Terry Uyeyama (Class of 1957) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, 1973


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: Terry Uyeyama (Class of 1957) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War
Date range: 1973
Creator: Uyeyama, Terry, 1935-
Extent: 0.25 linear feet
Abstract: Terry Uyeyama was interviewed in 1973 by John F. Barry (Class of 1950), Associate Editor of the Brown Alumni Monthly. This collection contains the transcription of that interview and the article published in the Brown Alumni Monthly based on the interview. His interview tells the story of his Air Force career, service as an F-4 fighter pilot in Vietnam starting in October 1967, his capture by North Vietnamese in March 1968 and experiences as a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton prison camp in Hanoi, Vietnam for almost 5 years until January 1973.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number: AMS.1U.U2

Scope & content

Terry Uyeyama was interviewed in 1973 by John F. Barry (Class of 1950), Associate Editor of the Brown Alumni Monthly. This collection contains the transcription of that interview and the article published in the Brown Alumni Monthly based on the interview. His interview tells the story of his Air Force career, service as an F-4 fighter pilot in Vietnam starting in October 1967, his capture by North Vietnamese in March 1968 and experiences as a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton prison camp in Hanoi, Vietnam for almost 5 years until January 1973.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Document Types Subject Topics

Arrangement

Biographical/Historical note

Major Terry Jun Uyeyama was born in San Francisco, CA on July 16, 1935 of Japanese parents. His father, a general practitioner before World War II, enlisted in the Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, a decision that enable the Uyeyama family to avoid being placed in on of the retention camps that were set up early in the war for most of the Japanese-Americans living on the West Coast. When his father went overseas during the war, Terry moved with is mother and sister Toyo to Leonia, NJ where they grew up and attended high school. Uyeyama was a member of the Class of 1957 but received his degree in January, 1958. He received his commission in the Air Force and earned his flying wings by the Spring of 1958.

He was sent to Vietnam in October of 1967. When he had flown 90th mission he was and informed that he would next be assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany after completing just 10 more missions. On March 18, 1968 he was flying his 91st mission when his F-4 fighter was shot down by a direct hit. His navigator, Tommy E. Gist, was probably killed instantly. Uyeyama ejected his seat and parachuted into the Gulf of Tonkin. He was captured by North Vietnamese militia who sped out in fishing boats and pulled him from the water. He was then taken to Hanoi to the prison call the Hanoi Hilton located in the center of the city. He was held there as a POW for almost 5 years, until March 14, 1973 and spent 14 months in solitary confinement.

Colonel Uyeyama served with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Bergstrom AFB from March 1974 to July 1978, and then served at Lackland AFB until his retirement from the Air Force on June 18, 1980.

He married Kazuye "Kay" Uyeyama on October 1, 1960. They had three daughters: Jody Lee (1961), Wendy Lee (1965) and Sherry Jaye (1967).

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: Terry Uyeyama (Class of 1957) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, AMS.1U.U2, 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: Transferred to the University Archives from the Brown Alumni Monthly.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Barbara Ambos.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-01-25
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

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

Inventory

Box 1, Folder 1 Transcription of oral history interview of Terry Uyeyama in 1973 by John F. "Jay" Barry (Class of 1950), Associate Editor of the Brown Alumni Monthly
126.0 pages

Contents Note: This is the typed transcription of the oral history interview of Terry Uyeyama recorded in August 1973 by John F. "Jay" Barry (Class of 1950) who was the Associate Editor of the Brown Alumni Monthly. The transcription includes handwritten annotations and underlining in red and blue ink added by John F. Barry as he prepared an article about Uyeyama for the Brown Alumni Monthly. The Brown Library does not have the original sound recordings. In this oral history Uyeyama describes in detail his experiences serving as an F-4 fighter pilot in Vietnam, being shot down and captured by North Vietnamese on March 18, 1968 and his confinement as a prisoner of war at the "Hanoi Hilton." He was held there for almost 5 years, until March 14, 1973 and spent 14 months in solitary confinement. He describes the psychological effect of his prison experience and his life after he returned home to his family.

 1973 August
Box 1, Folder 1 Brown Alumni Monthly article "POW's: Terry Uyeyama '58: In solitary, the rats were his companions," October 1973, Vol. 74, No.1, Pages 22-27 written by Jay Barry
6.0 pages

 1973 October