Interviewed by:

Eliza Stevens and Laurel Shaw

"I feel very lucky that I came back, 'cause fifty-seven thousand didn't come back."
~ Robert McPherson 22:48

Robert McPherson's Story:

At the age of 21, Robert McPherson enlisted himself into the Air Force after dropping out of college, knowing that he was going to be drafted into the Vietnam War anyway. He felt very comfortable joining the Air Force because he knew he wanted to be a part of the police force or become a policeman and he thought that he would get a better education that way. The day he left for Vietnam, he was scared for what would happen, but really excited, because he didn’t know what he would face overseas while facing the Viet Cong. After being stationed overseas in Pleiku, he had many mixed emotions and he didn’t think he could make it the whole 365 days he was stationed there. He had absolutely no contact with his family or friends back home. He met up with his old friend, Freddy Curtis one of his only friends stationed in Vietnam. Something went terribly wrong with his friend. He said that one of the best parts of the war was the comradery with his roommates and everyone he met. Without contact with his family, he managed to survive his time overseas. He has strong feelings from serving in the war and thought that was a great experience and if anyone has the chance to serve for our country, he thinks that they should. Even though he still deals with PTSD he is still completely happy about everything that happened to him and is happy that he served for the country, even though the United States didn't win.