Guide to the James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, 2011


John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2016

Collection Overview

Title: James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War
Date range: 2011
Creator: Gardner, James K.
Extent: 0.25 Linear feet
Abstract: This collection is contains an oral history interview of James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) by Professor Elizabeth Taylor on January 28, 2011 as part of the Vietnam Veteran's oral history project at Brown University. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. A survey of questions to prompt James K. Gardner's memory include his initial responses, amended by Prof. Taylor with notes relevant to the question selected from the interview.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number: AMS.1U.G8

Scope & content

This collection contains an oral history interview of James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) by Professor Elizabeth Taylor at the John Hay Library on January 28, 2011 as part of the Vietnam Veteran's oral history project at Brown University. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. It includes an audio recording of the interview and an edited typed transcription of the interview. A survey of questions to prompt James K. Gardner's memory include his initial responses, amended by Prof. Taylor with notes relevant to the question selected from the interview.

Correction: Frederic Read Chesebrough (1942-1967) was Class of 1964. He was known as "Derek" to peers and was President of Psi Upsilon. His last name has been misspelled as "Derek Chesborough" in James Gardner (1965) and Barry Kowalski's (1966) oral histories and profiles. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Andersen (1931-1989), Brown Class of 1953, was spelled Lieutenant Colonel "Anderson" in Gardner's documentation.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Geographical Names Document Types Subject Topics

Arrangement

This small collection contains 5 folders.

Biographical/Historical note

James Gardner (Class of 1965), studied engineering at Brown as an undergraduate and then stayed on for his MA in Engineering, earning his graduate degree in 1968. Having trained with Navy ROTC while at Brown, his first assignment as a Lieutenant was in Virginia, where he taught engineering and thermo dynamics for 2 years at the Annapolis Naval Academy. Then, he was assigned to Saigon and travelled throughout the region as part of the Studies and Observations Group (SOG), part of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. This group, drawn from the Navy, Army, CIA, and civilians, implemented special operations. They gathered intelligence, administered leaflet or radio drops, and helped many projects find materials – to construct buildings, including an orphanage; waste treatment plants, roads, ports, and airstrips. He returned to the States in April 1972. He was accepted at the Tuck School of Business but he grew impatient waiting for the program to start so he started to look for a job, which he landed at Texas Instruments. He did not attend Tuck.

He claims he worked for both groups that started the Vietnam war. J.J. Herrick was in command during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident and was he C.O. at St. Juliens Creek Naval Annex when Gardner attended. The other was the Studies and Observations Group (SOG) which was also involved in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, MS-1UG8, Brown University Library.
Contact information: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Gift of James K. Gardner in 2012.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Barbara Ambos.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-01-25

Additional Information

Related material: Part of the Vietnam Veterans Archive (Brown University).

Inventory

Box 1, Folder 1 Oral history interview of James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) by Professor Elizabeth Taylor - Audio Recording
1.0 compact disc

Contents Note: James Gardner (Class of 1965) oral history interview conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor at the John Hay Library on January 28, 2010. In the interview he relates his memories of Brown University during his undergraduate and graduate school days, noting how thing changed from 1965 to 1968. A majority of the interview focuses on his experiences as a Lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps before and during his assignment to Vietnam and the war. During the war he served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which, among other things, conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. Correction: Frederic Read Chesebrough (1942-1967) was Class of 1964. He was known as "Derek" to peers and was President of Psi Upsilon. His last name has been misspelled as "Derek Chesborough" in James Gardner (1965) and Barry Kowalski's (1966) oral histories and profiles. Also, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Andersen (1931-1989), Brown Class of 1953, was spelled Lieutenant Colonel "Anderson" in Gardner's documentation.

 2011 January 28
Box 1, Folder 2 Oral history interview of James K. Gardner (Class of 1965) by Professor Elizabeth Taylor - Edited Transcription
34.0 pages

 2011 January 28
Box 1, Folder 3 Vietnam Vets Survey plus Notes added from interview with James K. Gardner
9.0 pages

Contents Note: Notes on oral history recording. Years at Brown questions with revisions by both Prof. Taylor and Gardner.

 2011 January 28
Box 1, Folder 3 Years at Brown Questions: responses from James K. Gardner.
7.0 pages

 2011 January 28
Box 1, Folder 4 Brown University Oral History Project Release Form signed by James K. Gardner
1.0 page

 2011 January 28