Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

SEARCH RESULTS

my selections

10,781
Videos
49
Photos
148
Docs

Search Again

advanced search

Barry Purnell

Vietnam | 121st Aviation Company, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 164th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade

The base was an old Japanese airfield in South Vietnam's southern delta. It was more comfortable than the field and Barry Purnell even bartered for an air conditioner for his room. The helicopter pilot was first assigned to ferry troops, but then he was bumped up to the Armed Platoon, which flew gunships to protect the insertions. (6:36)
You developed a sixth sense, according to helicopter gunship pilot Barry Purnell. Anything out of the ordinary below could be the enemy. He supported South Vietnamese troops and their advisors, protecting the ships which ferried the troops. He offers an explanation of the Viet Cong psyche and he laments the upper hand given the enemy by our own policies. (5:06)
He had been an infantry officer, so Barry Purnell really appreciated the difference in living conditions once he became an aviator. He flew a helicopter gunship supporting South Vietnamese troops down in the southern delta. His longest mission was an insertion into Cambodia, which went surprisingly well. (4:39)
His daily life included letters written home like most soldiers, but helicopter gunship pilot Barry Purnell was able to keep a stereo in his quarters and cook food he acquired from various sources. The life of an aviator has it's advantages. When he was really lucky, he got to eat Navy chow. (2:56)
He never took R&R while he was in Vietnam and he kept busy flying right up until he rotated home. Barry Purnell explains his logic and then he reveals an odd request he made of his father to prepare his homecoming. He brought home no demons from the war, but he did share in the ill treatment by an ungrateful public. (4:06)
Bart Cole

Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) | Multiple Units

Bart Cole was in the fourth grade when he wrote to the Marines and asked to join. He was a little premature, but during his senior year, he enlisted after a disappointing spring break. (4:58)
Bart Cole felt he was lucky to be doing his Marine basic training on the West Coast. He thought it compared favorably to wrestling, football and farm work and it didn't faze him a bit. He was impressed by the kind words for his family from the DI and that became a foundation for him. (Caution: coarse language.) (6:42)
His first deployments took him to Egypt and up and down the US west coast. Then Marine Bart Cole undertook some training in special ops and at the thoroughly enjoyable Coronado boat school. (6:50)
When he shipped out in 2001 with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Bart Cole got to visit some interesting places. Thailand was the hands down favorite. Back in Hawaii, a special cruise with family members was loaded up and got under way and it was during this excursion that Sep.11 dawned at sea. (7:45)
He was at sea when the 9/11 attacks occurred, then he was locked down at Camp Pendleton. Finally, Marine Bart Cole was given leave at home. Everybody knew there would be some action soon, and a deployment to Afghanistan was scheduled and then cancelled. Disenchanted, he left the Corps and went to college, but he felt left out. (8:55)