Interview, Richard Isaman, USA

Richard Isaman (b. 1947) was born in Hornell, New York, and grew up in the town of Dalton. He was drafted into the United States Army after completing a college business program and losing his student deferment. Isaman served as a Radio Operator in Vietnam from April 1969 to February 1970. After his service, he was honorably discharged and returned home. He eventually moved to Rochester, New York, where he married and had 2 children. Isaman became actively involved with the Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 20 and the Veterans Court in Rochester. In his retirement, he enjoyed part-time work as a coach at the YMCA.

In his interview, Isaman discusses his basic training at Fort Dix, New Jerseuy, and his stateside duty at Fort Carson, Colorado. He describes what it was like to be stationed in the jungle in Vietnam, and reflects on his exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. Isaman talks about his duties as a Radio Operator, tracking enemy movement and relaying information to his commanders. He shares the story of a particularly intense experience he had handling communications for a unit that was under attack by the North Vietnamese, and another story about his platoon coming under “friendly fire” from an American helicopter that mistook them for the enemy. Isaman discusses booby traps, meals, malaria tablets, bathing, and other aspects of his daily life in Vietnam. He notes how the servicemen formed close friendships and supported each other, in contrast to the lack of support they felt from American civilians and anti-war protestors. Isaman notes the effect the war had on the families of those who served, and reflects on how going through such a difficult experience at such a young age caused him to mature more quickly than his peers who did not go to war. He recognizes a recent change in attitude about Vietnam and those who served there, but suspects much of this comes from guilt over not being more supportive at the time.