Video Log Gary Fradette Vietnam War U.S. Army Born: 8/5/1948 Interviewed On: 8/22/2012 Interviewed By: George Jones 00:00:41 Fradette's highest rank was Spec-5, which is equivalent to a sergeant. 00:00:52 Fradette served at the headquarters of the 1st Infantry at Lai Khe. 00:00:57 Fradette served at FSB (Fire Support Base) Thunder III Fradette server at FSB (Fire Support Base) Brown which was located in the 00:01:04 Central Highlands a staging area for the invasion of Cambodia Fradette was drafted into the Army from his hometown of Winsted, CT. He 00:01:21 speaks about receiving his induction letter. Talks about first days in the Army being relatively easy up until about the 00:01:47 third day when they first met their drill instructor - then everything changed. 00:02:25 Discipline and the psychological rigor employed during basic training. Being overweight and the unique punishments employed by the drill 00:02:48 instructor during basic training, inclusive of dietary restrictions to encourage weight loss. 00:04:02 Rifle training including the M-14 and M-16 rifles. reliability of the M-16. After basic training, Fradette was sent to Fort Benning to become better 00:04:49 adapted to working in an engineering battalion. How he "knew" he was going to Vietnam and that he volunteered for it to 00:05:20 "get it over with." how most of his friends and his older brother also served in Vietnam. Traveling to Vietnam on 2/19/1970. Flew from Oakland, CA and made stops in Alaska and Japan before arriving at the Bien Hoa air base in Vietnam. Mentions the high heat of Vietnam and the use of wire on bus windows to prevent a grenade from entering the bus. This is how he knew things were serious. 00:06:35 Fradette was at Bien Hoa for a couple of days before he was assigned to a unit at Lai Khe which was near Highway 13. Lai Khê is a small settlement in Vietnam, to the northwest of Hồ Chí Minh City and about 20 km north of Thủ Dầu Một. Daily life at his assignment in Lai Khê, including replacing a bridge that was 00:08:26 destroyed. pulling guard duty along a bunker line at Lai Khê. Mentions the circumstances that would necessitate spending time at FSB 00:09:20 Thunder III. 00:09:28 Living at Lai Khê living in hooches and the work schedule. Casualties at Lai Khê - specifically, a time when he was squad leader and 00:10:20 lost three replacements moments after they reported to him. Expresses great regret about never learning their names before they were killed in a rocket attack and how this changed his life. Mentions they were located near a helicopter pad and that rocket attacks 00:11:19 were directed here - indicating that anything that fell on their area was likely not fired at them; the NVA and/or Viet Cong wanted to kill helicopters. Non-combat or accidental deaths with explosive devices like Claymore 00:11:40 mines. How his unit used monikers and nicknames to identify each other. Did not 00:12:20 use actual names or surnames. Instead used terms like "New Guy" or FNG. Further indicates that ranks were known, but of little concern. The process of getting home when your tour was over. You had to 00:14:00 improvise your travel to return home. Speaks about jumping on a C-123 and getting to Cam Ranh Bay to catch a flight to the continental United States. 00:15:05 Work schedule and lack of sleep. 00:16:00 The stress of the schedule and its impact on relationships. 00:16:48 R&R in Bangkok, Thailand. The "worst thing that ever happened" in response to a query about there being any moments of humor during his tour. Fradette recalls an incident 00:17:38 where he unknowingly insulted a senior officer and had to make a presentation to the entire unit on the proper way to address a senior officer. Interaction with Vietnamese civilians, which was almost exclusively in Lai 00:18:34 Khê along Highway 13 around FSB Thunder III. Fradette shares his thoughts of what he thought the civilians thought of the war. Mine-clearing on the roads around FSB Brown including the use of C-4 00:20:14 explosive to clear mines. Length of service in Vietnam, the "Vietnamization" process, and discharge 00:21:30 from U.S. Army at Fort Lewis in Washington. Fradette's homecoming, the process of returning to the United States and 00:22:08 what he encountered. 