Summary Information
Dennis Boyer Papers and Photographs 1964-1977
WVM Mss 57
1.4 linear ft. (3 archives boxes, 12 oversized folders, 6 computer disks) of papers, 0.2 linear ft. (1 folder and 67 negative flaps) of photographs, 1 videocassette, and 2 video discs.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
Papers and negatives of Dennis L. Boyer, a weather observer in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. The majority of the collection consists of literature, flyers, and posters relating to anti-war organizations in the early 1970's, particularly the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). These materials give an idea of the aims and scope of such organizations. Also documented are several anti-war trials, including the Gainesville Conspiracy. Correspondence, mostly letters written to Boyer during his Air Force service, describe events on the home front. Boyer's letters to his parents, and especially to his friend Peter, describe his time in Vietnam and his growing discontent with the conflict. The collection also contains negatives of photographs that Boyer took while in Vietnam. Most of the shots are of landscapes and buildings, but some show unidentified US military personnel. English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00057 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Dennis L. Boyer was born on July 13, 1949 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He attended local schools and enlisted in the Air Force upon graduating from high school in 1967. He received some initial training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas before taking specialized courses at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. He specialized in weather observation, and served a tour of duty in Vietnam from July 1970 through June 1971. Shortly after returning to the U.S. Boyer received his discharge and returned to Pennsylvania.
Boyer enrolled in a local university and became very involved in the anti-war movement. He joined Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). He stayed very involved with VVAW for several years and climbed the ranks on a local level. He eventually moved to Wisconsin, settled in Dodgeville, and became a labor activist. He has written several books about Wisconsin folklore.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Dennis L. Boyer are divided into three series: Activism, Military, and Photographs.
Activism (1971-1977) documents Boyer's interest and participation in many activist groups during the 1970's, particularly anti-war organizations. It contains flyers, literature, and posters from numerous anti-war organizations including Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). National Steering Committee proceedings describe the goals and activities of the VVAW in 1973-1974, while chapter lists and regional and state coordinator rosters, newspaper clippings, and an objectives sheet give an idea of the breadth of the organization. Other materials describe VVAW protests and events at Valley Forge and Washington, DC. Several protest-related court cases are represented in the collection including the Gainesville and Riverside Conspiracies and the Karl Armstrong and Patrick Chenoweth cases. Attempts to gain amnesty for protesters and better benefits for veterans are shown in the National Council for Universal and Unconditional Amnesty and Veterans Bonus Coalition materials. Two CD-ROMs contain declassified FBI files on the VVAW and affiliated groups. Also included are materials related to Vietnam War-themed art and literature: a comic book, "The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers," which portrays the protest culture of the 1970's, a poem about the fighting by Shunka Monitu of Laos, and bibliographies of Vietnam War non-fiction and fiction books, which includes a video lecture by MSgt. Robert Need.
Military (1964-1975) consists mostly of photocopied letters Boyer received from his friends during his service with the Air Force in the Vietnam War. Most of the letters contain news from home and ask about his experiences. Many letters are from high school friends and contain some commentary on the pros and cons of the war. The letters from Peter Himmelberger in particular are critical of the war and governmental policies. Boyer's letters to his parents, sister Susan, and to Peter (a friend whose last name is not referred to) describe his stateside training with the Air Force, his time in Vietnam, and his growing discontent with the war. Personal service records include correspondence from Boyer's recruitment to discharge, letters of recommendation from commanding officers, and exams and evaluations, including one for premarksmanship with an M-16. Further correspondence from World War II, presumably from relatives or friends of Dennis Boyer, is included. Also included are a 1967 Christmas menu from Vietnam, Air Force posters and a Vietnamese calendar page.
Still Images (1970-1971) consist mostly of negatives, presumably taken by Boyer during his tour in Vietnam, and some slides. Most of the shots are scenery, showing buildings, natives, and landscapes. Some of the negatives include people, often in military uniform, but they are unidentified. Also included are four color slides, presumably from a sightseeing trip taken by Boyer during the war.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Dennis Boyer, Dodgeville, WI, 1994-2002. Accession Number: TR0159, TR0172, TR0234, TR0269, TR0581, TR0594, Mss 2002.31, and Mss 2009.014. The collection was previously known as Accession Number: Record Group 57.
This collection was organized as a result of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission project grant (2003-075).
Preliminary inventory by Mark Van Ells, circa 1995. Processed by Russell Horton in 2004. Processed with additions by Duane Rodel in 2012.
