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
Oral history of Tom Maertens
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Austin Mall with Lieutenant Colonel Tom Maertens on September 30, 2013. Born on October 17, 1948, Maertens grew up in a military family, moving frequently as his father was stationed across the United States and overseas. Following in the family tradition, he attended West Point, graduating in 1970, and commissioned into the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army.
Maertens recounts his early assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, his transition to aviation, and his training as an AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter pilot. He deployed to Vietnam during the final years of the war, serving with F Troop, 9th Air Cavalry. Following Vietnam, Maertens continued his military career in aviation, commanding the 207th Aviation Company in Heidelberg, Germany and later transitioning to the Transportation Corps, where he worked in aviation logistics, aircraft testing, and research and development. After retiring from the Army in 1992, he pursued a second career in higher education fundraising, including six years at Clemson University.
2013-09-30
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 Robert Garrett
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of a virtual interview conducted by Averi Brice with Danny Roach on December 15, 2024. Roach shares the story of his grandfather, Robert Garrett, born October 21, 1924, who served in the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II.
Garrett enlisted in the Army at age 17 because he had his birth certificate changed at 14 to allow him to work. He deployed to North Africa and then served all across Europe. During a battle in Belgium, Garrett and six other soldiers suffered a motor attack that killed three and wounded him and two others. Despite his own injuries, he helped evacuate a more severely wounded soldier before returning to combat the next day, earning a Purple Heart for his actions. He also received five Bronze Stars. As part of the Glider Infantry, he described the experience of landing in enemy territory in canvas-covered gliders, often under fire, referring to the bullets ripping through the canvas sounding like popcorn popping.
2024-12-15
Oral history of John Brunskill
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Jeff Fulton with Corporal John Brunskill on September 29, 2013. Born on September 14, 1971, Brunskill joined the United States Army Reserves in 2008. He was assigned as a combat engineer with the 323rd Engineer Company and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Brunskill talks about the rigors of basic training at an older age and his role in route clearance missions. As lead truck gunner, he was responsible for convoy security and threat identification. He provides an account of Operation Strong Eagle in which his unit faced an intense ambush.
2013-09-29
Oral history of Charlotte Becker
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Averi Brice with Sergeant Charlotte Becker on October 20, 2023, at Clemson University.
Becker first joined the United States Coast Guard in 2003 serving aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Aspen. However, after struggling with seasickness, she was medically discharged and reenlisted in the United States Army in 2004 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. In 2005, Becker deployed to Iraq, first serving as a driver for Civil Affairs, placed at Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah, conducting Hearts and Minds operations. She transitioned to a vehicle recovery team and repaired and extracted damaged Humvees. She was later stationed in Hawaii and Fort Stewart, supporting Military Police, engineering, and chemical response units before leaving the Army in 2012, disillusioned with policy changes forcing soldiers out of service.
Oral history of Frank Surratt
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by John Richter with Staff Sergeant Frank Surratt on March 23, 2014. Born on January 30, 1937, Surratt enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 1961 to avoid the draft.
Surratt was assigned to the 108th Training Division in Concord, NC. He specialized in infantry and office management. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, his unit was placed on high alert, preparing for a potential invasion of Cuba. He trained Cuban recruits in battlefield first aid, managing large groups and conducting life-saving medical drills under military supervision.
2014-03-23
Oral history of Joseph Snyder
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Jeff Fulton with Specialist Joseph Snyder on September 29, 2013. Born on February 10, 1985, Snyder enlisted in the United States Army Reserves with the 323rd Engineer Company.
In 2010, Snyder deployed to Afghanistan as part of a route clearance unit, responsible for detecting and neutralizing IEDs. He describes the intensity of Operation Strong Eagle, during which his unit was ambushed and encountered heavy fire. He served as the lead truck driver and recounts the psychological challenge of navigating IED-laden roads, often witnessing explosions that hit the vehicles behind him while his own truck remained intact. Returning home, Snyder had a difficult time readjusting to civilian life and reenlisted in 2013, wanting to commit to a 20-year career in the Army.
2013-09-29
Oral history of Miles Nuckolls
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of a virtual interview conducted by Carter Walsh with Staff Sergeant Miles Nuckolls in 2024. Born August 11, 1989, Nuckolls enlisted in the United States Army in 2008.
