Papers and photographs, 1965-2004, (bulk 1965-1967).

ArchivalResource

Kurtz, James A., 1940-. Papers and photographs, 1965-2004, (bulk 1965-1967).

Papers and photographs, 1965-2004, (bulk 1965-1967).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/301735332

Papers and photographs of James A. Kurtz, an Appleton, Wisconsin native who served as an officer with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. Kurtz enrolled in the ROTC program while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve prior to serving in Vietnam. The collection consists of materials Kurtz sent home to his family during his time in the Army and include letters, postcards, programs, and other memorabilia. The majority of the collection is a series of letters written by Kurtz to his parents. The letters begin with his training at Fort Benning (Georgia) in 1965, and continue until his tour in Vietnam ended in 1967. In his letters Kurtz asks about the family, how his siblings were doing in school, updates on sporting scores, discussions on the weather, and attending church services. While at Fort Benning he describes his training, problems with instructing other soldiers, and a dislike of Army life. One letter (January 5, 1966) mentions disappointment when the troops he was commanding failed a gas attack exercise, and another letter (January 16, 1966) describes some of his troops being sick and two that tried to commit suicide. Several letters also discuss officers being sent to Vietnam and express concern over the possibility of being sent himself. The letters from Vietnam include descriptions of the country, descriptions of other officers and soldiers, being anxious for his tour to be over, and participation in the Bob Hope Christmas show. His first letter from Vietnam (June 21, 1966) describes the sights and smells of Vietnam, and also complaints about the heat. Another letter (October 21, 1966) mentions a friend being severely wounded and how he dislikes officers that "build their names on the corpses of subordinates." The collection also has three postcards Kurtz sent to his parents, and one letter he wrote to his brother. Other material sent home include a Thanksgiving Day menu and two church service programs, a receipt for tobacco purchases, and a newspaper article with a map of military activities that was sent with a letter dated February 11, 1967. Of interest is a propaganda leaflet, in Vietnamese, that was distributed with the intent of convincing the Viet Cong to surrender and turn in their weapons. It was sent by Kurtz in a letter (November 6, 1966). There is also a packet of material pertaining to the postwar relationship of Vietnam and the U.S. that Kurtz obtained when he traveled to Vietnam in 2001. The photographs include five black and white images of a Vietnamese village and four color images of Kurtz in Vietnam. Two of the color images have been made into slides and are also included in the collection. A program for the memorial service of captain John Frederick Kurth who was killed in Iraq in 2004 is also included with this collection.

Papers 0.4 linear ft. (1 archives box) and.Photographs 0.1 linear ft. (3 folders) and.Slides 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder) and.Paper prints 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center