Interview, Peter Roesser, USA

Peter Roesser (b. 1944) was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He attended John Marshall High school and worked in Rochester’s glass industry before enlisting in the United States Army on June 24, 1965. Roesser completed his basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and served as an assistant gunner and radar operator in Vietnam. He was in the Army for two years and was honorably discharged on June 24, 1967. Roesser returned to Rochester, where he spent several years speaking in local classrooms about his experiences in Vietnam.

In this interview, Roesser discusses combat, making friends in the military, and coping with his wartime experiences after the war. He explains that he saw a lot of combat in Vietnam and shares a story about a particularly bad attack just two weeks before he was sent home. He recalls the dangers of day-to-day life in the field, including scorpions, barbed wire, and “punji” pits with sharp sticks at the bottom of them. Roesser feels that the most significant aspect of his service was forming friendships with his fellow servicemen. He recalls having a difficult time transitioning back to civilian life after the war and describes an emotional return visit to Vietnam in 1991. He notes that counseling, talking about his wartime experiences, and working with fellow veterans has helped him to cope, and says that he would serve again if given the opportunity.