Interview, Raymond Fox, USA

Raymond Fox (b. 1953) was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, with his 11 brothers and sisters. He was a troubled and angry youth who struggled with drug use. His parents forced him to join the United States Army in 1971, believing the military would help him get on the right track. His time in the service, however, only worsened his problems. Fox was dishonorably discharged for disorderly conduct in 1973. He had a difficult transition back to civilian life, in which he continued to struggle with drug use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He worked a variety of different jobs, spent time in prison, was married briefly, and had four children. At the time of his interview, Fox was sober and living in Rochester, New York.

The primary topic throughout his interview is Fox’s battle with drugs before, during, and after his military service. He describes the military as “a petri dish for the drug addict,” explaining how his addiction grew worse during his time in Vietnam. He used heroin daily during the war and was sent to a military detox program, where he was asked to participate in an experimental study that allowed him to use as much heroin as he wanted until he nearly overdosed. After detoxing, Fox was sent back to the states. He shares a story about being court-martialed for going “absent without leave” (AWOL) and relates how his hatred for the military was so great that he did everything possible to get kicked out, which he ultimately achieved in February 1973. When he returned to civilian life, Fox’s drug addiction was compounded by PTSD, from which he had a very difficult time recovering. He explains how he has been ineligible to receive veterans’ benefits because he was dishonorably discharged from service, having failed to take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade his status during the Carter administration. Fox considers his time in the service to be a big mistake and resents the role the military has played in his life.