- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Peter A. Sauer
- Creator:
- Bruckner, William Joseph
Sauer, Peter A., 1952- - Date of Original:
- 2015-02-16
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American
Terrorism—Italy
Birnbrey, Henry, 1923-
Hussein, Saddam, 1937-2006
Tripoli (LPH-10 : Helicopter carrier)
Okinawa (LPH-3 : Helicopter carrier)
United States. Army. Division, 9th
United States. Army. Special Operations Command, 1st
United States. Army. Civil Affairs Battalion
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 24th
National Infantry Museum (Fort Benning, Ga.)
Patriot missiles
Scud missiles
Highway of Death
Operation Provide Comfort - Location:
- Bahrain, 26.03333, 50.55
Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 11.568271, 104.9224426
Iraq, 33.0, 44.0
Philippines, Mount Pinatubo, 15.1445511, 120.3509967
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 24.6319692, 46.7150648
United States, Alabama, Salem, 32.5968028, -85.2385527
United States, California, San Diego County, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 33.35386, -117.42558
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Chattahoochee County, Fort Benning, 32.35237, -84.96882
United States, Louisiana, Vernon Parish, Fort Polk, 31.0465776, -93.2054396
United States, New York, Erie County, Buffalo, 42.88645, -78.87837
United States, New York, Erie County, Tonawanda, 43.02033, -78.88031
United States, North Carolina, Cherry Point, 40.7246703, -73.9511656
United States, North Carolina, Cumberland County, Fort Bragg, 35.139, -79.00603
United States, South Carolina, Beaufort County, Parris Island, 32.3352, -80.69233
United States, Washington, Pierce County, Fort Lewis, 47.06171, -122.58344 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In this interview, Peter Sauer recalls his service in the Marine Corps and the Army. He enlisted after graduation from high school, and since he was only 17, his parents would not sign his enlistment papers unless he chose a non-combat MOS. He describes his book camp experience as "not too bad after 12 years of Catholic school." He became a crew chief on helicopters and was stationed on helicopter carriers; his ship was on standby to evacuate Cambodia during the war in Vietnam. Later, he became part of a search and rescue crew and sat in the front seat of the helicopter. Upon discharge, he tried to find work, but found not only a reluctance to hire veterans, but often "outright hostility" and encountered others who faced the same. He felt that the military was "where he grew up" and tried to re-join the Marines. At this time, there were problems with recruitment and they turned him down. Because he was interested in infantry, the Army was glad to have him. He recalls Army basic training as more intense. He was sent to a missile site in Italy where he worked long hours and had lots of inspections. One of the major issues they faced was terrorism, primarily from Italy's Red Brigade and Germany's Baader Meinhof. He did have time to tour Italy and made many friends there. He learned Italian and also qualified in French, Spanish and Tagalog with the Army. He became a drill sergeant with the Army Training Board and soon returned to Italy. Soon after his next return to the States, Iraq invaded Kuwait and he was sent to Saudi Arabia. He describes his time there, including stories of watching Iraqi missile attacks from rooftops and the wanton destruction of Kuwait as the Iraqis withdrew. He recalls the destruction of the oil wells and the environmental effects of the resulting fires. He describes how poorly equipped and supplied the Iraqi soldiers were and how brutally they treated the Kuwaitis. he describes female Palestinian collaborators and unused mosques packed with artillery and mortar rounds. He briefly returned to the U.S. but was sent to northern Iraq to help the Kurds. He describes the area as a beautiful mountainous place covered in wildflowers. He encountered Chaldean Catholics there who spoke and wrote in the ancient language and attended Mass with them. He recalls the terrible and complete obliteration of towns by the Iraqis. He describes an encounter with a Peshmerga fighter. While there, he was attached to a Dutch Marine unit and then the British Royal Marines. Following the Gulf War, he went to the Philippines to aid in the humanitarian relief after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. He describes the scenes he saw from the air. After his return to the U.S., he retired from the Army. He worked in Informational Technology for awhile until becoming the manager of volunteers for the infantry museum. He describes the quality of volunteers at the museum. He tells of his family, his children and grandparents, crediting his paternal grandfather with giving him his language abilities. He tells two stories of visitors to the museum, including a Gold Star mother and a Jewish soldier from World War II.
Peter Sauer was in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and the United States Army during the Gulf War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/203
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 1:12:07
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
