The Vietnam War : Our Veterans’ Stories | May 28 – August 19, 2016 | John Hay Library, main gallery | 20 Prospect Street | Providence, RI
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Between the late 1950s and early 1970s, Brown graduated more than 100 students who would find themselves involved in the Vietnam War. Whether as doctors, draftees, enlisted men, or officers fresh out of the ROTC program, these young men left the comfort of Brown’s campus to navigate the uncertainty of war in Vietnam.Their paths differed, but all of their stories are marked by struggles and triumphs, personal awakenings and tragedy. Some were looking for honor, adventure, or camaraderie—others were simply looking to stay alive. Not all of them survived.
This exhibition, located in the lobby and Willis Reading Room at the John Hay Library, tracks the experiences of seven of these alumni through their personal items and ephemera. It illustrates their journeys from classroom to war, and back home. The items are drawn from the Brown University Vietnam Veterans Archive, a growing collection and oral history project initiated by David Taylor ’66 (Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, 1966-1971) and Professor Beth Taylor, co-director of Brown’s Nonfiction Writing Program (no relation).
Select any of the seven names from the drop-down menu at the top of the page or the list below to learn more about their stories, and see selected materials included in the exhibition.
Michael J. Carley ’62 | Barry J. Kowalski ’66 | Robert A. Seiple ’65 | David E. Taylor ’66 | Terry Uyeyama ’57 | Augustus A. White III ’57 | Jerry A. Zimmer ’66