Interview with Thomas J. Kubeck, August 10, 2017

Interview Summary

Thomas Kubeck describes his family life and childhood in Connecticut. He talks about his education, interest in sports, and the culture he grew up in both in terms of his Polish family background as well as the general American culture of the 1950s and 1960s. He talks about being drafted during the Vietnam War and choosing to enlist in the Army. He talks about his experiences in basic training, Advanced Infantry Training (AIT), and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) school. Kubeck discusses some of the missions he was involved with during his time in Vietnam, what it was like to be part of a tank troop, the types of tanks they had, and the roles of each crew member. Kubeck describes the night he got hit with shrapnel as the worst attack he saw in Vietnam. He talks about seeing his fellow soldiers dying, and being hit himself by shrapnel from a grenade. He talks about his mentality during combat and his realizations after the battle was over.

[This is the first part of an interview which continues in interview 2017oh560_honor009 which can be accessed at https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt705q4rn01x]

Interview Keyword

Childhood Education Families. Sports Travel Immigrants Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) School Basic training (Military education)

Interview LC Subject

Tanks (Military science) Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Equipment and supplies. Vietnam War, 1961-1975. Military life. Military supplies Wounds and injuries. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Psychological aspects Artillery War casualties Combat Draft

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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