- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Ronnie Bjarne Rondem
- Creator:
- Galloway, Joseph L.
Rondem, Ronnie Bjarne, 1943- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center
- Date of Original:
- 2015-04-27
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
Operation Attleboro, 1966
Operation Junction City, 1967
United States. Army. Infantry
United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st
United States. Army. Light Infantry Brigade, 196th
United States. Army. Aviation Company, 71st
Texas. National Guard
United States. Army. Officer Candidate School
Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Monuments - People:
- Lusk, Bill
- Location:
- United States, Alabama, Dale County, Fort Rucker, 31.34282, -85.71538
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Ronnie Rondem recalls his two tours in Vietnam, serving in the United States Army. He explains his enlistment and that he was unable to get the duty he initially requested because of his foreign birth. He first trained as a medic, but later attended Officer Candidate School and was assigned to a light infantry brigade. He recalls his first impressions of Vietnam, including his first night, billeted at a warehouse where many of his comrades slept in the coffins being stored there. He describes his second tour with the 101st Airborne and many of his experiences, including scrounging for necessary equipment, using explosives to clear the jungle for landing zones, dealing with clusters of red ants that would fall from the trees into the clothing of his men, and losing several of his men to enemy fire. He remembers his return home from each of his tours, including being spit on in San Francisco after returning from his first tour, and being told to change into civilian clothes before leaving the airport upon his second return. He comments on how his service has informed his life and mentions his work with the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association and how he recently created a nonprofit, Markers for Milton, Inc., to support the creation of memorial markers for deceased veterans in Milton, Georgia.
ASA; 91 Bravo; dream sheet; platoon leader; Camp Redball; Sergeant "Charlie the Grasshopper" Susa; Wolfhound; ant hills; C-4 (explosive); "fire in the hole"; "midnight requisition"; scrounging; 106mm recoilless rifle; Fire Base; 272nd VC regiment; "Mike Force"; Black Virgin Mountain; reconnaissance by fire; Fire Base Airborne; Hamburger Hill; Eagles Nest; nightly defense position; forward observer; Freedom Bird; Reduction in Force; Markers for Milton, Inc.;
Ronnie Rondem served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/806
- 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:
- 57:37
- 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:
-
