Willy Bitz Oral History Interview; Prairie Memories The Vietnam War Years
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- A veteran of Army Combat Engineers, William "Willy" Bitz talked about his experiences in basic training, in combat in Vietnam, and his life after his military service ended. Bitz relates the story of serving as the escort for the body of a friend after he was killed in action.
This oral history was recorded in Bismarck, ND on August 3, 2017. The interview was conducted by Bob Dambach of Prairie Public Broadcasting as part of the Prairie Memories The Vietnam Years project.
Production funding provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, The North Dakota Humanities Council, WETA, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by the members of Prairie Public.
About the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed a landmark piece of legislation - the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment - which provided funding to public television stations serving audiences in Minnesota. Its mission is to help preserve and document the treasures of culture, history, and heritage that make Minnesota special, and to increase access to the natural and cultural resources we all share.
Funded in part by the North Dakota Humanities Council, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the website do not necessarily reflect those of the North Dakota Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
GOD BLESS YOU SIR !!!
Thank you for your service Willy!
Drafted from Grand Rapids, Michigan May 67. Got home from Vietnam in May of 69. In Oakland I met a few of my friends from Basic and found out that my best friend from Basic, Roger Ward, had been killed in April of 1968 while working as a combat engineer with the infantry. RIP.
This is probably the best Veteran of Veitnam interview I have ever seen!!!! This man is a true PATRIOT!!!! Thank you for your service sir!!!!
God bless you
Good man.
Very honest guy. Sensitive. Good interview
M.
I was in 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon" Echo Co, 310th Infantry, Ft. Leonard Wood, 1992. Our squad had 2 Nort' Dakota boys, 3 Minnesota boys and me from Buffalo/ Rochester. We were The Great Laker Squad. North Dakotans like this man are GREAT WONDERFUL FOLKS. WELCOME HOME, SIR. The vast majority of Americans RESPECT you and LOOK up to you Vietnam Veterans in AWE. The military and great character values are YOURS.
Rest in peace Willy.
Rip willy
Construction, engineers, had the most casualties in Vietnam, bomb and booby trap clearing, and just plain accidents, by very young men. 96% of men wounded never sàw who did it.
What a positive attitude. Cant say much for his dad.