00:23:07 How the United States changed while he was in Vietnam. Post Vietnam - embracing life as a civilian. Had a job prior to entering the Army and his employer had held his job open while he was gone - which 00:23:38 Fradette attributes to the benevolence of the head of Human Resources, who was a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Fradette continued his education under the GI Bill at Central Connecticut 00:24:43 State University (CCSU) where he achieved a B.S. in Industrial Technology. How his military experience influenced his life-view. He doesn't complain 00:25:00 about things that don't matter. Fradette is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Discusses 00:26:17 his interactions with other Vietnam vets. Common misperceptions people have about Vietnam, drug use in Vietnam, 00:27:00 and his anger with "Nixon" granting clemency to Vietnam-era draft dodgers. (President Jimmy Carter granted this clemency in 1977). Draft dodgers and of he and his fellow Vietnam vets being identified as 00:28:00 "ignorant fools" at a class reunion by someone who fled to Canada. Conscientious objectors and other ways that draft-dodgers could have 00:28:30 served in the armed forces. Talks about the uncertainty and not knowing if you were "lucky" - because luck seemed to be a factor in surviving. The experience of being in Vietnam 00:29:12 did not make him more or less religious. Mentions the non-denominational aspect of religious services in Vietnam. 00:30:22 Life in underground bunkers in FSB Brown and FSB Thunder III. Being mortared - Viet Cong and/or NVA tactics; specifically, the persistent and harassing nature of the mortar and rocket attacks. Fradette observed a 00:30:50 major reduction in the frequency of mortar and rocket attacks as a result of the invasion of Cambodia. Highway 13 and road travel. Armored personnel carriers (APC) and tanks 00:32:20 were used to provide safe travel along the highway. Role of 1st Infantry Division and 11th Armored Cavalry mentioned. Living conditions and training to prepare him for life in a tropical climate - specifically, coping with insects, rats, and snakes indigenous to Southeast 00:33:12 Asia. Includes life during monsoon season and coping with persistent rain and standing water. The use of defoliants such as Agent Orange and the suspicion that all three 00:34:40 of his children were born prematurely as a result. The efficacy of Agent Orange - Fradette becomes more emotional about the 00:36:05 field of view the use of defoliants afforded them. It provided a "safe zone" for the American troops. What Fradette has told his children about his experience in Vietnam and how difficult it is to make the hardships understood with people who weren't 00:36:23 actually there. The scarcity of showers, hot meals, and 'comforts of home' such as milk, ice cream, etc., and holiday meals/celebrations is included. How meaningless money was on a fire support base (FSB) , how the 00:38:28 servicemen used money, and how (and what) Fradette was paid and what he did with his salary. Fradette responds to a query about returning to Vietnam to visit. Fradette believes that FSB Brown and FSB Thunder III are probably not there, and 00:40:58 that Lai Khê no longer exists. Still, he would like to go just so his wife could see how hot and humid it was. The heat and humidity in Vietnam and that you were not allowed to get a 00:42:00 sunburn - you were required to wear your 'greens' every day. Life post-Vietnam. Fradette purchased a brand-new 1971 Chevelle, new 00:42:35 motorcycle, new color television, and stereo system with money saved while he was in the army. Scenes of atrocities committed against Vietnamese villagers in two different villages. In each case, Fradette recalls some 30 people hanging dead from 00:44:25 poles - women and children included among the victims. Some of the victims were actual infants. The atrocities were committed by either the NVA or Viet Cong. Misogyny in Vietnam - Fradette observed a farmer thanking a G.I. for killing 00:45:37 his daughter (accidentally) since it would be "one less mouth to feed." 00:47:27 Fradette's basic training was in Fort Dix, NJ Engineering MOS (Fradette's education was in electrical engineering) and 00:48:33 that regardless of your education/experience, you were called on to work in all engineering disciplines. 00:49:35 Starlight scopes and remote sensors tied to artillery pieces. 00:52:34 An attack that Fradette observed on FSB Thunder III where a KIA occurred. Defenses at the fire support bases; use of artillery with interlocking fields of 00:53:45 fire and how fire support bases protected each other.