Lee Wilson Collection
Pages
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- First female VFW member recalls Vietnam events
- A four-column newspaper article from the Cary News, published in 1979, in which Lee Wilson describes her time served in Vietnam. Topics include membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars; reasons for joining the WAC; arriving during the Tet Offensive; working as a personnel assistant; attacks on the base; and the Vietnam countryside.
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- WAC returns to home after Vietnam tour, 1969
- A brief article from a Nevada newspaper about Lee Wilson's return from duty in Long Binh, Vietnam, in 1969. The article gives details about her family, living conditions in Vietnam, and her education and military training.
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- Apex woman is highest ranking guard enlistee in N.C., circa 1979
- A four-column newspaper article about Lee Wilson's rank in the U.S. National Guard. Topics include changes that allow women to serve in the National Guard; Wilson's army service in Vietnam; her reasons for joining the Guard; and male response to her service.
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- Memo satirizing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- A one-page memo addressed to "all managers" satirizing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, saying that "a White Christmas would be in violation of Title II." A list of five rules for decorating for and celebrating Christmas is given.
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- Leaflet dropped by the U.S. in Vietnam
- This one-page leaflet, written in Vietnamese and dropped by the U.S. in Vietnam in 1968, asks for aid in the capture of Ngyuen Van Thi. According to the translation, it provides information about him and recommends that he or his friends turn him in to the U.S. Army.
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- Letter from Governor Paul Laxalt to Lee Wilson
- A one-page typed letter from Nevada Governor Paul Laxalt to Lee Wilson, congratulating her on her military service in Vietnam, and offering her assistance in beginning her career. Laxalt mistakenly refers to Wilson as a man; he later sent a letter apologizing for the mistake.
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- Oral history interview with Lee Wilson
- Lee Wilson tells of her life in Las Vegas, Nevada, early education, and service in the United States Army Women's Army Corps [WAC] and Army National Guard. Lee Wilson tells of her life in Las Vegas, Nevada, early education, and service in the United States Army Women's Army Corps [WAC] and Army National Guard. Wilson primarily documents her tour of duty in Vietnam as a WAC assigned to the engineering headquarters of Ben Hoa Air Base during the 1968 North Vietnamese Tet Offensive. She tells of weathering frequent artillery barrages, the destruction of various structures on base, and fighting defensive actions during ambushes. Wilson also mentions her love of skeet shooting, and details the trips that she took to Hong Kong and Malaysia. " Other topics include Wilson's early life in Las Vegas, Nevada; he mother's employment at the clandestine United States air base "Area 51" her childhood observations of nearby nuclear testing; her views on women in the military; her time in the National Guard; and her later civilian life.
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- Lee Wilson on porch
- Lee Wilson poses on the porch of a building at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, wearing her WAC green cord summer uniform and cap, circa 1967.
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- WACs socializing
- WACs in civilian clothing stand and sit outside the barracks of the 3rd Platoon at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, circa 1967.
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- WACs in column formation
- WACs stand in two rows facing each other, possibly for inspection, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, circa 1967. They wear WAC green cord uniforms and army green hats.
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- Lee Wilson at bivouac
- Lee Wilson, in green cord uniform, stands at encampment at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, circa 1967. Rows of large tents can be seen behind her.
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- WACs barbecuing
- Three WACs in civilian clothing converse around a grill while off-duty at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, circa 1967.
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- WACs off-duty
- Lee Wilson (right) and an unidentified woman sit on the steps outside the barracks of the 3rd Platoon at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, circa 1967. A third WAC can be seen looking through the door. All of the women are in civilian clothing, two have curlers in their hair, and one is smoking.
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- Lee Wilson and WAC
- Lee Wilson (right) and a fellow WAC pose in front of a large tent at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, circa 1967. Both women wear WAC green cord uniforms. Permanent buildings and roads can be seen in the background.
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- Three WACs in Vietnam
- WACs Marilyn Roth, Vicki Lapinski and Lee Wilson (L to R) pose together in field uniforms in Long Binh, Vietnam, circa 1968.
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- U.S. Embassy in Saigon, post-Tet Offensive
- The U.S. Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, after the Tet Offensive in 1968. A note on the photo reads:"Blood cleaned up after Tet - this was an unauthorized photo."
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- Tet Offensive damage in Saigon, Vietnam
- Photo of rubble, bombed buildings, and other damage from the Tet Offensive along Plantation Road in the Cholon district of Saigon, Vietnam, in 1968.
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- Lee Wilson and soldier in Saigon
- WAC Lee Wilson and soldier Del Height, both in field uniforms with boots, pose outdoors in Saigon, Vietnam, circa 1968.
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- Tet Offensive damage in Saigon, Vietnam
- View of Plantation Road near the Phuto Race Track in the Cholon district of Saigon, Vietnam, shortly after the Tet Offensive in in 1968.
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- Lee Wilson skeet shooting
- Lee Wilson, in civilian clothing, aims her rifle at a skeet shooting range in Long Binh, Vietnam, circa 1968.
