Lee Wilson Collection
Pages
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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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- Veterans reunion
- An unidentified group of veterans poses at an event.
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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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- Lee Wilson's bunk in Vietnam
- Photograph of WAC quarters belonging to Lee Wilson while stationed at Long Bihn, Vietnam, in 1969. A frame with mosquito netting is over the bed, which has various items, including a teddy bear and a magazine, on top of it. Wilson's caption for the photo reads:"My area is clean."
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- Lee Wilson at work in Vietnam
- WAC Lee Wilson, sitting on a desk in her office in Long Binh, Vietnam, is pictured in spring of 1969 with another soldier who has his feet up on a desk. A large map can be seen on the wall behind them.
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- Helicopter bringing in wounded
- A dust-off helicopter rests on the helipad at the USARV hospital in Long Binh, Vietnam, in spring of 1969. Two men remove a wounded patient on a stretcher from the chopper.
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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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- 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.
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- WACs in uniform in Vietnam
- Vicki Lapinski (left) and an unidentified WAC pose together in green cord uniforms at a facility in Vietnam, circa 1968. Lapinski wears the U.S. Army Vietnam Patch above her name tape.
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- Lee Wilson on a pier, Vietnam
- Lee Wilson stands on a pier overlooking the water in Vietnam circa 1968, wearing the WAC green cord uniform.
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- President Lyndon Johnson's motorcade, Vietnam
- Photograph of President Lyndon Johnson's motorcade during his visit to Vietnam, circa 1968. Jeeps carrying U.S. Army soldiers drive behind a dark colored limousine.
