An Old Point of View:
A Look Into the Navy During The Vietnam War
An Interview with a Navy Vietnam Veteran
By. Lily Truppi
To first begin this entry I must give my readers a bit of back round knowledge. Though some of you may be experts on the Navy s involvement in the Vietnam War, this beginning prelude is for those, like myself, who really do not know much about it. The Navy is a Naval Warfare Service branch, which is then a branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Navy is one of seven uniformed services of the United States and the largest and most efficient Navy in the world.
The Navy itself has over 500,000 personnel. Of that total 25% of those are already in reserve, 15% are commissioned Officers, and the other 80% are Midshipmen and those men go to either the United States Naval Academy or Navy’s Officer Candidate School.
To begin the interview I would like to supply you with some imagery:
He’s a pretty adorable old man, I know. This is my pépère ( Grandfather) he is 70 years old and served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. The interview you are about to read is between me and him discussing what it was like for a Navy man in the Vietnam War.
Interview Between Ms. Lily Truppi and Mr. Charles Berard
Navy In The Vietnam War
Interview Conducted on the November 6, 2017
Most Answers Abbreviated For The Sake Of Time
Q #1: Between what years did you serve in the Navy?
A: 1968–1972
Q#2: What part of the Navy did you serve in?
A: Aviation Department, Biocontrol technician 2nd class, weapons delivery and electronics technician
Q#3: What did you do on board?
A: Plane captain on the flight deck, when the plane wasn’t flying the plane was my responsibility, maintenance, spotting fuel, secured properly.
Q#4: What types of training did you go through prior to the war?
A: “All things to keep you alive schools.” Boot camp, avionics/aviation fundamental school, aviation electronics school, fire control, A7 technician aircraft training, firefighting school, pilot rescue school, compartment rescue, and shipboard training
*Out of 4 year enlistment, he spent two years in school
”Best schools in the Navy”
Q#5: What were your first words when entering the Vietnam War?
A:”What the hell am I doing here?”
Q#6: What was the living environment like?
A: Living quarters( birthing quarters) were the size of home under 2,000 sq feet, with an average of 100 men per birthing quarter. Bunks were three high, you could reach and touch bunks beside you. Walking between alleys of 18 people were sleeping. The bathrooms were open with no stalls , the showers had no curtains, only 6 urinals , 4 to 5 toilets, 6 or 7 sinks for 100+ men. When food was open it was pretty good. Though I (he) lost 35 pounds on a 1 year cruise. The mess deck was 20 hours a day, the ability to leave work station was hard and to find time to eat was harder. Sometimes you(he) would too tired to even eat. Everyday was a work day with no holidays 12–14 hours.
Q#7:Did you make any close friends on the ship?
A: Made several close friends, not in contact now, most from different parts of the country, I went to New England , most friends were from California. mémère is friends with them on Facebook.
Q#8:What major battles and/or events were you involved in?
A: The Gulf Of Tonkin Incident, Tet Offensive, Easter Offensive ( Shelling of Contum)
Q#9:What part of Vietnam did you find the most interesting?
A: He was never in sight of land
Q#10: What was the most exciting part of the job?
A: Staying alive because of very hostile environment/ deadly environment, nothing really exciting more suspenseful, though it was interesting getting ported at Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, seeing the foreign countries and their people, but, “lots of hard work, everyday is a workday.”
Q#11: What was one of the hardest things you had to face in the war?
A: Being away from home
Q#12: What did you miss the most about home?
A: My wife/ family, my dog
”I didn’t miss you cause you weren’t around, neither was your mother.”
Q#13: What was your worst experience in the war?
A: “Coming home and being treated unfairly because of being a Vietnam Veteran. Those who come home from war now are treated differently than I (he) was. Some people were called baby killers and spit upon. War is war and not a game. There is no difference between war now and Vietnam, except soldiers now are treated honorably.” “ Though the hardest job was the service man’s wife.”
Q#14: How often do you still think of the war?
A: Subscribed to Navy VA periodics and photo journalism, or when I (he) would see certain content on Tv. “ Photos tell you a lot especially if you’ve been there for before.”
Q#15: In general, how well do you think authors and directors depict war in film or literature?
A:” I dont think that they want to make movies that were more realistic because it would be too offensive to people watching it.” Too many people lost their lives to be able to capture the full war. They tend to cover more theatrics than reality.
Q#16: What kind of opportunities were offered to you after the war?
A: Within 6 months I (he) was able to get a job through experience in the Navy.
Q#17: In total what did you think of the war?
A: “ The whole Vietnam War was the biggest waste of men, money, and material.”
Q#18: Would you do it all over again?
A: “I would if my country called me.”
Thanks so much for checking out my interview! Also huge thank you to my mémère for digging though the garage and supplying me with these photos, as well as helping to supply pépère with some of the answers.
