Brian bails on college and joins the Army
To his mother's dismay, Brian decides college isn't working out and decides to join the Army instead.
I mention it at the beginning of the podcast, but let me reiterate- Brian is my uncle, so this season holds special significance for me. That said, he’d be a perfect candidate for Preserving Valor regardless of our relationship.
While his wasn’t the first interview I did for this project, as soon as I did the first one, I knew I had to ask Uncle Brian if he would be willing to sit for an interview, too. I knew enough of his story to know that it wouldn’t necessarily be an easy thing for him to do, and I was right.
But I think he, like I do, recognizes the importance of sharing the full story of war, in all its ugliness and complexity. During this series, he talks about some fun times, and he talks about a few hard experiences and the costs of his service, too. I don’t pressure the veterans I interview, but I deeply appreciate Brian’s willingness to go as far as he did with me. Sharing his experience more fully gives those of us who haven’t served a deeper understanding of the sacrifices some veterans make as part of what is too often characterized as “just a job.”
I hope you find as much meaning in his story as I have.
Suggested Links
A Day In America
A nigh-bucolic film produced by the US Department of Defense in 1968 to help prop up the war effort. This film shows the patriotic tone the military was trying to strike with its recruitment efforts at the time. It shows quiet scenes of American life through rose-colored glasses juxtaposed with scenes of soldiers training and preparing for war.
Oakland Draft Riots news footage
Raw footage and partial newscast recorded by KCRA-TV, Sacramento in 1967. Shows ongoing protests and riots against the draft for Vietnam, and the police response.
Psychological Operations in Support of Internal Defense and Development Assistance Programs
Despite the long title, this video, produced by the US Army Pictorial Center in 1968, is an interesting look at the anti-communist activities the US was proudly taking in foreign nations at the time, with special attention on Psychological Ops.