Interview with Steve Southworth, May 18, 2018

Interview Summary

This is an interview with Steve Southworth - a veteran of the Vietnam War who served with the Army. He talks about growing up in the Long Lick community in Scott County while his father was a police officer in Georgetown. He graduated from college in 1965 and was drafted by the Army two years later. Southworth recounts his time in combat with the 4th Infantry Division as a radio operator on numerous patrols around Pleiku with II Corps. He says that he and his fellow soldiers frequently questioned the United States' role in Vietnam, usually over "a good joint" back at their base at Camp Enari. Midway through his tour, Southworth says his brother was badly injured at Khe Sanh, and that this sent him into a deep depression for the remainder of his time in country. Upon returning to the United States, Southworth recalls being treated very disrespectfully by protesters and he says he became an alcoholic while trying to self-medicate his post-traumatic stress disorder. He talks about becoming sober and finding a life after Vietnam, but concludes the interview by expressing frustration with things like the Honor Flights as he feels the Vietnam veterans should not have had to wait this long to be honored.

Interview Keyword

Scott County, Kentucky Georgetown, Kentucky Vietnam War U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division PRC-25 Ca Ranh Pleiku II Corps Viet Cong (VC) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Anti-war demonstrators Army Commendation Medal Long Lick (Ky.) Radiotelephone operators AN/PRC-25 radio set Camp Enari (Vietnam) Georgetown (Ky.) Monsoons Montagnards Cambodia Veterans' Administration (VA) Survivor's guilt Radioteletype

Interview LC Subject

Vietnam War, 1961-1975. United States. Army, Vietnam United States. Army. Infantry Division, 4th. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects Veteran reintegration. Veterans--Mental health--United States. Veterans--Alcohol use--United States. Post-traumatic stress disorder--United States. Alcoholics--Rehabilitation--United States.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.