Section 1: James Holland (b. 1940) grew up in South Carolina, where he attended segregated schools. His family included his father, who was a railroad worker; his mother, who worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN); and younger siblings. James recalls John Wayne films as an influence on his youthful expectations of war.  

Section 2: James enlisted in the military in 1958 immediately after high school; he remembers graduating on a Thursday and enlisting the following Monday. Military service seemed to provide more opportunities than civilian life. Notably, the Army marked James’s first encounter with an integrated institution. By the time he deployed to Vietnam—post-Tet Offensive—he understood that the enemy could inflict serious casualties. James explains that while his views of the war were not primarily shaped by leading antiwar Black Americans, he recognized that their arguments were rooted in the draft’s disproportionate impact on Black men. 

Section 3: James discusses his arrival and work in country, as well as the diverse American and South Vietnamese people he served alongside. He notes that his flight to Vietnam marked the first time he left the continental United States. In country, James arrived at Da Nang before moving to his base at Na Trang. He worked as a logistical officer as part of a “C-Team” on a Special Forces compound. While he ran convoys from the relative security of the rear, he was ambushed on several occasions and sometimes spent the night in the field. He recalls in detail his interactions with Vietnamese people. Vietnamese workers prepared the food on base and served as interpreters. James worked with not only Vietnamese men in ARVN but also a female clerk; he adds that Americans gave anglicized names like “Bobby” to Vietnamese men. Among the Americans on his compound, James worked exclusively with Special Forces, whom he characterizes as skilled professionals. In terms of diversity, James remembers a Mexican-American team sergeant and a Black sergeant first class.

Section 4: Culture shock was central to James’s Vietnam War experience. He describes the relative condition of the Vietnamese as being “so much less fortunate than we are.” In illustrating Vietnamese poverty, he addresses a plethora of different afflictions: sewage ran through open ditches, Vietnamese hooches were inadequate as living spaces, and many Vietnamese people were sick all the time. He even remembers Vietnamese civilians stealing rats from American rat traps to eat due to their lack of food. James was often sick in Vietnam; he experienced bouts of diarrhea and food poisoning. He speculates that the United States could have done more to advance public health in South Vietnam. On a lighter note, James recalls distinct animals in country, including his unit’s pets—a python and a dog. He also mentions a wide range of food, ranging from seafood at the local market to pallets of beer. Finally, he shares a story in which he was ambushed while in a convoy.

Section 5: James did not see Agent Orange being sprayed and notes that the military had stopped spraying by the time he was in country. Despite this, he worked in areas that had previously undergone Agent Orange contamination and describes the barren appearance after defoliation had taken place. 

Section 6 : James reflects on the highs and lows of his time in country. He discusses incredibly long—twelve to eighteen hour—days alongside positive memories like a humorous FM radio show, important friendships, and stunning scenery. James also recalls hearing about fraggings—not only occurring within the US military but also being committed by ARVN soldiers against Americans. 

Section 7 : James remembers both family members and American goods shaping his experience in Vietnam. He notes that mail was “a big thing” in Vietnam and adds that his sister’s care packages included salami, cheese, and other treats. He personally purchased chinaware from the PX catalogue for his mother; he also recalls the Vietnamese black market being intertwined with the PX, as soldiers would purchase refrigerators to sell them for a profit. In terms of interactions with home, James’s wife joined him on R&R on Hawaii. 

Section 8: James reflects on his life after the war. He emphasizes that near-death experiences and the deaths of people around him led to introspection, changing how he looked at life. James also discusses the antiwar perspective of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and King’s efforts to draw attention to inequality in America. 

Section 9: James has been to the wall in DC and describes it as “a powerful monument.” James remembers the controversy surrounding the wall’s creation and reflects on the challenge of creating a monument that represents the lives and deaths of over 50,000 people.

Section 10: James has not returned to Vietnam, although he would like to go back. In conclusion, James explains that he appreciates films that depict the struggles of individuals in Vietnam and the rigors of leadership.