Personal Narrative 3D Object Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 12th Reconnaissance Intelligence Squadron
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/31863
Aldo Panzieri's work experience as a news photographer was to his advantage after he enlisted in the Air Force and shipped out to Vietnam in 1968. He was ordered to develop aerial reconnaissance photography, and he became expert in eliciting pictures from negatives that appeared hopelessly damaged. He worked 12-hour shifts, and during his off-duty hours he carried a small camera, recording life at Tan Son Nhut Air Base and in nearby Saigon. Panzieri's dispassionate eye caught everything from Vietnamese children at play to the damaged hulks of military planes in a makeshift air cemetery.
Interview / Recording
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PlayUsing his training as a photographer to get that assignment in the Air Force; confronting a drunken bully; time in a base hospital with soldiers wounded in Vietnam. 00:08:08.5 - 00:12:50.8
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PlaySent to Vietnam after he tried to defend black troops from harassment; the flight overseas; first impressions. 00:15:22.5 - 00:20:29.7
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PlayDuties as part of the Reconnaissance Intelligence Squadron; working 12-hour shifts; his skill at developing photographs from negatives that seemed useless; calculating the damage bombing missions could do. 00:21:31.5 - 00:23:28.5
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PlayDocumenting the war in his off-duty hours; avoiding interaction with the locals. 00:26:06.6 - 00:29:19.1
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PlayLiving in fear; relying on dark humor to survive. 00:32:57.0 - 00:36:42.1
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PlayPictures he wanted to take but couldn't without a telephoto lens; dangerous conditions at his base. 00:39:47.4 - 00:41:50.6
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PlayReadjustment to life in the States; a friend who intervened on his behalf to straighten out his veteran's benefits. 00:45:25.5 - 00:48:53.3
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PlayDidn't take pictures of veterans for a long time, then started doing large-format portraits; not having children because of his wartime exposure to chemicals; advising grown children of Vietnam vets on how to deal with their fathers' problems. 00:51:42.0 - 00:53:20.6
More Resources
Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Audio Reel to Reel 1
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Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Audio Reel to Reel 2
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Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Audio Reel to Reel 3
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Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Audio Reel to Reel 4
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Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Audio Reel to Reel 5
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Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Audio Reel to Reel 6
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About this Item
Title
- Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection
Names
- Dreier, David
- Sleeth, Keith
- U.S. House of Representatives/David Dreier
- Panzieri, Aldo Stephen
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Panzieri, Aldo Stephen
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 12th Reconnaissance Intelligence Squadron
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1966-1969
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Photograph: Digital print [33 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Clippings [3 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1969)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [1 item] -- (collected 1966-1968)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2007-09-15)
- Photograph: Photographic print [4 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [ item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1966-1968)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [3 items] -- (collected 1968-1970)
- Manuscript: Other Manuscript Material [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Audio: 7" Audio Reel [6 items] -- Audio correspondence (collected 1967-1968)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 2005; 2005-05-23)
- Artifact: Artifact [6 items] -- (collected 1967)
- Photograph: Digital print [201 items] -- Photograph (collected 1969-2005)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 2005; 2005-08-03)
- Video: Hi-8/Digital 8 [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-06-27)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [3 items] -- (collected 1970-1997)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1970-01-01-1997-01-01)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 2006-12-29)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of photograph (collected 2007-01-27)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/31863
Cite as
- Aldo Stephen Panzieri Collection (AFC/2001/001/31863), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- video