Interview, Gerald Daniels, USA

Gerald Daniels (b. 1948) was born and grew up in Albion, New York. After graduating high school in 1966, he began college in Kentucky, but transferred to Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. Realizing that he was failing his classes and that a draft notice was inevitable, Daniels withdrew from school and enlisted in the United States Army in 1969. He completed one tour in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1971. While in the service, Daniels became addicted to drugs and he struggled with this addiction after returning home. He ultimately found support through his membership in the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20.

In his interview, Daniels discusses what he learned in basic training and advanced basic training, where he became a specialist in radio teletyping. He reflects on his emotions over leaving for Vietnam and how his family and wife handled the news of his departure. Daniels talks about jungle warfare and how he was affected by the many battles that he experienced during his service. He explains how he and his fellow servicemen used drugs to escape the things they saw and did, and how he detoxified himself during his trip home after being honorably discharged. Daniels discusses the negative affects the war had on him and what his life was like afterwards. He shares that it took him a long time before he was able to talk about his experience, but that he eventually was able to receive disability benefits for the problems the war caused him.