafted while attending BYU as a civil engineering student. He wanted to be a pilot and scored extremely high on an Army flight aptitude test. He describes basic training and his secondary flight training. Rutledge was then deployed to Long Binh Air Force Base in Vietnam and then to An Loc. He flew for the search and destroy unit and describes his unit's missions in Cambodia. He talks about seeing an ambush by the Viet Cong that killed 141 people, for which he won the Distinguished Flying Cross. Rutledge describes a standard flight and what it was like to be shot at. Rutledge was sent home from Vietnam a month early. He describes reintegrating into civilian life. He went back into civil engineering in Alaska working for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. He also spent a year in the National Guard. He and his family moved back to Utah so his two children could go to school and they have stayed ever since. Rutledge talks about working with the VFW and the importance of talking about his experience and listening to other veterans. Interviewer: John C. Worsencroft

Benjamin Bowthorpe grew up in Utah. After graduating high school, Bowthorpe joined the Air Force. He describes the various training schools he went through to become a pilot and then a captain. He tells a few stories about training and spending time on air bases, including one about his first flight training, which ended in a crash landing. Bowthorpe spent time in Iwo Jima as part of air traffic control at the air base there. He was then stationed in Okinawa. Bowthorpe then talks about his time flying in Vietnam. He describes missions he went on there, as well as what it was like being stationed in Thailand. For Bowthorpe, the Vietnam conflict was a political war. He talks about the difficulties of executing his missions there because of politics. Bowthorpe describes the mission for which he was awarded the Silver Star. Finally, Bowthorpe gives his opinions of the war and talks about returning home. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Carl Brown grew up in New Hampshire. He went into the Army as a wheeled and tracked vehicle mechanic in 1966 shortly after graduating from high school. He describes his training, as well as his responsibilities as a mechanic. Brown went to Vietnam and was stationed at Cu Chi where he drove a dump truck for six months. He had to do the driver's job and the mechanic's job on the truck. Brown then became an E-4 for a supply and transportation battalion and eventually a Spec 5, E-5, working to improve Supply procedures. After his work as an E-5, he decided to go home. Brown had a few jobs but then decided to reenlist with the Army. He describes his training and his aviation training at Fort Knox. Then, Brown went to Fort Wainwright in Alaska and started doing instrumentation. He describes training to become an E-6. He talks about his responsibilities and dealing with instruments. After a severe injury to his ankle, Brown decided to retire from the Army. He describes his life after the military, his family, and the jobs he had. He worked at a Navy yard in the Temporary Services Shop. Brown also talks about his experiences with the Veterans Administration because of his injury, as well as his exposure to Agent Orange. In 1982, Brown joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he, his father, and a few others started a unit. Interviewer: Matthew Stewart

Carl Brown grew up in New Hampshire. He went into the Army as a wheeled and tracked vehicle mechanic in 1966 shortly after graduating from high school. He describes his training, as well as his responsibilities as a mechanic. Brown went to Vietnam and was stationed at Cu Chi where he drove a dump truck for six months. He had to do the driver's job and the mechanic's job on the truck. Brown then became an E-4 for a supply and transportation battalion and eventually a Spec 5, E-5, working to improve Supply procedures. After his work as an E-5, he decided to go home. Brown had a few jobs but then decided to reenlist with the Army. He describes his training and his aviation training at Fort Knox. Then, Brown went to Fort Wainwright in Alaska and started doing instrumentation. He describes training to become an E-6. He talks about his responsibilities and dealing with instruments. After a severe injury to his ankle, Brown decided to retire from the Army. He describes his life after the military, his family, and the jobs he had. He worked at a Navy yard in the Temporary Services Shop. Brown also talks about his experiences with the Veterans Administration because of his injury, as well as his exposure to Agent Orange. In 1982, Brown joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he, his father, and a few others started a unit. Interviewer: Matthew Stewart

Daniel Campos joined the military after a California judge gave him an ultimatum of serving in the military or going to juvenile prison. He joined the Army as a cook in 1962. Although Campos got in a fight his first night at basic training, he eventually graduated number two in his class. He was asked to go into the Airborne, then Ranger School, then Pathfinder School, and then, at seventeen and a half, he was invited to try out for Special Forces Group. Campos was sent to Vietnam in November, 1963, with the Eleventh Special Forces Group. He describes jumping into Vietnam on that mission and the ensuing firefight. Campos was injured and was moved to the Twenty-first Evacuation Hospital in Laos. He talks about the work he did at the hospital, retrieving pilots, getting them home, or getting them out. Campos did twenty-one missions before being captured as a POW by the Khmer Rouge. He describes being tortured for information. After escaping, he survived 129 days before finding Israeli forces. Campos left Vietnam in 1964 and was kicked out of the military in 1965. He talks about being denied medical treatment for his many wounds. Campos became a service officer for the Veterans Administration and for the American Legion. Interviewer: Matthew Stewart