After completing basic and medical training at Fort Sam Houston, he attended Airborne School at Fort Benning, where he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy. In November 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he operated as a platoon medic in the Paktika Province. He recalls many night operations and long-range reconnaissance missions and notes that his unit did not suffer any fatalities during the deployment. Following Afghanistan, Nuckolls was reassigned to Fort Bragg, where he worked with an engineer unit, a transition he found frustrating due to its slower operational tempo. In 2014, he returned to Italy, where he participated in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training missions across 24 countries, working alongside allied forces to improve combat readiness. Leaving the Army in 2017, he soon after began pursuing a history degree at Clemson University.
2024
Oral history of Robert Blackburn
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Daniel Mack with Staff Sergeant Robert Blackburn on August 27, 2012, in Clemson, SC. Born on March 30, 1979, Blackburn enlisted in the United States Army after 9/11. He was trained as an airborne infantryman, later completing the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP), and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.
Blackburn talks about his combat experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom, fighting against Saddam Hussein's forces and securing the cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. He describes the shift in warfare as roadside bombs and insurgent tactics became more sophisticated. He speaks on his service in Operation Enduring Freedom, leading joint military operations from Bagram and navigating the harsh terrain and logistical challenges of combat in the Hindu Kush mountains.
Oral history of Jason Bradley
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Jeff Fulton with Captain Jason Bradley on November 20, 2013. Born on January 10, 1977, Bradley enlisted in the United States Army Aviation branch in 1994. He trained as an AH-64 Apache crew chief and was first stationed at Katterbach, Germany. He then moved to Camp Comanche in Bosnia and describes missions for Operation Joint Guard. After six years of active duty, he left the military in 2000 to pursue an engineering career with General Electric while completing his education.
In 2008, motivated by 9/11 and a desire to contribute as a leader, Bradley re-entered the Army as a direct-commissioned officer in the Engineer Corps. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, where he led a route clearance platoon tasked with detecting and neutralizing IEDs. He describes the intensity of Operation Strong Eagle, in which his unit faced an intense ambush.
2013-11-20
Oral history of Matthew Brinkley
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Nolan Wilbur with Specialist Matthew Brinkley on March 31, 2023 in Clemson, SC. Born on December 1, 1988, Brinkley enlisted in the United States Army in 2009.
After training, Brinkley became an all-source intelligence analyst. In November 2010, he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as part of Operation New Dawn, serving with the 163rd Armored Regiment. He was tasked with conducting intelligence analysis, monitoring unmanned aerial vehicles, and providing briefings for patrols. He describes experiencing frequent indirect fire attacks, the dangers of counterinsurgency warfare, and the emotional toll of losing fellow soldiers. A particularly difficult moment came while at Victory Base Complex in Iraq, when a roadside bomb hidden in his base's perimeter wall killed two soldiers whom he had briefed before their mission. Brinkley was medically discharged in 2013 and worked in defense contracting and intelligence analysis for several years before deciding to complete his degree. Now a student at Clemson University, he is active in the Veteran Resource Center.
Oral history of Ralph Keith
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an interview conducted by Sheryl Moss with Ralph Keith on April 8, 2024, in Townville, SC. Keith was drafted into the United States Army in 1969 amid the Vietnam War.
Keith deployed to Vietnam in 1970 with the 199th Infantry Brigade. Initially assigned to a line company, he was soon wounded by friendly fire, sustaining permanent hearing loss in his right ear. He was reassigned to headquarters company, where he established forward firebases, constructed defensive positions and managed maps. Keith talks about the harsh conditions of Vietnam from extreme heat and heavy rains to mosquito infestations. Returning to the United States in 1971, Keith pursued his dream of becoming an architect, earning a degree from Clemson University in 1975.
Oral history of Harold Koeplin
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Cole Hawkins with Harold Koeplin on November 19, 2013. Born on May 8, 1926, Koeplin was drafted into the United States Army in 1944. He was deployed to Europe in early 1945, arriving just in time to take part in the Battle of the Bulge.
Assigned as a rifleman in Company K, 120th Infantry Regiment, Koeplin fought in the Ardennes Forest and into the Rhineland. On March 24, 1945, while crossing the Rhine River, he was wounded by a mortar shell, along with a fellow soldier. Evacuated to a field hospital in France, he recovered as the war came to an end. After returning home, he pursued higher education at Michigan State University, where he joined ROTC and was commissioned. During the Korean War, he served stateside at Fort Lawton, Washington.
