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Parks, Robert W. (Robert William). Robert W. Parks papers, 1999.

Title: Robert W. Parks papers, 1999.

General description of the collection: The Robert W. Parks papers contains a transcription of an oral history interview of Parks conducted on 16 February 1996 by his son, Bradley A. Parks for a class, Geography 31, at Dartmouth College. In his interview, Parks describes his apprehension and his personal preparations for his tour in Vietnam. He faults the media coverage of Vietnam for portraying the "worst possible scenario," and finds this practice continuing in many movies about Vietnam. Parks describes setting up and maintaining a Night Defense Perimeter (NDP), and gives details about the living conditions, his mood, and the usefulness of "Dusters" and flak jackets. He says that he did not see any problems due to race, nor any problems between enlisted men and officers. During his tour, his men respected him because he took care of them first. He describes the relations between his men and the villagers of Tan Binh, and the efforts of his medics to provide medical assistance, especially to children. Parks credits his tour in Vietnam for his appreciation of life and his management experience, but resents the indifference with which he and Vietnam Veterans have been treated. He describes the opening ceremony of the Vietnam War Memorial and its effect on him, and believes it has helped to heal the nation. A copy of Bradley A. Parks's paper, "My Father's Vietnam," written on 6 March 1996 and a news clipping on Robert W. Parks's trip to Vietnam published in "Bucknell World" in January 1998 are also included in the collection.

ArchivalResource: 1 folder.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60785407 View