- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Oliver Eddie Murray, 1940-
- Creator:
- Taylor, David
Murray, Oliver Eddie, 1940- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center
- Date of Original:
- 2017-04-28
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--African Americans
Tet Offensive, 1968
Bronze Star Medal (U.S.)
Agent Orange
Purple Heart
Fort Valley State University
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st
United States. Reserve Officers Training Corps
United States. Army. Light Infantry Brigade, 199th
United States. Army. Army, 3rd
Atlanta Law School - People:
- Cavazos, Richard E., 1929-
Davison, Frederic E. (Frederic Ellis), 1917-
Alakulppi, Vesa J., 1941- - Location:
- Germany, 51.5, 10.5
Korea, 37.663998, 127.978458
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Fort McPherson, 33.70733, -84.43354
United States, Georgia, Muscogee County, Fort Benning, 32.43487, -84.93382
United States, South Carolina, Richland County, Fort Jackson, 34.04757, -80.83335
United States, South Carolina, Richland County, Kingville, 33.80571, -80.69759
Vietnam, Biên Hòa, 10.9569454, 106.8536492 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Type:
- MovingImage
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Oliver Murray recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army during and after the Vietnam War. He remembers growing up in rural South Carolina; the two-room schoolhouse in which he was educated; and the segregated facilities in his community. He attended ROTC at South Carolina State College and decided to make a career in the military because of the limited opportunities available to a college educated African American man there in the 1960s. He describes his two tours in Vietnam; the men with whom he served, including several commanding officers he admired; being wounded in a search and destroy mission in 1966; and the racial inequities and discrimination that he witnessed. He recalls his post-Vietnam War assignments; his advancement in rank; and the additional educational opportunities of which he took advantage. He remembers retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1984 and describes his post-military career as a lawyer; his family; and the Agent Orange-related illnesses that he has experienced. He reflects on his military career and the importance of education.
RQ4 test; platoon leader; search and destroy; "Fishnet Factory"; S-2; Big Red One; Army Commendation Medal; S-3; S-4; Airborne School; Command and General Staff College; reduction in force (RIF); Junction City; Combat Infantry Badge (CIB); Air Medal
Oliver Murray served in the United States Army during and after the Vietnam War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/826
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 1:14:33
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Contributing Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
