Interview, Frederick Elliott, USA

Frederick Elliott (b. 1946) was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1964 and began working as an apprentice at Eastman Kodak. He was drafted into the United States Army in December 1965 and served in Vietnam until December 1967, when he was honorably discharged and returned home to Rochester. Elliott retired from Eastman Kodak after 30 years. In 1983, he became actively involved in the local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20, also serving as the National Vice President of that organization.

In his interview, Elliott explains that he did his basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas, and his advanced training as an Artillery Surveyor at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. His first assignment was to help re-activate the 9th Infantry Division at Ft. Riley. In December 1966, Elliott and his division left for Vietnam. He describes the journey by train from Kansas to California and the two-week voyage by sea to Vietnam, during which a fellow passenger jumped overboard and drowned. Elliott shares his impressions of Vietnam and the culture shock that he and the other servicemen experienced upon their arrival. Elliott spent his in-country service with the 11th Armored Cavalry in the northern area of South Vietnam and discusses the intensity of daily life there. He reports that he is very proud to be a veteran and is dedicated to serving his fellow veterans through his work with VVA Chapter 20.