|
|
Cactus Pryor Interviews Injured Vietnam Veterans
| Get the Flash Player to see this player. | |
Click begin and end to mark the segment you wish
to tag. Then enter your comment and click on Tag!
[Hide]
Copy and paste this link to an email or instant message:
[Hide]
Right click this link and add to bookmarks:
|
This clip features Austin broadcast personality, Richard “Cactus” Pryor, speaking with three injured Vietnam veterans at Brooke General Hospital, Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio. |
Filmed: San Antonio
Filmed: Bexar County
|
Filmed: 1960s
|
  Transcript
 | Did you go the, did you go to University of West Virginia, by any chance? |
| Uh, Potomac State. Which is a branch of West Virginia University. |
| Did you ever know a Barney, Barney Nash? He's a radio entertainer in West Virginia. |
| I've heard of him, but... |
| He sings spiritual songs. I used to work with him, long time ago. |
| You know, I've had some stomach trouble lately. I've had so many exercises... |
| ...have you been here at Brooke General? |
| I arrived here on the 30th day of September, this year. |
| When did the family get here? |
| Last day of October. |
| How, how is your... I don't want to get too personal, but your family life, how is it conducted now? |
| ... for one thing I'm sure they have to keep the kids off of you. I have four kids myself. I imagine the wife has to be pretty diligent there doesn't
she? |
| Yes, she does. They realize that I am hurt, when I do go home, and they try to steer clear of my arm, so they won't hurt me. So I don't really have too much
problem there. |
| Uh, what were you, uh, what was your profession before you got into the service, Captain? |
| I was a student at Potomac State College, which is a branch of the West Virginia University until I was drafted into the army. |
| And when were you drafted into the army? |
| I was drafted the fourth of June, 1953. |
| So you are regular army then? |
| Yes, I am. |
| What was your branch of service? |
| Chemical core. |
| And now when did you first go to Vietnam? |
| We departed the states with the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, the 25th of June this year. Arrived over there the 16th of July. |
| The tactics that we're using in this particular war, that helicopters for example are used more so than any other conflict in the history of mankind. Had you
studied that type of warfare? |
| Yes, we had uh quite a bit of training in the loading and unloading of helicopters, for supplies and then of off-loading troops into the area. So, we were
able to train back at Fort Riley Kansas, where the first infantry division was, with helicopters because they are assigned to the division. |
| So we had them to train with, and immediately upon arrival in Vietnam we started a more intensified program for this area in the use of helicopters. |
| What do you intend to do in the future when you regain complete health? |
| Go back to duty. |
| You intend to continue your army career? |
| I certainly do. |
| Well Captain, we wish you good luck. You've had some good luck. You've had some bad luck, but we hope that in the future it will continue to be good
luck. |
| Thank you very much. |
| We'd like to wish you a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. |
| Same to you. |
| Captain Charles M. Workman. |
| Willie, you're from Lufkin, Texas, right? |
| Right. |
| And you're making the army your career, I understand? |
| I was thinking of it. |
| Oh, you're thinking of it. Why did you join to begin with? |
| Well, I was drafted first, and then after I got my first discharge I re-enlist, I came back. During the time I did come back I was planning on making it a
career. And I'm still undecided. |
| But you haven't discounted it yet? |
| No, I haven't. |
| Willie, I understand that you have been stationed in Korea too as part of your career. |
| Yes, I was in Korea in '63 and the first part of '64. |
| Then how long were you in Vietnam? |
| Approximately three months. We left Fort Benning the 17th of August and we got there on the 16th of September. |
| How would you compare the Korean people and the Vietnam people? |
| Well, actually that's pretty hard to say because I had a better chance to understand the Korean people than I did the Vietnam people, because there was very
little chance that I was around the civilian population during the time that I was in Vietnam, and by not getting a chance to get around them and understand them that much it's hard to
say. |
| What did the doctor say about your future? |
| Well he said that regardless of all they're doing, still going to get well. |
| Well we're very happy that you are and hope you have a very merry Christmas. What are your plans for Christmas? |
| Not too much, my folks will be down for Christmas. |
| They will be here. |
| Right. |
| Are you able to eat what they'll be serving that day? |
| I hope so. |
| Turkey and dressing, I assume. And all the trimmings. |
| Right. |
| Thank you Specialist Fourth Class, Willie Brown from Lufkin, Texas. |
| How did you first meet Jane? |
| A buddy of mine that was stationed at Fort Hood when I was there, he was married to the medical records librarian at Seton Hospital and then he fixed me up
with Jane, who was working at the hospital. |
| Jane is studying to be a nurse isn't she? |
| No sir, a music teacher. |
| A music teacher. Well, what's she doing at the hospital? |
| Working as a medical records clerk. |
| Did you, did you attend a university Tim? |
| Not yet sir. I'm planning on going to one, once I get out of the army. |
| What are you planning to study. What field of endeavor do you want to follow? |
| Business administration, sir. |
| Had you decided this before you went into the service? |
| Um, yes and no. |
| Yes and no. But are you definite now in knowing that this is what you want to do? |
| Yes, sir. |
| The service helps a lot of people make up their minds at what they want to do in the future. |
| Yes, sir. |
| When did you enter the service? |
| April of '64 sir. |
| Were you drafted or did you...? |
| I was drafted, sir. |
| And what type of training did you have? |
 Map
|
|
|
|
