- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Anthony Forrest Lett
- Creator:
- Hilliard, Tony (Anthony Stephen), 1944-
Lett, Anthony Forrest, 1945- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center
- Date of Original:
- 2016-06-27
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
MiG (Fighter planes)
Pueblo Incident, 1968
Georgia State University
United States. Navy. Officer Candidate School
Bon Homme Richard (Aircraft carrier)
Enterprise (Aircraft carrier : CVN-65)
Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association - People:
- Bucher, Lloyd M., 1927-2004
- Location:
- Philippines, Subic Bay, 14.8203471, 120.281528722201
Singapore, 1.352083, 103.819836
United States, California, San Diego County, San Diego, 32.71571, -117.16472
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
United States, Rhode Island, Newport County, Newport, 41.4901, -71.31283 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Tony Lett recalls his experiences serving in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He remembers growing up in Atlanta, the son of a World War II veteran who served on the USS Yorktown. He remembers listening to the stories his father's shipmates would tell when they visited the family. He describes his education, his reasons for joining the Navy, his training, and his first voyage to Vietnam. He was assigned to the USS Bonhomme Richard and remembers landing on the carrier while it was deployed in the Pacific. He recalls watching all his belongings fly across the deck during flight operations when his luggage broke open upon his arrival. He describes many incidents, both harrowing and amusing, including a near-collision with a tanker; the traditional "crossing the line" ceremony; losing a helicopter and its entire crew during flight operations; Soviet forces trying to jam the carrier's communications; and watching Japanese Zero planes land in San Diego as they prepared to be transported to Hawaii for the filming of the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!" He recalls his post-military career, family, and activities and reflects on his military service.
Cubi Point; Yankee Station; NAS North Island; USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754); HMAS Melbourne; collision; radio officer; "Comms Shack"; wardroom; General Quarters; "the cage"; J. O. bunk room; courts martial; brig; comms officer; pollywog; shellback; "kiss the royal baby"; crypto security; carrier quals; radio room; fire; tug; Bear Bombers; flight ops; early outs; USS Oriskany fire (1966); USS Forrestal fire (1967); USS Enterprise fire (1969;
Tony Lett served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/818
- 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:
- 1:43:32
- 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:
-