Oral history interview with Gary A. Dowe [sound recording], 2003.

ArchivalResource

Dowe, Gary A.,. Oral history interview with Gary A. Dowe [sound recording], 2003.

Oral history interview with Gary A. Dowe [sound recording], 2003.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60694960

Gary A. Dowe, a Cedarburg, Wisconsin native, discusses his Vietnam War service as a machine gunner with the weapons platoon of Delta Company, 1st Marines, 5th Marine Division. He talks about enlisting at age 17, the shock of being greeted at boot camp in San Diego by yelling drill instructors, volunteering for Vietnam duty, and the results of physical training. Dowe evaluates the M60 machine gun and touches on progressing from new guy to team leader. Stationed at Hill 63 in the Que Son Valley, he describes patrols and night attacks, including an incident where he was wounded while crossing a rice paddy. His detailed account of this event includes lying wounded on the field for four hours, seeing a medical corpsman get shot by a sniper, fighting while moving with other wounded soldiers to an evacuation site, and leaving by helicopter the next day. After three weeks of recovery from his wound and dysentery at Chu Lai, Dowe was sent back to his unit. He touches upon life in a combat situation including lack of sleep, trading soda for beer, and saving his beer rations until he had enough for a buzz. About two weeks after returning to the field, Dowe discusses a mission where his company was under guerrilla attacks and he was hit by a grenade. He touches upon waking up in a hospital in Okinawa, recovering from shrapnel wounds, exemption from further Vietnam service because of his two injuries, and guarding nuclear weapons on Okinawa. Dowe talks about receiving care packages of food and "spit and shine" guard duty in the Philippines. He speaks of eating local fare, hanging around Treasure Island (California) for three months, and doing a Caribbean cruise. Dowe discusses attending jungle training school in Panama with other Vietnam veterans. After his discharge, he mentions working for Briggs and Stratton and joining the Cedarburg American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 21 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center