Kimel Fisher was born and raised in Salt Lake City. After high school, Kimel attended the University of Utah for a year and was then called on an LDS mission to northern Germany. Very soon after returning home from Germany, Kimel was drafted. In order to go to school earlier, he decided to enlist so he could finish his two years active duty sooner. Kimel reported to Fort Ord, California for basic training. After basic training Kimel was assigned to advanced infantry training and then noncommissioned officers training. He then became a drill sergeant at the NCO school. At the end of the training cycle Kimel picked up his papers to go to Vietnam. In Vietnam, he received in-country training and then was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. Kimel spent most of his time on search and destroy missions as a platoon sergeant. In one battle, Kimel risked his own life to save a fellow soldier who was separated from the platoon and calling for help. After nine months, he applied for and was granted an early-out to go back to school. The entire time he was in Vietnam, Kimel never hurt anyone but ensured that many would come home. When he returned to California he was welcomed by protestors and was confronted on the plane ride home. Kimel returned to school and decided to become a dentist. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

James Slade talks about his early life in Colorado and Utah. Shortly after Mr. Slade returned from an LDS mission in England he was drafted and sent to Vietnam. Slade went to Fort Ord in California for basic training. After Fort Ord, he was sent to Fort Gordon in Georgia where he trained to be an infantryman. Slade then went to parachute jump school in Fort Benning in Georgia. He was then sent to Vietnam. Slade describes arriving in Vietnam and joining the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. He details some of his 42 missions, including his experience in the Ia Drang Valley. Slade compares his experience on an LDS mission to his time in Vietnam. He explains his opinions about the war and its consequences. Slade also talks about the changes he saw in Utah and the country as a whole after returning from the war. He describes his struggles transitioning back into civilian life. After returning, Slade helped fundraising efforts for a Vietnam War memorial. Slade also talks about the media's portrayal of the war. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Over two interviews, Larry Steed describes his perspective of the Vietnam War as three different wars. Steed describes the risks to fighter pilots in different geographical regions of the war. He then talks about his childhood, his interest in World War II, and his early fascination with aviation. In college, Steed joined the military and was sent to a training camp in the Bay Area of California and then to pilot training in Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. After Lackland, he went to primary pilot training in Malden, Missouri. Steed then got an assignment in Rapid City, South Dakota and then another assignment in Goose Bay, Labrador. In 1964 and 1965 Steed understood he would most likely be getting involved in the Vietnam conflict. He talks about training for his missions in Vietnam and the people with whom he trained. Steed details his experiences in survival training school. After completing survival training he was sent to the Philippines for more survival training. Steed then began flying combat missions. He describes some of the 126 missions he flew and the dangers he faced. He also talks about the political influences that affected his missions in Vietnam. Finally, Steed describes returning home after the war. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Mike Stever enlisted and after basic training camp he qualified for Special Forces. He was sent to Vietnam on the borders of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Stever's specialties were medic and communications. His jobs were to organize and train the Montagnards and to monitor enemy communications. Stever describes his transition into a battle mentality. He then talks about a writing class for veterans he is taking and some of the post-traumatic stress he has experienced. Stever details some of his missions in Vietnam. He describes deciding to go to college at Weber State in Utah when he returned from the war. Stever then talks about his return, the public opinion about the war during that time, and dealing with post-traumatic stress. Before leaving the Army entirely, though, he served a second tour in Germany flying aerial direction finding. He describes some of his missions with Project Left Bank flying a Huey helicopter. Interviewer: Lisa Barr

Tolpinrud is a graduate of the University of Utah. He received a draft notice in 1967, joined the Marines, and was accepted into Officers Candidate School. He was shipped to Vietnam in November 1967 to join G Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. He started as the weapons platoon commander, then served as 3rd Platoon commander for seven months. Completed more than a dozen operations, some of which he describes. He was in Vietnam for a total of thirteen months, the final two months of which he was the battalion watch officer. He completed his service in Vietnam and returned home for Christmas 1968. He was thereafter stationed in North Carolina as a range officer and worked in the battalion legal office. The final six months of his three-year enlistment was spent on a Mediterranean training/support cruise. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Phuong Van Dam and Thu Nguyen discuss their experiences in Vietnam during and after the war. Thu Nguyen talks about his military service, his escape from a POW camp, and describes piloting an escape boat away from Vietnam. Phuong Van Dam was a pilot in the South Vietnamese air force and he tells his story of flying out of Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. Both Phuong and Thu talk about transitioning from Vietnam to America and adjusting to American culture. Interviewer: Vicky Newman

Larry Weist was born in Pomona, California and talks about his life over two interviews. He served an LDS mission to Canada from 1964-1966. He was drafted in the army eight months after returning from his mission. He took basic training in 1967 at Fort Bliss, Texas, and received additional training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He was shipped to Vietnam, where he joined the 25th Infantry Division. He describes his activities there. Weist served as a radio operator and was injured twice during combat. He later worked as a clerk and photographer until completing his service in Vietnam. His professional career was as a journalist. Interviewer: Vicky Newman