Robert Henry Korn
Robert Henry Korn was born February 2, 1941. He is the oldest of three sons. Robert was born and raised in San Antonio,Texas and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served in the Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal (E3) and a clerk typist. He also attended St. Mary's University at two different times of his life, before and after the war. Robert(Bobby)is a Democratic Catholic whose hobbies include reading history and sci-fi books, watching television, and lounging around. He has never been married and has no children. Bobby is the brother of my mother's boyfriend. This interview took place on Thursday June 2, 2005 in Bobby's home in his living room.
What made you join the military?
Well, I wasn't doing so good at St. Mary's University and my teacher kind of had it out for me and I knew he wasn't going to let me pass so I guess military was my only other option.
What military service did you join?
I joined the Marine Corps Reserves first then I went into active duty.
Where were you stationed?
During the Reserves I was stationed in San Antonio with the 4th Recon Batallion. Then I got shipped to San Diego recruit Base.
How did you feel when you found out that you were going to go to Vietnam?
Well I felt kind of nervous and of course a little scared.
Did you know the reason why you were going there?
I guess we were supposed to instill Democracy into their country, which we all knew wouldn't stick.
Why wouldn't it?
The Vietnamese did not want us there. They wanted their own government to handle their problems.
Did any civilians try to take matters into their own hands and maybe try to harm you when you were off guard?
Even though the civilians didn't want us there they were not very mean to us, but there was some of them that you had to watch out for. Some would steal whatever they could from us.
Did it make you question why you were there?
Well, I knew that they did not have very much and they were opposed to us being there but it was the kids that most of the soldiers felt sorry for and kind of took care of them. You would be surprised how many soldiers adopted these children. During their stay there they got very attached to the kids.
Where were their parents?
I'm not sure. Out there the women ran things, men were loafers. They didn't do much. The women and the children were the ones out working in the rice fields. In some cases the children would stray or their parents might have been killed and they were left on the streets to fend for themselves.
I know a couple of people that go overseas and return married with a Korean or Vietnamese woman, why?
Yeah, I knew a lot of people that did that also and I'm really not sure why I guess. Maybe personal preferences or maybe because a lot of these women were beautiful and they worked very hard. (laughs) I think that is every man's preference come to think about it. (laughs)
What were the sleeping arrangements for the soldiers like?
We slept in hardback tents with about 20 guys to each tent.
Did you lose any friends during the war?
I din't lose any friends, but I lost one of my corpsman. he stepped on a trip wire and lost both of his legs and killed the liuetenant standing behind him.
Have you visited the war memorial yet?
I have only seen the traveling memorial. They bring pieces of the wall around the country for people to see, and hopefully one day I would like to see the one in D.C.
Why are there some vets that drive around in their Cadillacs with Vietnam Vet licence plates and there are some standing on street corners asking for money?
Well, some soldiers that didn't see a lot of combat would make themselves accessible to drugs and alot of them came from broken homes. I guess some actually tried to make better for themselves and some didn't, plus when soldiers returned home their were not many jobs offered to Vietnam Vets. We were still kinda looked down upon.
Do you think it was worth fighting for?
no. The Vietnamese were not worth losing lives over. They didn't even want us there in the first place.
What is one of your most vivid memories?
(laughs) Honey pots. These were where everybody's waste from the latrines would end up. We would put very flammable fuel and let it sit for a while then just burn it. I remember one guy let it sit over night and when he lit it (laughs) that thing just blew up the whole barrel. (laughs)
Was it hard making the transition from being in the war to coming home?
Well I felt very unwelcome when I came home. I went back to school but the government was only giving us $130 a month for the G.I. bill. That wasn't enough for me to stay in school and the only thing that I could get was clerical jobs.
Is there anything that you miss from Vietnam?
Nothing at all.
breakdown of events during the war
vietnam war
These are pictures taken during the war showing different events and places in vietnam.