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Grace Chicken

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Grace Chicken wasn't necessarily drafted into the Korean War since she willingly took the nursing job she was offered immediately out of school. It was around this time that the Army Air Corps became the Air Force. She was stationed in Japan and would fly to Korea to pick up wounded Americans, and oddly enough, sometimes they would even pick up wounded enemy soldiers. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD A. BERNSTEIN.) ( Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, the Military Heritage Museum- https://freedomisntfree.org/.) (6:54)

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During her time in the service, Chicken remembers that the treatment nurses received on board the airplanes was incredibly positive. According to her, nurses were held in very high regard because of their ability to quickly care for patients as well as their status as officers. One time in Korea, her team was tasked with saving a group of orphans. After the war ended, she went back to having a job at the Red Cross. She gives her reflections on both wars she was involved in, and what she wants to say to everyone watching her stories. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD A. BERNSTEIN.) (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, the Military Heritage Museum- https://freedomisntfree.org/.) (5:30)

Grady Birdsong

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Grady Birdsong remembers growing up in Kansas as the son of an oil man. During the time Vietnam was starting, he decided to enlist in the service as a Marine. (5:45)

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Grady Birdsong remembers one of the funny moments during training. At Fort Pendleton, he went to basic electronics school and was passed despite not passing the class. Arriving in Vietnam, the humidity stuck with him as being one of the hardest parts about transitioning into lifer there. (5:39)

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In 1967, General Westmoreland called for more troops in Vietnam, which President Johnson later approved. Grady Birdsong and his battalion were called into Hue City in 1968 to run support on the canal areas near the citadel. (5:55)

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Grady Birdsong remembers one particularly harrowing combat experience in Hue City. Under mortar attack, chaos breaks loose and every man is left to find their way and care for the injured. (5:29)

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Off the coast of Hue City, Grady Birdsong and his battalion set up to siege the beach, but fortunately nothing ended up happening. Once they got to a temporary basecamp, they began to prepare for a more legitimate field of defense. (5:10)

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Heading back to Da Nang, Grady Birdsong and his company undertook Operation Allen Brook to overtake enemy forces. (7:24)

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After his first tour, Grady Birdsong got orders to a new assignment in Dong Ha, where he spent time clearing roads and running security. Keeping an eye out for enemy forces while on the road was essential to staying alive. (4:44)

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Returning home, Grady Birdsong remembers not telling people he was a veteran and having to watch the war be lost on national TV. Being treated with disrespect after all he had been through was a very upsetting thing to have to go through. (5:49)