Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Tony Lawless Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 282nd Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam; Fort Meade, Maryland
- Highest Rank: Specialist Four
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/12041
Tony Lawless's memoir of his service in Vietnam offers a detailed, no-holds-barred account of his one-year tour of duty that began in April 1970. His eyesight too weak to make pilot, Lawless first served as a door gunner on a helicopter that mainly flew supply and transport missions. Later, he flew with the 282nd Assault Helicopter Company on combat missions in both their Black Cats and Alley Cats units. Lawless wrote faithfully to a friend back home who kept his letters, and many of them are reproduced as part of his narrative. He describes his own drug and alcohol use, his boredom, fear, and the pain he felt when he urged his best friend to go on a mission which proved fatal.
About this Item
Title
- Tony Lawless Collection
Names
- Lawless, Tony
Home State
- Ohio
Headings
- - Lawless, Tony
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 282nd Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Cavalry Division
- Location of Service: Vietnam; Fort Meade, Maryland
- Highest Rank: Specialist Four
- Dates of Service: 1969-1972
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2004-03)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2004-03; 2004-02-11)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/12041
Cite as
- Tony Lawless Collection (AFC/2001/001/12041), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image