John Wilhelm's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center

Catalog number: VIS 201.0562
In this interview, John Wilhelm recounts his experiences as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve from the 1960s through the 1980s. He recalls how his middle-class upbringing led him to join Navy ROTC at the University of Michigan. He commissioned in 1960 as a second lieutenant, and served as an intelligence staff officer. He describes how the Cuban Missile Crisis quickly changed everything when his unit was activated and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There he was an 81mm mortar platoon leader, and he tells several stories from that episode. He also talks about his emotions as he arrived in Cuba. He discusses how the end of the draft in 1973 changed the social composition and education levels of enlisted men in the reserve component, and he talks about the benefits and importance of the reserve component today. He recounts his civilian life and career after leaving active duty. He also discusses the impact of his military experience on his conceptions of race and his overall racial outlook. He again considers the end of the draft, arguing that having a more representative force is necessary. He further discusses his training experiences at Quantico and his preconceived notions of the South before his move to Atlanta.

Видео John Wilhelm's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center канала Atlanta History Center