Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Arthur T. Baltazar Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 167th Signal Company, 1st Field Forces
- Location of Service: Pleiku, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Specialist Four
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/97872
When Arthur T. Baltazar arrived in Vietnam in 1968, he almost immediately found himself in the middle of a rocket attack that killed three servicemen. Though he had trained as a radio relay operator, he never operated a radio in Vietnam, instead serving as a perimeter guard. When he returned home, he found that he could not forget his experiences; but with the help of a VA counselor, he eventually learned to avoid bottling up his emotions. When asked if he would do it all again, he responds, "No, I already did it."
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayExpectations and reality arriving in Vietnam; reactions when he arrived home; feeling that nobody cared about his service. 00:06:05.0 - 00:10:45.0
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PlayBeing told to move on; impossible to delete memories; thanking veterans. 00:10:42.0 - 00:14:23.0
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PlayArrival in Vietnam; discharged early; getting a second draft notice; rocket attack. 00:37:22.0 - 00:44:21.0
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PlayKeeping in touch via mail; learning of his son's birth from Red Cross workers; letters from a class of third graders. 00:44:25.0 - 00:49:24.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Arthur T. Baltazar Collection
Names
- Baltazar, Arthur T.
- National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
- Shorak, B.J.
- Walker, Cherryl
Home State
- Illinois
Headings
- - Baltazar, Arthur T.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Hispanic
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 167th Signal Company, 1st Field Forces
- Location of Service: Pleiku, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Specialist Four
- Dates of Service: 1967-1969
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2014-12-09; 2014-12-09)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [3 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 2012-2014)
- Manuscript: Memoir [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2010-03-23)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2015-12-22)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [14 items] -- Photographs (collected 1968-2014)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/97872
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video