Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Robin Bartlett

Vietnam | 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment

There was a new guy, or FNG, in Robin Bartlett's platoon and, like all new guys, his first job was to burn the waste from the latrine barrels with diesel fuel. He followed his instructions to the letter except for a crucial mistake at the end. (5:13)
When Robin Bartlett's platoon was assigned as the Quick Reaction Force, they would wait next to the helipad until they were needed. Then they would board helicopters and head for the action. He had a close call once when he was being extracted. The chopper rose to cruising altitude at which point the engine stopped and everyone except the pilot prepared to meet their maker. (Caution: strong language) (5:03)
When it was time to leave the field and take a staff job, platoon leader Robin Bartlett got orders for a unit no one seemed to know about, the 14th MHD. When he got to the division base camp and found them, he looked around and saw cots, fans, a television and a fridge stocked with Cokes and beer. This was definitely going to beat life in the bush. (5:04)
When it was time for Robin Bartlett to rotate home from Vietnam, he went to a lot of trouble to find out where his next assignment was. He could hardly believe it. When he flew into Travis AFB, he saw a man, a woman and a dog standing at the fence. It was his parents. (4:13)
Robin Bartlett went from the heat of Vietnam to the cold of Alaska where he was in charge of the HQ company at a mechanized unit. He immediately found out that the vehicles were all junk. For his next assignment, he was told he was going to Vietnamese language school and was returning to Vietnam as an advisor. Uh, no. (6:10)
When the division moved from I Corps to III Corps, Robin Bartlett noticed that the Public Information Office had thrown out a lot of photos and artwork. He gathered up some of it and, years later, developed it into a documentary video about his experience as a platoon leader in Vietnam. (4:32)
Rock Merritt

WWII | 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment

He was set to join the Marines but when Rock Merritt saw a poster recruiting paratroopers that promised extra pay and a special uniform, he went Army. The 508th Parachute Infantry regiment was activated at Camp Blanding and prepared to join the fight in Europe. The first order of business was trimming the number of men, which was an interesting process. (This interview made possible with the support of JOHN & BARBARA MCCOY.) (5:53)
Rock Merritt had no knowledge of what he was training for in Nottingham, but soon the paratrooper was part of the vast invasion of Normandy. He describes the huge scope of the effort, the airplanes they used, and a unwanted responsibility he had regarding a bicycle. (This interview made possible with the support of JOHN & BARBARA MCCOY.) (5:01)
They jumped at 0230. Paratrooper Rock Merritt missed the drop zone and he was lucky because it was flooded. After struggling out of his parachute and unpacking his weapon, he deployed his Crackerjack cricket and clicked once when he heard a noise. Part 1 of 4. (This interview made possible with the support of JOHN & BARBARA MCCOY.) (5:37)
Rock Merritt had no idea where the rest of his unit was. The paratrooper had dropped into Normandy and soon became part of a group of 37 men from many outfits. A chaplain among them did a great job of keeping up morale as they tried to get a foothold and move on the Germans. When his unit finally assembled, his platoon was issued weapons with which he was totally unfamiliar. Part 2 of 4. (This interview made possible with the support of JOHN & BARBARA MCCOY.) (7:50)