Interview, James Visconte, USN

James Visconte (b. 1946) was born in Rochester, New York, and grew up in Henrietta. He attended Madison High School, but did not graduate. Visconte joined the United States Navy in 1964 at age 18, preferring to enlist rather than be drafted. He earned his GED while in the service and completed basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. From there he was assigned to a flag communication ship in San Diego, California, where he volunteered for a special unit that was sent to Vietnam. While he was in the service, Visconte worked as a welder and led amphibious vehicles into combat. He earned five medals for his service, including a Vietnamese Service Medal. Visconte was honorably discharged from service in 1967. He married his first wife in 1969 and went to work for the United States Postal Service from 1970 to 2001. His second wife appears in this interview.

In his interview, Visconte discusses his experiences in combat during Vietnam, the effect that the herbicide Agent Orange has had on veterans, and his life since the war. He recalls serving as Master of Beach Operations and making many good friends during the war, some of which he still keeps in contact with. Others, he reports, were killed in action and many more have since died from exposure to Agent Orange. Visconte reports that he has developed Type 2 Diabetes as a result of his exposure to the herbicide. He recalls coming home from Vietnam and being spat on and called a baby killer by antiwar protestors and how this made him feel as if he should never have gone into the war. He shares that he has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for much of his life. Visconte discusses his involvement in the local Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20, and being a member of a Vietnam veterans outreach group.