Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Robinson Rodriguez, Jr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: K Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/47735
Twenty years old in 1968, an unfocused student with the grades to prove it, Corporal Robinson Rodriguez decided to enlist in the Marine Corps when he lost his 1-S student draft classification. Arriving in Vietnam, he was advised on the golden rules of the bush: do as you're told, pay attention, and don't fall asleep on watch. Serving as a machine gunner with the 3rd Marine Division, he drew strength from the support of his comrades during his 12 months and 20 days in country. In his interview, he speaks honestly about the emotional toll of constantly facing snipers, mortar attacks, booby traps, and ambushes.
Robinson Rodriguez, Jr. Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayBasic training felt like a nightmare; eye-opening experience; went to school to train as a machine-gunner; necessary emphasis on teamwork. 00:02:23.0 - 00:05:18.0
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PlayArrival in Vietnam; easing into duty; getting familiar with the countryside and weapons; using the M-60 machine gun; realizing that life in Vietnam wasn't like a John Wayne movie. 00:06:49.0 - 00:09:22.0
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PlayBeing helicoptered out into the bush; landing at a landing zone (LZ) that was taking incoming small arms fire; golden rules of how to survive life in the bush. 00:10:05.0 - 00:11:48.0
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PlayDescription of a typical patrol; dealing with snipers, mortar attacks, booby traps, ambushes; baiting the enemy; American advantage of tremendous firepower; camaraderie that developed within his unit. 00:13:36.0 - 00:22:16.0
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PlayIncident in which his unit was sent to rescue a platoon that had been nearly wiped out; what it felt like to witness casualties; walking back to the base and being hit with a mortar that did not explode. 00:22:50.0 - 00:28:22.0
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PlayEncountering "short-timers" when he first arrived; culture of counting down days left in-country; getting word of his flight date; feeling heartbroken to say goodbye to his unit; total elation on board his flight back to the United States. 00:39:13.0 - 00:45:37.0
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About this Item
Title
- Robinson Rodriguez, Jr. Collection
Names
- Rodriguez Jr., Robinson
- East Stroudsburg University
- Eaton, Noah
- Wilson, Martin W.
Home State
- Pennsylvania
Headings
- - Rodriguez Jr., Robinson
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Hispanic
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: K Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1968-1969
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [1 item] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2011-11-10)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-03-27)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/47735
Cite as
- Robinson Rodriguez, Jr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/47735), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image