Document Type
Oral History
Interviewer
Stephen D. Rees, Jr.
Interview date
7-7-1999
Interview location
Waterville, Maine
Time
00:44:27
Files
Download Transcript (294 KB)
Streaming Media
Abstract
Rev. Mr. Elbert R. “Bert” Brewster, interviewed by Stephen Rees in Waterville, Maine, July 7, 1999. Brewster discusses his youth and being born a month following his father's death; his brother who was 16-years older, going into World War II; admiring his brother's service but still attempting to waylay being drafted himself; gimmicks used by young men to escape the draft including gaining weight and reporting while badly hung over in order to appear unhealthy; going into the service with a group of men from around New England; reporting to Fort Dix; becoming ill with pneumonia during basic training; handling fear during training; the importance of his religion and going through 12-weeks of medical training to become a corpsman and avoid having to kill; green underwear being an early indicator you were being sent over; being bullied by other recruits; running out of food and water on the troop ship General Blaxford on the way to Vietnam; landing in Saigon; setting up an aid tent in Vietcong territory; the lack of water for bathing and laundry; repeatedly losing his rifle in camp; becoming less religious but continuing to refuse to shoot people; his routine duties; PX supplies and working in the PX; the Black market; the impact of his friend Jesse Miller's death; mail and receiving a Dear John letter; and life after returning home. Text: 34 pp. transcript. Total time: 01:07:08.
Listen
Part 1: mfc_na4490_01A
Part 2: mfc_na4490_01B
Disciplines
Military History | Oral History | United States History
Birth date
March 29, 1941
Location
Oakland, Kennebec County, Maine
Nation of origin
United States
Home state/Territory
Maine
Gender
Male
Ethnicity
European-American
Occupation
Chaplain, Family therapist
Branch of service
U.S. Army
Service Unit
Medical Platoon, 1st Division, 2nd Infantry
Dates of service
1964 to 1966, Vietnam October 1965 - April 1966
Date of entry
May 17, 1905
Service entry
Conscription
Location of Service
Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam
Wars & Conflicts
Vietnam War
Entry Rank
E-1 Private
Highest Rank
E-4 Specialist
Exit Rank
E-4 Specialist
Names
Bob Bronto; Jesse Miller; George Sleeper
Locations
Owl’s Head, Maine; Rockport, Maine; Bangor, Maine; Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Monterey, Mexico; Boston, Massachusetts; Oakland, California; Hawaii; Okinawa; Saigon; Phuoc Vinh; Biên Hòa; Da Lat; Washington, D.C.; Williamsburg, Virginia
Headings
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Military casualties; Black market
Collection name
Maine Vietnam Veterans Oral History
Collection number
MF224
Item number
NA4490
Recommended Citation
Brewster, Elbert R., "Bert Brewster, interviewed by Stephen D. Rees, Jr., Part 1" (2023). MF087 Vietnam Veterans Oral History. 19.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/ne_vietnam_vets/19
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