Oral history of Sam Conn
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an interview conducted by Daniel Redmond with Major Sam Conn on April 11, 2024. Born on June 19, 1940, Conn joined the United States Army through ROTC at Middlebury College. After completing Officer Candidate School he was assigned as a platoon leader in the 197th Infantry Brigade.
In 1963, Conn deployed to Vietnam as an advisor to a Vietnamese infantry battalion in the Mekong Delta. He recounts the brutal realities of early counterinsurgency warfare, describing encounters with Viet Cong tactics, village executions, and gruesome battlefield practices. His experiences hardened his tolerance for mistakes as he witnessed war crimes, including the desecration of enemy bodies for trophies. He returned to Vietnam for a second tour serving with a Ranger battalion, earning the nickname Mr. Napalm for his frequent use of airstrikes.
2024-04-11
Oral history of Danny Rhodes
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Schuyler Easterling with Colonel Danny Rhodes on December 7, 2012. Rhodes attended Clemson University, where he joined ROTC and became actively involved in the Pershing Rifles, which deepened his interest in military service. After graduating in 1968, he was commissioned in the United States Army Transportation Corps and entered active duty.
Following training at Fort Knox and Airborne School, Rhodes served in the 82nd Airborne Division for a year before his deployment to Vietnam in 1971. He was assigned to the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company as a maintenance officer. He managed the upkeep of CH-47 Chinook Helicopters, ensuring their readiness for missions. He recalls the frustration of undisciplined leadership among officers and non-commissioned officers and the logistical challenges of keeping aircraft operational in Vietnam's harsh climate. After returning from Vietnam, Rhodes remained in aviation logistics and, in 1983, transferred to the Army's Aviation branch. His later assignments included Cold War-era Germany, where he supported United States Military operations along the East-West German border, and leadership positions at Fort Bragg, MacDill Air Force Base, and Fort Gillem.
2012-12-07