2013-11-19
Oral history of Ben Rankin
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Daniel Mack with Staff Sergeant Ben Rankin on November 16, 2012. Born on June 20, 1921, Rankin joined the United States Army enlisted Reserve and was called to duty in April 1943.
Rankin talks about being deployed to North Africa and later joining the 3rd Infantry Division in Italy as a radio operator. He participated in the Anzio landings, where his unit was pinned down by German forces, and later advanced through Rome, southern France, Belgium, and Germany. He took over as supply sergeant, running the logistics of ammunition, rations, and equipment for over 160 men. He also describes traveling with General George S. Patton's forces through Germany and Austria, witnessing the destruction left by the war, and visiting Adolf Hitler's underground bunker.
2012-11-16
Oral history of William Cato
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Drew Richard with Staff Sergeant William Cato on November 21, 2012. Born on April 2, 1921, Cato enlisted in the United States Army Infantry before turning 21, convincing his reluctant parents to sign his enlistment papers.
Cato recounts his deployment to England and his role in D-Day operations, landing as a replacement infantryman shortly after the invasion. He describes combat in France and Belgium pushing through the Siegfried Line and the Argonne, Hurtgen, and Black Forests. He was nearly court-martialed for firing on fellow soldiers after mistaking their movements for enemy signaling. He was wounded by enemy artillery while helping his fellow soldiers on his way off the front line leading to his evacuation to England and, eventually, his return to the United States.
2012-11-21
Oral history of James Wall
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by John Richter with Captain James Wall on March 18, 2014. Born on March 18, 1920, Wall served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. After graduating from Texas A&M, he was called to active duty in 1941, initially serving in the War Department before transferring to flight training and becoming a fighter pilot.
Wall talks about flying P-51 Mustangs in combat missions over India, Burma, and China. He describes engaging in dogfights, engaging bombers, and striking enemy supply lines. During a mission in China, his plane was damaged by friendly fire, forcing him to bail out. He was captured by Chinese soldiers and given over to the Japanese and spent nine months as a prisoner of war. He details the harsh conditions of captivity before his eventual liberation at the war's end.
2014-03-18
Oral history of Howard Raines
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Will Hines with Private First Class Howard Raines on July 13, 2013. Born on April 7, 1923, Raines was drafted into the United States Army in 1944.
In early 1945, Raines deployed to Europe, arriving in France before being transported by cattle car train to the front lines in Germany. He was assigned to an anti-tank unit as an ammunition handler for a 105mm anti-tank gun tasked with supporting roadblock positions against potential German tank movements. After Germany's surrender, Raines was stationed in Waiblingen and later Heidelberg, where he spent several months guarding captured SS troops.
2013-07-13
Oral history of Charles Norton
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Austin Mall with Lieutenant Colonel Charles Norton on April 1, 2014. Born on December 30, 1922, Norton served in the United States Air Force across three major conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he knew he had to serve in the military and was determined to fly.
Norton recounts the grueling experience of flight training, where instructors pushed cadets to their limits, and his training in jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia and Lawson Army Airfield. He describes the immense relief of finally earning his wings and the heartbreak of seeing others wash out. During and after World War II, he was stationed in Europe, where he helped establish early airline operations. His service continued into the Korean War, and later in Vietnam, where he commanded the 51st Bombardment Squadron, a B-52 squadron, leading bombing missions from bases in Guam.
2014-04-01
Oral history of Bob Robbins
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Caleb Hawkins with Sergeant Bob Robbins on November 25, 2013. Born on July 2, 1986, Robbins enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 2006.
In 2010, Robbins deployed to Afghanistan as part of a route clearance unit, arriving first in Kandahar before moving to Jalalabad. His unit conducted sweeps for explosives and direct interactions with local villagers. After relocating to the Kandahar Province, his mission became more intense, with his team regularly uncovering IEDs. In 2011, while responding to an IED strike, Robbins' vehicle was hit by an IED, injuring his foot and leading to his evacuation from Afghanistan. Robbins was medically discharged and returned to Clemson to continue his education.
2013-11-25