Carleton Elliott Simensen Military Heritage Collection, 1862-

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Collection Overview

Abstract

Collection Historical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 10: Vietnam War, 1953-1975

Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955, to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States of America and other anti-communist countries.

The following folders contain documents and photographs pertaining to the Vietnam War.

Sub-Series 1: Anti-Vietnam Movement (UND)

This material includes correspondence from faculty committees and student groups opposed to the war, as well as information about a silent peace vigil which took place in 1967 near the Memorial Union. Also included is material related to anti-war lectures and conferences, and a November 1969 statement from UND President George Starcher. Starcher pledged the support of the University in providing an atmosphere where "debate and expression of opinions" would not be curtailed. At the same time, he insisted that no one be compelled to participate in activities in which they did not want to participate. He also reported that instructors canceling classes in recognition of the Vietnam Moratorium, November 13 and 14, 1969, should arrange to have the class meeting made up. The material dates from 1967-1972, although a portion of it is undated. Deposited by Dean Bernard O'Kelly, Grand Forks, North Dakota, on 9 September 2000 (Acc.#2001-2517).

Box 6

Folder 37: Anti-Vietnam War Material at UND: 1967-1972, undated

Sub-Series 2: Hatton Veteran's Scrapbook

The Hatton Veteran's Scrapbook is a comprehensive anthology of information pertaining to military servicemen and women with ties to the community of Hatton, North Dakota. Compiled by Post Historian Ray Pladson, it was published on July 1, 2006, under the auspices of the Hatton American Legion Carroll O. Flesche Post # 70. The Scrapbook is composed primarily of photocopied newspaper articles dealing either with the progress of the war in general, or the activities of Hatton-area servicemen and women in particular. In addition, a number of certificates, personal photographs, and other forms of primary source documentation have also been included. Historical timelines for each war help readers locate the information they are looking at within the larger frame of events. Extensive tables arranging Hatton-area veterans of each war and/or period by name, date of birth, and branch of service are also included in each chapter.

The Hatton Veteran's Scrapbook was purchased from Ray Pladson, Post Historian, American Legion Carroll O. Flesche Post # 70, Hatton , North Dakota , on August 1, 2006 (Acc.#2006-2853).

Box 8

Folder 29: Hatton Veteran's Scrapbook , July 1, 2006

Sub-Series 3: David 'Doc' Johnson

David "Doc" Johnson of Williston, North Dakota served in Vietnam in 1967-68 with the Second Battalion First Marines. In 1993, Johnson completed a book entitled We Remember, which contained first person accounts and photos from men who served in the Second Battalion First Marines. Johnson wrote the book to preserve the history from Vietnam from the soldier's viewpoint, as opposed to that of government official. Johnson has also published a newsletter on the Second Battalion First Marines, issues of which are housed in the North Dakota room of the Department of Special Collections in the Chester Fritz Library of the University of North Dakota.

Johnson contributed one folder of materials to the Carleton Elliott Simensen Military Heritage Collection. Materials include one clipping from the Williston Herald regarding Johnson's completion of the book We Remember, a bumper sticker bearing the logo of the Second Battalion First Marines, an essay entitled "A Night in January," in which Johnson describes one of his experiences in Vietnam, and an essay that Steve Belden wrote in 1976 as a seventh grader. In the essay, Belden discusses his older brother Larry, who served in the Second Battalion First Marines and died in the Vietnam War.

Box 2

Folder 59: Papers: 1976, 1994, undated

Sub-Series 4: 'Moving Wall' Vietnam Veteran's Memorial

This material includes information regarding the "Moving Wall," a replica of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The Moving Wall was designed in 1984 and tours the country, visiting sponsoring sites for about a week at a time. In June 1998, the Moving Wall visited Cavalier, North Dakota, sponsored by the American Legion Posts of Pembina County. The material includes a pamphlet regarding the visit of the Moving Wall and a tracing of Grand Forks resident Clifton Cushman's name on the wall. Also included is a listing of casualties from the following counties in North Dakota (Pembina, Cavalier, Ramsey, Walsh, Towner, Nelson Grand Forks) and Minnesota (Kittson, Roseau, Marshall, Red Lake, Pennington, and Polk). Deposited by Bob Garrett, Department of Special Collections, June 29, 1998 (Acc.#98-2206).

Box 6

Folder 12: The Moving Wall: 1998

Sub-Series 5: North Dakota in the Vietnam War

This addition to the Simensen Military Heritage Collection consists of a list of U.S. military personnel from North Dakota listed as killed or missing in the Vietnam War. The list was printed in the July 2, 2000, edition of the Grand Forks Herald. Donated by Sandy Slater, Department of Special Collections, July 3, 2000 (Acc.#2000-2458).

Box 6

Folder 17: List of North Dakota military personnel killed or missing in the Vietnam War