Document Type

Oral History

Interviewee name

Wayland Magoon

Interviewer

John Springer

Interview date

6-22-1999

Interview location

Lewiston, Maine

Time

00:49:23

Files

Download

Download Transcript (372 KB)

Streaming Media

 
Media is loading

Abstract

Wayland Magoon, interviewed by John Springer at the Muskie Archives, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine on June 22, 1999. Magoon discusses his early years growing up in Skowhegan, Maine and when he first learned about Vietnam, attending Thomas College and receiving a deferment, playing in a garage band, dropping out, and being drafted into the Army, feeling that serving was something he had to do. He tells of receiving his draft notice and being sent to Fort Bragg the next day, being hassled by drill instructors for being a draftee instead of a volunteer, going through basic training and combat engineer training, being assigned to the 31st Engineer Battalion, qualifying for officer candidate school, regretting that he didn't choose flight school, going home for Christmas prior to his deployment and seeing body counts on the news, traveling by ship from San Francisco to Okinawa and then Vietnam, arriving at Black Horse Base Camp, the smell of diesel and human waste, duty as a driver for officers, volunteering to run the Officers' Club, and his feelings looking back on the war. Text: 36 pp. transcript, 2 pp. administrative. Total time: 01:44:34

Listen
Part 1: mfc_na4479_01A
Part 2: mfc_na4479_01B
Part 3: mfc_na4479_02A

Disciplines

Military History | Oral History | United States History

Birth date

March 28, 1947

Location

Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine

Nation of origin

United States

Home state/Territory

Maine

Gender

Male

Ethnicity

Euro-American

Branch of service

U.S. Army

Service Unit

31st Engineer Battalion, 159th Combat Engineers in support of 11th Armored Cavalry

Dates of service

July 1967 – April 1969, Vietnam, 1969

Date of entry

July 1967

Service entry

Conscription

Location of Service

Black Horse Base Camp, Xuan Loc, Vietnam

Wars & Conflicts

Vietnam War

Entry Rank

E-1 Private

Other

SP-5 Specialist 5th Class (discontinued in 1985)

Other

SP-5 Specialist 5th Class (discontinued in 1985)

Locations

Skowhegan, Maine; Bangor, Maine; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Leonardwood, Missouri; Pope Air Force Base; Fort Bliss, Texas; San Francisco; Okinawa, Japan; Vung Tau, Vietnam; Xuan Loc, Vietnam; Lai Khe, Vietnam; Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam; Long Binh, Vietnam; Bien Hua, Vietnam; Los Angeles; Hollywood; Boston; New Hampshire; Amherst, Massachusetts; Loas

Headings

Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Enlisted Man’s Club; Officer’s Club; Booby Traps; Communism; Relationships

Collection name

Maine Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project

Collection number

MF224

Item number

NA4479

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Wayland Magoon, interviewed by John Springer, Part 2

Share

 

Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted