Vietnam Voices

Sgt. Pete Wyatt was on temporary duty assignment in Vietnam on four different missions, disassembling military affiliated radio stations. In February 1973 he was part of Operation Homecoming, which assisted in the exchange of POWs.   This interview was conducted Feb. 19, 2020, by Ed Caudill and Billy Minser. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links: Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices-1] Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices2]

Carl Bennett joined the Army and was assigned to an infantry unit that served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. His unit spent most of its time in the field in the Bien Hoa region. Carl was awarded, among other medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. Carl was interviewed on September 11, 2019, at the Blount County Public Library. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links: Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices-1] Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices2]

Lt. James Loftis served in the 2nd Civil Affairs, in which he was a combat engineer and unit commander.  He was in Vietnam September 1969 to September 1970.   This interview was conducted Sept. 17, 2020, at Burgess State Park by Ed Caudill and Billy Minser. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links: Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices-1] Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices2]

Donald McPherson served in the U.S. Army as an administrative specialist and in field artillery. His served in-country from June 1969 to June 1970. He was drafted at age 25 and said he adhered to his father’s advice: “Never volunteer for anything.” Don was interviewed on July 25, 2019, at the Blount County Public Library. The full audio interview can be heard at: http://bit.ly/vv-donmcpherson Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links: Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices-1] Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices2]

Dennis Curtin was a commissioned officer, forward observer and liaison officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.  In this excerpt from the full interview, available at the Blount County Public Library digital archives, he recounts action at "Hill 689," a particularly vicious battle with heavy casualties on both sides. It was an important position because of its proximity to Khe Sanh. This interview was conducted May 2020 by Edward Caudill and Billy Minser. Vietnam Voices is a project of the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN, and supported by the Blount County Friends of the Library. Two volumes of interviews with Vietnam veterans have been published and are available on Amazon at these links: Vietnam Voices: Stories of East Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 1) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices-1] Vietnam Voices: Stories of Tennesseans Who Served in Vietnam, 1965-1975 (volume 2) [http://bit.ly/vietnamvoices2] A note on the battle for Khe Sanh The Battle of Hill 689 was part of the larger battle and siege of Khe Sanh and was one of a number of hills around the base.   The battle of Khe Sanh began in January 1968, commencing one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war. Though Khe Sanh was officially closed in July 1968, Marines continued fighting in the vicinity for several days.  The “hill battles” were important for their proximity to the main base, Khe Sanh, from which U.S. forces were able to interrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail, a main supply route for the NVA forces and an important communications line. Khe Sanh was just south of the border with North Vietnam and east of Laos.  The hills, including 689, were in an elevated position about Khe Sahn.  Winning the hills meant gaining strategic, elevated positions for an attack on Khe Sahn.