Veterans History Project Service Summary:

  • War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
  • Branch of Service: Army
  • Unit of Service: 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
  • Location of Service: Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; I Corps, Vietnam; III Corps, Vietnam
  • Highest Rank: E-5

View full service history

“Those of us that have the most severe PTSD…are the ones who care, the ones who are compassionate.” (video interview, 1:35:07)

When he arrived at basic training after being drafted into the Army, one of the first things William Maxwell Barner heard from his drill sergeants was, “you’re going to Vietnam and you’re going to die.” As he says, he “wasn't interested in either one of those.” Though he survived a year in Vietnam serving in a Howitzer Battery, he did not return home unharmed. Following his service, Barner was unable to control his anger and had difficulty keeping a job. Almost 40 years after his discharge, he was finally diagnosed with PTSD. Though he resisted at first, he eventually accepted the diagnosis and went on to help fellow veterans seek help from the VA.

Transcript: XML

More Resources

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[ Photo Album ]
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[ Letter written on back of greeting card to Sandy Barner [10/30/1965] ]
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[ Correspondence written inside greeting card to Sandy Barner [4/9/1967] ]
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[ Letter to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/18/1967] ]
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[ Postcard to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/15/1967] ]
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[ Postcard to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/15/1967] ]

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[ Postcard to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/19/1967] ]
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[ Letter to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/21/1967] ]
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[ Letter to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/21/1967] ]
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[ Greeting card and letter to Sandy Barner from William M. Barner III [8/27/1967] ]
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[ Letter from Mrs. Carroll Reed to William M. Barner III [10/2/1967] ]
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[ Correspondence written inside greeting card to William M. Barner III from Sandy Barner [10/4/1967] ]
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[ Homemade greeting card with poem to Sandy Barner [10/9/1967] ]
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[ Homemade greeting card with poem to Sandy Barner [11/9/1967] ]
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[ Correspondence written inside greeting card to William M. Barner III to Sandy Barner [11/4/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [1/25/1968] ]
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[ Homemade greeting card from William M. Barner III to Sandy Barner [1/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [3/4/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from William M. Barner III to Sandy Barner [3/4/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [3/17/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [4/1/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [4/1/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from William M. Barner III to Sandy Barner [4/9/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [4/20/1968] ]
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[ Letter from William M. Barner III to the registrar at University of Texas-Arlington [6/1/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [6/4/1968] ]
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[ Letter from "The Westbrooks", Temple, Texas, to William M. Barner III [7/4/1968] ]
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[ Letter from "George" to William M. Barner III [11/26/1968] ]
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[ Letter to William and Sandy Barner from "Carl" [11/27/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [11/29/1967] ]
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[ Letter from "Carl" to William M. Barner III [12/11/1968] ]
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[ Letter to "Carl" from the Barners [2/12/1969] ]
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[ Letter from "Carl" to the Barners [3/1/1969] ]
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[ Christmas Card from Edsel Candill to William M. Barner III [12/18/1970] ]
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[ Letter from "the guys from Fox Delta Chuck" to the Barners [1/26/1970] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [2/17/1968] ]
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[ Letter to William M. Barner III from his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Postcard depicting a World Airways jet, correspondence on the reverse [n.d.] ]
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[ Anniversary card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [12/9/1967] ]
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[ Letter from William M. Barner III to his wife, Sandy [8/9/1970] ]
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[ Correspondence in a greeting card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [6/25] ]
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[ Greeting card with correspondence from William M. Barner to his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Christmas card from William M. Barner III to his wife, Sandy [12/1966] ]
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[ Greeting card from William M. Barner III to his wife, Sandy [3/9/1968] ]
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[ Greeting card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [5/5] ]
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[ Valentine's card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [2/5/1968] ]
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[ Letter to William M. Barner from his wife, Sandy, [8/3] ]
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[ Homemade Christmas Card, year unknown, from the Red Cross ]
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[ Halloween card, year unknown ]
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[ Anniversary card from William M. Barner to his wife, Sandy [4/9/1968] ]
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[ Correspondence inside a Christmas Card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [n.d.] ]
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[ Correspondence inside a greeting card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [n.d.] ]
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[ Correspondence inside a birthday card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William [n.d.] ]
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[ Birthday card from William Barner's grandparents [n.d.] ]
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[ Homemade greeting card from William Barner to his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Postcard from William M. barner III to his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Postcard from William M. barner III to his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Postcard from William M. barner III to his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Letter from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [5/21] ]
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[ Letter and swatch of fabric from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [8/20] ]
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[ Letter from Sandy Barner to William M. Barner III [8/22] ]
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[ Letter from William M. Barner to his wife, Sandy [3/2] ]
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[ Postcard from William M. Barner to his wife, Sandy [n.d.] ]
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[ Christmas card from William M. Barner's grandparents [n.d.] ]
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[ Anniversary card to his wife, Sandy, from William M. Barner III [n.d.] ]
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[ Christmas card to his wife, Sandy, from William M. Barner III [12/25/1965] ]
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[ Anniversary card to William M. Barner III from his wife, Sandy [2/9/1966] ]
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[ Greeting card from William M. Barner III to his wife, Sandy [2/22/1966] ]
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[ Birthday card from William M. Barner III to his wife, Sandy [4/9/1967] ]
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[ Halloween card from Sandy Barner to her husband, William M. Barner III [10/11/1967] ]
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[ Letter to "Dear Ones" [4/17/1968] ]
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[ Diary of William M. Barner, ca. 1966-'67 ]
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[ Biographical information for William M. Barner, III ]
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[ B/w depiction of a military insignia, a rearing horse on a diagonally striped shield; writing on the reverse is in Vietnamese, pledging the return of "Regiment 11" to route the enemy ]
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[ Program of Commencement Exercises for the University of Texas-Arlington [1968] ]
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[ Program for a Protestant Worship Service [6/9/1968] ]
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[ Program for a Protestant Worship Service [6/2/1968] ]
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[ Program for a Protestant Worship Service on Mother's Day [5/12/1968] ]
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[ Blank postcard: Vietnam, Danang ]
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[ Blank postcard: San Bancho Hotel, Tokyo, Japan ]
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[ Blank postcard: Starlight Grill, Hotel New Grand, Yokohama, Japan ]
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[ Blank postcard: Philippine Farm Scene ]
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[ Blank postcard: Davy Jones Locker beneath the Reef Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii ]
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[ Brochure for the San Bancho Hotel, Tokyo, Japan ]
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[ 50 cent military payment certificate ]
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[ 5 cent military payment certificate ]
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[ A 20 dong bill, Vietnamese currency ]
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[ Uniform patch of William M. Barner III ]
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[ Uniform patch of William M. Barner III ]
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[ Uniform patch of William M. Barner III ]
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[ Dog tag of William M. Barner III ]

About this Item

Title

  • William Maxwell Barner, III Collection

Names

  • Barner III, William Maxwell
  • Shorak, B.J.
  • National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
  • Showers, James
  • Janet McConathy

State of Birth

  • AL

Home State

  • TX

Headings

  • -  Barner III, William Maxwell
  • -  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
    • Unit of Service: 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
    • Location of Service: Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; I Corps, Vietnam; III Corps, Vietnam
    • Highest Rank: E-5
    • Dates of Service: 1966-1968
    • Entrance into Service: Drafted
    • Military Status: Veteran

Materials

  • Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 02/20/2013)
  • Audio: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 10/02/2012)
  • Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 10/02/2012)
  • Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- Handwritten document (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Periodicals [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 02/08/1969)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [84 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Maps [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Mixed (Multiple types of manuscripts) [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2012)
  • Photograph: Original photographic print [13 items] -- Photograph (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Printed matter [10 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Clippings [11 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Unit histories [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Mixed (Multiple types of manuscripts) [ item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [85 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1965 - 1970)
  • Artifact: Artifact [9 items] -- (collected 1966 - 1968)
  • Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [31 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1966 - 1969)
  • Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2010)
  • Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 04/24/1968)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2010)

Collection Number

  • AFC/2001/001/89316

Cite as

  • William Maxwell Barner, III Collection (AFC/2001/001/89316), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Online Format

  • image
  • online text
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

Using VHP Material in Publication or Exhibition

The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. The Veterans History Project Collection includes oral histories along with documentary materials such as original letters, diaries, photographs, and memoirs.

Veterans and interviewers contribute these materials to the Library for scholarly and educational purposes, retaining any copyright they may hold. Therefore, permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact the Veterans History Project for assistance.

As a publicly supported institution, the Library generally does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item from the Library’s collections and for securing any necessary permissions rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Please contact us with questions.

Obtaining Copies of VHP Materials

In order for VHP materials to be duplicated, we must receive written permission from the interviewee for you to obtain a copy of the recording unless the proposed use is limited to personal use, research, or other uses permissible by copyright law. If the interviewee is deceased, their next-of-kin may grant written permission.

Please contact VHP for assistance if you need to contact a veteran for permission to use their materials in exhibition or publication, or if you have received permission from the veteran and need access to high-resolution copies of VHP collection materials.

Citing VHP Materials

Please use the following formats when citing Veterans History Project materials (substituting the appropriate name and collection ID number).

Materials as a whole:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Manuscript material:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Memoirs (MS02), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Transcript (MS04), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Correspondence (MS01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Recording:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Audio recording (SR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Video recording (MV01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Photograph:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Photographs (PH01), photographer unknown, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Photographs (PH03-PH14), Ralph Williams photographer, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Computer file:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Computer file (CF01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Artifact:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/xxxx), Artifact (AR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Barner Iii, William Maxwell, B.J Shorak, National Court Reporters Association, James Showers, and Janet Mcconathy. William Maxwell Barner, III Collection. 1966. Personal Narrative. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.89316/.

APA citation style:

Barner Iii, W. M., Shorak, B. J., National Court Reporters Association, Showers, J. & Janet Mcconathy. (1966) William Maxwell Barner, III Collection. [Personal Narrative] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.89316/.

MLA citation style:

Barner Iii, William Maxwell, et al. William Maxwell Barner, III Collection. 1966. Personal Narrative. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.89316/>.