Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Vincent T. Jarrett Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 64th Finance Group
- Location of Service: Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Vietnam; Fort Sheridan, Illinois
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
For Sergeant Vincent T. Jarrett, his time in Vietnam was everything he feared it might be. After enlisting in order to avoid the draft, he chose the role of payroll clerk in hopes of serving in a secure location. Stationed in Quang Tri and Da Nang, he often witnessed the everyday violence that defined life in a war zone. Photography offered a brief but temporary distraction from these brutalities, which, as he explains in his oral history interview, continue to haunt him.
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PlayTrauma of experiences in Vietnam; impossible to forget his experiences there. 00:00:53.0 - 00:01:42.0
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PlayVietnam was an entirely different world; taught him to appreciate the smaller things in life. 00:04:31.0 - 00:05:48.0
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PlayDifficulty adjusting to civilian life after coming back from Vietnam; seeing the names of friends on the Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 00:07:59.0 - 00:09:28.0
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PlayIncident in which was blamed for a problem while his commanding officers were nominated for medals; situation of African Americans in Vietnam. 00:21:17.0 - 00:23:31.0
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PlayComing home felt like heaven; didn’t realize extent of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) until 1994; triggering event; PTSD symptoms; hospitalized for six months. 00:24:13.0 - 00:27:03.0
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PlayMeeting a good friend nicknamed “Dr. Bob”; went through basic training and clerk school; were in Vietnam together; friends to this day. 00:27:51.0 - 00:28:53.0
About this Item
Title
- Vincent T. Jarrett Collection
Names
- Missouri State University
- Jarrett, Vincent T.
- Robinson, Candice
- Johnson, Julie
State of Birth
- KS
Home State
- KS
Headings
- - Jarrett, Vincent T.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- Veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 64th Finance Group
- Location of Service: Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Vietnam; Fort Sheridan, Illinois
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1970-1972
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 03/26/2004)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [16 items] -- Photograph (collected [1970 - 1972])
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/21567
Cite as
- Vincent T. Jarrett Collection (AFC/2001/001/21567), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video