Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
2:48 | George Bailey shares his thoughts on the aftermath of the Vietnam war and briefly addresses the differences between how returning troops were treated then and now.
Keywords : returning home Vietnam War Memorial death advice Perspective
George Bailey gives an account of his draft into the Army, his experience during basic training and briefly touches on the culture shock of coming from the north to the very segregated south. He also shares the story of the remarkable encounter he had with the 45th Governor of Alabama, George Wallace. Soon after, however, he was immediately sent to Vietnam.
George Bailey recalls the time in which, while on a routine trip to an airfield in a town east of Bien Hoa, his aircraft underwent fire and was hit.
George bailey describes Ash and Trash missions. He describes these missions as beneficial and excellent learning tools that aiding him in learning how to manage the use of an aircraft. He also gives an overall inside look at his experience in Vietnam and the different locations he traveled to.
While on a mission in Song be, George Bailey recalls the time in which his aircraft crashed and he was rescued by an Air Force Sikorsky HH-3E helicopter, nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant.”
George bailey Briefly addresses interservice rivalry between the army and the Air force. He also explains what a “slick” pilot is and shares a story in which, while on his first mission, he was shot in the tail boom.
