Section 1: Phil Homan discusses growing up in rural Illinois near Chicago. His father served in the Army in World War II and influenced Phil’s decision to join the Army. Phil remembers wanting to upstage his father’s military service when he enlisted in 1967.

Section 2: Phil had a going away party before leaving for basic training in 1967. Trainees were forced to wait on a bus for hours—until it was completely dark outside—before disembarking. Drill sergeants, whom Phil describes as “sharks,” then closed in on the new recruits, yelling in their faces. Looking back, Phil notes that some recruits “couldn’t take it”—he could hear them crying in the middle of the night, sometimes calling for their parents. Phil subsequently completed additional training at Fort Polk in Louisiana. Before leaving for Vietnam, he knew little about the country, apart from the notion that the US was there to support “a democratic government” and feared the “domino effect.” 

Section 3: Phil arrived in Vietnam in January 1968. He recalls the “oppressive” heat and stench, as well as the chaos of arriving at the start of the Tet Offensive. After joining his unit, he went on a mission that landed in a “medium LZ.” Phil remembers struggling to withstand the intense heat of Vietnam and having to take salt tablets each morning in addition to malaria tablets. Reflecting on those he served alongside, Phil estimates that his unit typically comprised a 60/40 split of white and Black soldiers.

Section 4: Phil details his interactions with Vietnamese people, culture, and animals, as well as deprivations in the field. He remembers being wary of Vietnamese people, especially in areas allegedly cleared of Vietnamese civilians. Phil describes a balancing act between wariness towards Vietnamese people and the compassion necessary to win hearts and minds. Phil recalls that Vietnamese villagers, referencing his unit’s eagle patches, referred to them as “fighting chickens.” He also shares three Vietnamese phrases he learned, which he translates as “come here,” “go away,” and “surrender.” Phil has vivid memories of Vietnamese wildlife, ranging from tigers his unit hunted to small lizards that made obscene-sounding noises. Finally, Phil addresses the demands of serving in his unit, including sleeping no more than two or three hours per night and being in the field for up to four months at a time.

Section 5: Phil was sprayed with Agent Orange while in the field. He describes it being “like rain coming down” that “covered everybody and everything.” With no access to a shower, Agent Orange remained on his skin; the moisture “evaporated” rather than being washed off.  

Section 6 : Phil addresses coping mechanisms, sorrow, and beauty in Vietnam. He learned to pray, even though he did not have a religious background. He describes a good friend, Steven Kiel, with whom he attended jump school, dying along with eleven others on a mission. Despite tragedy, Phil is able to reflect on the beauty of Vietnam itself, noting “magnificent” landscapes paradoxically bordering the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Section 7 : Phil reflects on various experiences in Vietnam, from receiving a “Dear John” letter to doing reconnaissance near the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Phil shares that several members of his unit received “Dear John” letters. He does not recall visiting the PX but brought several “souvenirs” home, including a VC helmet. Phil adds that his second and third tours were different from the first as he was with the Army’s Special Forces and worked with aviation. On these tours, he worked with ARVN near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and his unit would occasionally capture enemy combatants.     

Section 8: Phil discusses how his life changed after coming home, including family tensions and diagnosis with PTSD. Both of Phil’s brothers were critical of the war, resulting in Phil not speaking with one of them for 15 years. Since the war, Phil has spoken about his experiences with his wife, sons, daughters, and a counsellor. He explains that he was diagnosed with PTSD after undergoing open heart surgery and having a strong reaction to the sight and smell of blood; he subsequently sought professional help for his trauma.  

Section 9: Phil has not visited the Vietnam War Memorial in DC. He was overcome when he saw The Moving Wall and, at the time, feared it would be too difficult to witness the full-size memorial. He knows 60 people on the Wall, including his friend Steven and over 40 others who died after they had served together for six months. Phil adds that he hopes to finally visit the memorial this year.    

Section 10: Phil has not been back to Vietnam, noting that many Special Forces members had a bounty on their heads. He shares his thoughts on depictions of the Vietnam War, including a book written about his unit by a former member and a poem written for Phil by his brother.