Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording James W. Allen Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Saigon Area Drug Rehabilitation Service; 7th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam; United States; Korea; Germany; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Sergeant
For James Allen, joining the Army was a means of escape from life in racially segregated Florida in the 1950s. He served in various administrative capacities in Korea and Vietnam during the wars fought there, always ready to take on a new challenge, even if he wasn't specifically trained for the job assignment. After retiring from the Army, he wound up back in Florida, where he has immersed himself in community and veterans programs in booming Flagler County, ready as ever to make the most of his talents.
James W. Allen Collection
Interview / Recording
-
PlayBarely making the grade at leadership school; a lifetime of segregation had led him to think "whites should go first." 00:06:12.8 - 00:07:46.1
-
PlayReduced in rank when a CO caught a man asleep on guard duty while Allen was in charge. 00:11:00.0 - 00:14:28.6
-
PlayDifferent facilities and social clubs for black and white soldiers, despite orders to integrate the military. 00:17:03.0 - 00:17:55.6
-
PlayAwarded the Bronze Star for his work at the Saigon Area Drug Rehabilitation Service. 00:30:42.5 - 00:34:24.8
Transcript:
XML
About this Item
Title
- James W. Allen Collection
Names
- Allen, James W.
- Kent, Judith
- Flagler County Public Library
State of Birth
- FL
Home State
- FL
Headings
- - Allen, James W.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 7th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: United States; Korea; Germany; Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1952-1981
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Saigon Area Drug Rehabilitation Service
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: First Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1952-1981
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2002)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 12/20/2002)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [10 items] -- Photograph (collected 1974 - 2001)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 12/20/2002)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 12/20/2002)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/3391
Cite as
- James W. Allen Collection (AFC/2001/001/3391), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
Gender
Race
Highest Rank
Service Entrance
Discharge Status
Interviewee
Interviewer
Organization/Affiliation
Featured in
- The Korean War: Not Forgotten | Korean War (1950 to 1953) | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections
- Korean War: In Support | The Korean War: Not Forgotten | Korean War (1950 to 1953) | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections
- Korean War: In the Air | The Korean War: Not Forgotten | Korean War (1950 to 1953) | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections
- Korean War: On the Line | The Korean War: Not Forgotten | Korean War (1950 to 1953) | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections