Interview with Bert R. Francis and Arlayne Francis, March 29, 2018
Project: Kentucky Honor Flight Veterans Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Francis talks about some of his experiences working as a recruiter on college campuses in Cincinnati and other parts of Ohio after his first tour in Vietnam, and relates some of his encounters with anti-war groups. He talks about his concerns regarding the crises facing the United States in the mid to late 1960s, especially the troubles at universities, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. Francis talks about his surprise regarding the Tet Offensive of 1968. He and his wife Arlayne discuss his experiences and the difficulties that he faced in making calls to the families of Vietnam casualties around that time. Francis talks about the My Lai Massacre and how he can understand what happened, but refuses to condone it. He gives his assessments of Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Vietnam War in general. Francis talks about how he was upset and shocked by the shootings at Kent State University before his second tour. He talks about returning to Vietnam for his second tour in 1970. Bert Francis' wife Arlayne talks about her experiences and outlook as a military spouse during her husband's second tour in Vietnam. He discusses how the tactical situation for the Marine Corps in Vietnam had changed since his first tour and the ways that the Marines were operating more like a garrison army than one in a war zone.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Arlayne Francis
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview LC Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--United States Universities and colleges. United States. Marine Corps Race relations. Protest movements. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Campaigns. Military life. United States. Army. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Atrocities. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Destruction and pillage. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Press coverage.Interview Rights
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Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
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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.
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Francis, Bert R. Interview by Jeffrey Suchanek. 29 Mar. 2018. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Francis, B.R. (2018, March 29). Interview by J. Suchanek. Kentucky Honor Flight Veterans Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Francis, Bert R., interview by Jeffrey Suchanek. March 29, 2018, Kentucky Honor Flight Veterans Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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