Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
1:34 | After having been a Latvian refugee during World War II, Vis Kimenis talks about revisiting his childhood home 47 years later, and the great strides that Latvia has taken since the war.
As a young Latvian child during World War II, Vis Kimenis recalls his dangerous journey as his family became refugees to escape the warfare going on between Soviet and German forces on the Eastern Front.
Vis Kimenis, a six year old Latvian refugee during World War II, describes how Germany treated the Latvian people, and how young Latvian "volunteers" were conscripted into the German army.
After the end of World War II, Vis Kimenis talks about how he went from being a refugee from war torn Latvia to becoming an American citizen.
Vis Kimenis talks about his convoy being ambushed by Viet Cong troops, despite extensive security measures, while traveling from Long Binh to Phuoc Vinh in November 1967.
Vis Kimenis shares his memories of arriving in Bien Hoa, Vietnam in 1966, and how his lifestyle as a supply and service officer differed from his preconceived notions of deployment to the country.
Vis Kimenis recalls two separate rocket attacks while deployed to Vietnam and describes the "Kentucky Courage" that soldiers learned to develop during these attacks.
As food was getting scarce after the 1968 Tet Offensive, supply officer Vis Kimenis describes how he "wheeled and dealed" a few useless trinkets into 2700 pounds of "good stuff" to feed his troops.
While serving as a logistics officer in Vietnam, Vis Kimenis recalls performing a "combat assault landing" while delivering supplies in the middle of a firefight.
Vis Kimenis describes one of the more difficult aspects of his duties as a supply and service officer in Vietnam- to identify perished soldiers and to evacuate their remains.
Vis Kimenis recollects the similarities he faced between his tours of duty in Vietnam and his experiences as a Latvian refugee during World War II.
