Personal Narrative 3D Object Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Vincent Simonelli Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: A Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Cu Chi, Vietnam; Fort Carson, Colorado
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/25749
Writing to his brother, Billy, and his sister-in-law, Sergeant Vincent Simonelli began most letters with the following: "Hope everyone is ok, I am fine." Reassuring his family became paramount while he served in country from 1965 to 1967. His correspondence paints a vivid picture of life in an Army infantry platoon: the constant unknowns, an increasing weariness with losing comrades, the demoralizing instances of friendly fire. Writing letters connected him not only to his family, but to his life prior to being drafted: a native of Brooklyn and an avid sports fan, his letters contain many questions about and references to the New York area baseball and hockey teams.
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About this Item
Title
- Vincent Simonelli Collection
Names
- Simonelli, Vincent
Home State
- New Jersey
Headings
- - Simonelli, Vincent
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: A Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Cu Chi, Vietnam; Fort Carson, Colorado
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1965-1967
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Photograph: Original photographic print [45 items] -- Photographs (collected 1963-1967)
- Photograph: Duplicate [44 items] -- Photographs (collected 1963-1967)
- Manuscript: Clippings [4 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [37 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1965-10-18-1967-09-09)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [2 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Military Papers [19 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1966-07-28)
- Photograph: Photographic print [36 items] -- Photographs (collected 1963-1967)
- Artifact: Artifact [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/25749
Online Format
- image