Oral history interview with Brian Murray, 1999.

ArchivalResource

Murray, Brian, 1948-. Oral history interview with Brian Murray, 1999.

Oral history interview with Brian Murray, 1999.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/772451709

Brian "Doc" Murray, a Waupaca, Wisconsin native, discusses his Navy service as a corpsman with a Marine unit during the Vietnam War. Murray talks about enlisting in the Navy despite being classified 4F for having pins in his hip, boot camp and Corps School at Great Lakes (Illinois), and field medicine training at Camp Lejeune, where they arrived on November 10th without knowing about the Marine Corps' birthday. He discusses flying to Vietnam, assignment to the Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and going on daytime patrol in the Riviera area near DaNang. Murray speaks of setting up ambushes for gathering NVA troops and characterizes the "professional" method of combat between them. He portrays problems with unexploded friendly rounds in the sand and his platoon sergeant's "crazy" method of detonating them with grenades. Murray talks about the weapons his squadron carried and only carrying a handgun himself. He reflects on tending to wounded under fire as well as their daily health problems in camp, especially diarrhea and infected insect bites. He comments on lack of bathing facilities, the proximity of his small combat base to other medical facilities, and the medical supplies he carried. Murray contrasts the differences between medical operations in the Vietnam and Korean Wars. He illustrates the Marines' loyalty to their wounded with an anecdote about witnessing a helicopter medevac crew being held at gunpoint until all his squadron's casualties were securely loaded. Murray details treatment methods in the field, including using the Marines' belts as tourniquets and marking received treatment. After three months "in the bush," he speaks of having problems with his leg, getting the pins removed in Japan, and returning to Vietnam where he was assigned a rear position in the 1st Medical Battalion. Murray states the life expectancy for corpsmen in Vietnam was three months. He reflects on the adequacy of his training and, when under pressure, always praying to do a good job. In the 1st Med Battalion for three weeks, he talks about assignment to a post-crisis malarial ward and keeping an eye on his patients, who spent a lot of time at the bar. He comments on the use of chloroquine-primaquine to prevent malaria and treating diarrhea in the field with peanut butter. Murray talks about his platoon's recreational use of marijuana and making sure it did not impact their combat capability. He reports on the race relations between Blacks and Whites, saying "in the bush there is no color" but people in the rear occasionally stirred up trouble. Murray portrays the one case he medevaced due to combat fatigue and the current large numbers of veterans with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He discusses have a wonderful captain and a 2nd lieutenant who made too many mistakes. Murray talks about keeping in touch with some of the men from his unit, attending Battalion Association reunions, and being a member of veterans' organizations such as the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 75 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 75 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Videorecording : 1 videocassette (ca. 75 min.) ; sd., col. ; 1/2 in.Transcript : 34 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center