Charles A. MacNeill Jr.'s interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- We welcome your comments on this interview at VeteransHistoryProject@AtlantaHistoryCenter.com
Catalog number: VIS 201.0715
In this interview, Dr. Charles MacNeill recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He describes growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, and when he received his draft notice he decided to enlist because an Army recruiter promised him he would go to Germany, not Vietnam. He received orders to Vietnamese language school instead. He describes language school and recalls that all the instructors there were Vietnamese women. After additional training in code breaking, he was sent to Vietnam and remembers his first impressions of the country. He describes his work with a Radio Research Unit in great detail, including the living conditions there and his duties. He remembers being assigned later as a teacher for a group of South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) soldiers and receiving a Bronze Star from that unit when he intercepted and decoded an enemy message that contained the entire spring offensive for the North Vietnamese Army. He recalls many of his experiences, including translating for medical teams from New Zealand and the loss of four men who were ambushed while traveling in their jeep. He describes his post-military medical education and career, including being asked by the Centers for Disease Control to set up a public health department at Fort Indiantown Gap for Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon. 
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One of your best interviews.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing your Vietnam experience. Incredible story....RVN 1968 LST
Ty, for your service also..I was 0311 grunt,USMC. Was in the bush from Oct.65' to Jan 67' Da Nang,Hue, Dmz..etc. Welcome home brother..
I had a similar experience when I enlisted in the Army. It was 1963 and I was 22. I had graduated from computer tech school and was working for RCA. I was making good money and enjoying life. Vietnam and the military was not on my radar. My life was interrupted by a notice to report for a draft physical. I figured that I should talk to a recruiter if I was to retain some control over my destiny. No computer jobs were available at that time. But I was qualified for the Army Security Agency and they would surely use my computer talents. I signed up. After basic training, I was sent to 6 weeks training as a Microbarograph Special. Big disappointment. I was promised the ASA and I did get that. I was stationed at Ft. Monmouth, NJ - 50 miles from home. At the end of 1964 our mission was transferred to the Air Force and I got the chance to request a new job. Computers. Passed the tested. Went to computer school. I was lucky. I did serve overseas in Turkey. After the Army, I worked as a computer professional for over 40 years.
Fascinating. Thanks for this.
I was in the ASA on Davis Station, 509th RR. I just turned 19. My MOS was 31J20, teletype repair. I was in Vietnam from Sep 1969 to Sep 1970. We both missed the Tet Offensive of 1968. I didn't see as many Mortar attacks as you. I actually was happier in Vietnam than I was stateside. No KP or guard duty, or the pointless TTY school. Unlike you, there were a few parts of Basic that I enjoyed. There was more comradery in Vietnam. The only thing I wished was to be a linguist. Like you, I remember the stench when I landed at Tan Son Nhut Airbase.
I was probably at English when you were there. I was a C-130 nav who was all over Vietnam one location being English . Enjoying your story…very interesting and detailed.
If Memory serves me correctly, The Princess Kauhalani Hotel,was the First Hotel built on the strip since the Royal Hawaiian! Now it's so built up, it's like Miami Beach!
De Oppresso Liber! Welcome Home, Brother!
In 'Nam he was stationed at Bien Phoukt.
Davis Station was at Tan Sun Nut not Long Binh.
Buford Tooten? What a name to go through life with! (where I grew up "Buford" was a rear end, an arse, a fanny!).
His life was taken but he turned that to what was useful to society. There was no gun play but he did his duty.
The army didn’t know what they were loosing. From a USMC grunt 67
Mr King...I think its March 3, 2017 not 1917,
Did he actually say it was March 3rd 1917 in the beginning?
Hahahaha I replayed it 4 times to make sure I heard what I thought I heard…
tHIS GUY LOVES TO TALK ABOUT HIMSELF !
Came accross as self absorbed. He must have a mind for memorization or he has been able to devote all of his time to his pursuits at the the expense of every other aspect of his life.
1917. Lol