Contents List
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Series: Vietnam Activism
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Subseries: Activist Organizations/Causes, 1973-1974
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Box
1
Folder
2
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American Friends Service Committee, 1972-1975
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Box
1
Folder
3
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American Serviceman's Union, undated
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Art & Literature
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Box
1
Folder
6
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“Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers” comic book, undated
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Box
3
Folder
13
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Poem by Shunka Monitu
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Box
3
Folder
14
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Bibliographies & Articles
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DVD User
1
Folder
4
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The Literature Of Viet Nam , circa 1995
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Karl Armstrong case, circa 1973
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Patrick Chenoweth Defense Committee, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, 1976
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Gainesville Conspiracy
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Correspondence, 1972-1973
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Ephemera, circa 1973
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Literature, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Newspaper clippings, 1973
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Ov
11
Folder
8
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Poster, undated
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Indochina Peace Campaign, 1974
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National Action/Research on the Military Industrial Complex
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Box
1
Folder
13
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“Aid to Thieu,” 1972
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Box
1
Folder
14
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Literature, 1971-1973
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Box
1
Folder
15
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National Committee to Free Bobby Williams, Brochure, undated
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Box
1
Folder
16
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National Council for Universal and Unconditional Amnesty, 1977
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Box
1
Folder
17
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National Peace Action Coalition, undated
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Box
1
Folder
18
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People's Coalition for Peace and Justice, Flyer, undated
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Personal items
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Checkbook, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
20
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Daily planner, 1972
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Posters (general activism)
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Ov
14
Folder
8-9
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Large, 1971, undated
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Ov
11
Folder
7
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Larger, undated
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Ov
12
Folder
3
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Largest, undated
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Riverside Political Prisoners Defense Committee
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Box
1
Folder
21
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Literature, circa 1971
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Box
1
Folder
22
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Newsletters, circa 1971
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Ov
15
Folder
8
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Newspapers, 1974
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Box
1
Folder
23
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U.S. Committee to Aid the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, Literature, 1972
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Veterans Bonus Coalition
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Box
1
Folder
24
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Correspondence, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
25
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Newspaper clippings, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
26
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PAVE veterans lists, 1971-1972
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Ov
11
Folder
9
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Veterans Rights, Poster, undated
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Box
1
Folder
27
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Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), 1974-1975
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Box
1
Folder
28
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“Alternative,” undated
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Box
1
Folder
29
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Chapter lists, 1973-1974
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CD User
1
Folder
2-3
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F.B.I. files on V.V.A.W.
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Flyers, 1971-1975
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Guidelines for organizing and operating chapters, undated
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Lehigh Valley (PA) Chapter, 1971-1973
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Flyers, undated
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Box
2
Folder
5-6
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National Steering Committee, Proceedings, 1973-1974
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Newspaper clippings, 1971-1973
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Objectives, undated
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Operation County Fair, 1973-1974
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Papers/Reports, 1973-1974
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Ov
14
Folder
10
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Posters, 1971, undated
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Ov
11
Folder
10
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Oversized, undated
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Regional and State Coordinators list, undated
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Valley Forge, 1971
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Washington, DC demonstration, 1974
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Box
2
Folder
14
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“We Accuse,” 1971
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Series: Military
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Subseries: Correspondence (photocopied)
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From Dennis Boyer
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Box
2
Folder
15-16
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To Parents, 1967-1971
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Box
2
Folder
17
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To Peter [?], 1970-1971
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Box
3
Folder
12
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To Susan (sister), 1967-1968
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Box
3
Folder
7
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To Dennis Boyer, 1964-1975
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Box
2
Folder
18
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From Val Bertoia, 1969-1971
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Box
2
Folder
19
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From Steven Boyer (cousin), 1967-1970
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Box
2
Folder
20
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From Richard Brand, 1967-1970
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Box
2
Folder
21
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From Carl Brensinger, 1967-1970
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Box
2
Folder
22
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From Ed Greiss, 1968
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Box
2
Folder
23
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From William Haines, 1967-1968
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Box
2
Folder
24
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From Peter Himmelberger, 1967-1970
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Box
3
Folder
1
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From Norm Hoffman, 1966-1970
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Box
3
Folder
2
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From Larry Melcher, 1968
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Box
3
Folder
3
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From Robert Minner, 1968
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Box
3
Folder
4
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From Clinton Moyer, 1967-1968
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Box
3
Folder
5
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From Bryon Oswald, 1966-1968
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Box
3
Folder
6
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From John Worbetz, 1968-1969
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World War II
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Box
3
Folder
15
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Army Postcards
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Box
3
Folder
16
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To Grace (Mrs. Walter) Choyce
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Box
3
Folder
17
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V-Mails
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Personal service records, 1967-1971
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Cards/certificates, 1967-1970
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Christmas menu (Vietnam), 1967
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Box
3
Folder
11
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Exam, Premarksmanship for M-16, undated
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Subseries: Posters
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Ov
11
Folder
11
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Air Force
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Ov
11
Folder
12
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Vietnamese calendar page, 1971
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Ov
26
Folder
18
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Weather map of the Soviet Union, undated
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Series: Still Images
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
28
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Vietnam, undated
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
29
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DaNang & Saigon, 1971
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
30
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DaNang & China Beach, 1971
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
31
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Long Binh, 1970
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
32
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Saigon, 1970
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
33
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Bearcat & Long Thanh, 1971
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
34
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River, Combined Intelligence Center, Vietnam, 1970
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
35
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Temple, Bob Spivey's visit, 1970
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
36
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Tan Son Nhut Air Base, 1970
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
37
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Zoo & helicoptor flight, 1970
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PhN
3
Folder
4
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Tan Son Hoa, 1971
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Temples
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
38
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Chantabury & Congly, 1971
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
39
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Cholon, 1971
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PhN
3
Folder
5
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Vung Tau Trip, 1971
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Paper Print Box
4
Folder
40
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Slides [4]
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