- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Doyle Mote
- Creator:
- Galloway, Joseph L.
Mote, Doyle, 1947- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center
- Date of Original:
- 2020-02-26
2020 - Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
Race relations
Gay military personnel--United States
United States. Army. Signal Company, 472nd - Location:
- Germany, Böblingen, 48.68212, 9.01171
Germany, Nellingen, 48.54196, 9.79053
United States, Georgia, Muscogee County, Fort Benning, 32.43487, -84.93382
United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Fort Gordon, 33.42097, -82.16206 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Doyle Mote recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army signal corps in Germany during the Vietnam War. He describes his family, growing up years, education, and reasons for attending a full four years of ROTC. After airborne training, he remembers being told he would either be posted to Alaska or to Germany and then to Vietnam. He received orders to Germany as part of the REFORGER in June of 1970 and explains the presence of United States troops in Germany. He describes living conditions in Germany and reflects on the people with whom he served, including several openly gay men. He comments on some tensions with the German people, particularly toward Black soldiers who dated German women. His wife joined him in Germany and he recalls her perceptions of the Army wives' club there and why she decided to accept a position with American Express. He describes their leisure activities and travel. He remembers the first time his base began installing security cameras in response to the threat of terrorism by the Baader–Meinhof Group as well as the Black September killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He remembers returning home to the United States for his father-in-law's funeral. He reflects on his military experience, particularly the difficulty he's had coming to terms with serving in Germany rather than Vietnam. He comments on how the war is remembered today and describes his volunteer work with veterans at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Interviewer Joe Galloway presents him with the Vietnam War 50th Commemoration lapel pin.
Fulda Gap; REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany); 7th Corps Support Command; 310th Civil Affairs; Panzer Kaserne; jump school; volksmarching; "Butterbar Captains"; "Ring Knockers"; Baader-Meinhof Group; Black September; 1972 Olympic Games; terrorism; race relations; "Airborne Shuffle"; AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio and Television Service); Stars & Strips; Space-A; Vietnam War 50th Commemoration; Toby Potter; Bob Crenshaw; Shepherd Center
Doyle Mote served in the United States Army Signal Corps in Germany during the Vietnam War. - External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/909
- 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:
- 46:43
- 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:
-
