Interview, Stephen Mros, USA

Stephen Mros (b. 1947) was born in Rochester, New York, and was drafted into the United States Army on September 13, 1967. He was trained at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina, specializing in Advanced Infantry. Mros was involved in over 40 air assaults and other combat situations in Vietnam. He was in the military for two years and was honorably discharged on September 9, 1969. After his service, Mros returned to Rochester and worked for Xerox and the United States Post Office. In 1981, he helped start Rochester’s local Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20.

In this interview, Mros recalls the dangers of walking through the Vietnamese jungle, where he and his fellow servicemen often encountered booby traps and landmines. He describes the chaos of combat and air assaults and the confusion of never really knowing who or where the enemy was. Mros reports that he received over 40 medals for his service, including several good conduct medals, air assault medals, and the prestigious Silver Star for gallantry in action. Mros shares that he has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since returning home from Vietnam and that he has tried to deal with it by using drugs and alcohol, explaining how alcoholism has made it difficult for him to maintain a steady job. Mros shares that his experiences in Vietnam have turned him against the war.