Section 1: Guy Maddox grew up in Marengo in southern Indiana. He and his siblings lived with their parents on a family farm. 

Section 2: Guy volunteered for the Navy in part because he “didn’t want to march” in the Army. He was also motivated to enlist because his area offered few civilian career opportunities. Guy’s boot camp experience, which took place in Illinois, was characterized by frigid temperatures. Recruits often shoveled snow and had to take cold showers because they were housed in WWII-era barracks without hot water. Several recruits struggled with boot camp; Guy remembers recruits soiling themselves in their bunks to get out of basic training, as well as one suicide. Guy subsequently completed corpsman school, where he was trained as a medic.  

Section 3: Guy recounts his flight path to Vietnam via the West Coast, Alaska, Tokyo, and finally Da Nang. He arrived in November 1966 and recalls the noise of revving motors and the experience of being issued rifles without ammunition. He was stationed at Chu Lai, which was rustic when he first arrived; Guy and other servicemen slept in tents, as huts had not yet been built. He worked in medical supply, placing orders and resupplying corpsmen and field hospitals. Guy describes his work as being like MAS*H, in that there was a forward unit that he was a part of. He treated injured Marines as well as Vietnamese civilians and, in the latter case, spent a small amount of time on swift boats along the coastline doing pacification work. Guy recalls the Americans he served alongside being diverse—he notes that some had been to college, some were drafted, and others enlisted because they expected to be drafted. He also remembers one serviceman who was a native Hawaiian. Finally, Guy emphasizes that religion was an important touchstone in the warzone, noting that servicemen “relied on it a lot.” 

Section 4: Guy discusses Vietnamese people, life in Vietnam, and distinct animals he saw while in country. He remembers the country of Vietnam as beautiful, and its people, while impoverished, as happy. He did not trust Vietnamese children, having heard stories about them running up to soldiers with hand grenades. Guy shares that Vietnamese people who chewed betel nuts could mark distance by the number of “chews” it took to walk between two points. According to Guy, Americans regularly got sick after arriving in the warzone, and when soldiers took their malaria pills they “needed to be close to an outhouse.” Guy does not know if he encountered prisoners of war per se—however, he was once ordered to help march a group of Vietnamese men, women, and children to an interrogation with sandbags on their heads to block their vision. In a different vein, Guy notes that he missed American food while deployed, adding that he and his fellow soldiers held cookouts semi-regularly. In discussing animals, Guy mentions both dogs and pigs and adds that Vietnamese people ate both. He also tells a story about a night when a serviceman began screaming and everyone grabbed their guns—he had awoken with a large rat on his chest.

Section 5: Guy worked in areas that had been sprayed with Agent Orange. At the time, he “didn’t know what it was.” He believed it was weed killer, and adds, referencing his upbringing, “farmers use weed killer.” 

Section 6 : Guy reflects on a range of experiences in Vietnam. He coped with the war through his faith, as well as communicating with his parents via a tape recorder. Other servicemembers coped by drinking alcohol; Guy recalls one man who drank cough medicine in addition to alcohol to heighten his intoxication. Guy was aware of active-duty servicemembers who opposed the war, and asserts that antiwar draftees were unlikely to change their views. He reflects on the beauty of Vietnam as well as disturbing memories, including the sight of US casualties. He also remembers Americans shooting at water buffalo for entertainment. Guy’s own approach to the war was shaped by advice he received when he first arrived—“assume you’re not going home.” 

Section 7 : While in country, Guy kept in contact with people from home and experienced warzone variations of American culture. In addition to letters from friends and family, a girl he knew who went to college put his name and address on a bulletin board for sorority students to send him letters. He also remembers American music, including songs blasted from helicopters as they flew overhead. At the PX, guy purchased a Yashica 35 camera with lenses; he used it primarily to take black and white photos, as they came out better in the heat than color photos. He bought various Vietnamese items, including sandals made of repurposed tire. Guy also remembers Vietnamese shops selling “Coke” but is unsure “where they got it from or what was in it.” In closing, he recalls a dramatic night at Chu Lai; he was awakened by flares flying overhead and the news that VC had broken through the line. Guy was given ammunition in case he needed to use it. 

Section 8: Guy discusses his post-service life. He had anger issues and, today, speculates that his anger might have resulted in divorce had he not addressed it. In reflecting on the politics of homecoming, Guy notes that his hometown was generally supportive of the war and surmises that this was because many people had family members who had served or been killed in country. As a veteran, Guy attended Indiana University Southeast from 1968 to 1972, where he earned a degree in business administration. There were “hippies” on campus, but he had no conflict with them as a Vietnam veteran. In the years since the war, Guy has talked about his service with other Vietnam veterans at his church and learned that many of them also experienced anger issues after returning home. 

Section 9: Guy has been to the wall in DC. He describes it as “emotional” and remembers, “it’s hard to walk through there.” 

Section 10: Guy has not been back to Vietnam and does not want to return. He explains that, even though Vietnam is a beautiful country, going back would drudge up too many memories. In closing, Guy shares that his favorite movie about Vietnam is Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), which he appreciates for its humor.