Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War (AMS.1U.S6)
Brown University Library
Box ABrown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu
Inventory
Series 1. Oral History
| Container | Description | Date | ||
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) - edited transcription 25.0 pages Contents Note: Conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor in the John Hay Library on May 9, 2011 |
2011 May 9 and 2011 September | ||
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) - summary notes by Elizabeth Taylor 17.0 pages Contents Note: Hand written and transcribed notes regarding interview with Seiple. Includes paper with Seiple's information: full name, current address, zip code, place of birth, how many children, present age, marital status, present profession, hobbies, professional, military, civic organizations affiliated with, home phone number. |
2011 May 9 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) Audio Recording on CD-Rom 1.0 compact disc Contents Note: Recording of interview on CD along with typed contents of interview. |
2011 May 9 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Brown Vietnam Vets Oral History : Years at Brown questions 1.0 page Contents Note: These are the questions Professor Beth Taylor asked during the oral history interview. There are no responses recorded on this document. |
2011 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Brown University Oral History Project Release Form 2.0 pages Contents Note: Brown University Oral History Project Release Form signed May 9, 2011 |
2011 May 9 |
Series 2. Biographical information, 1965-2011
| Container | Description | Date | ||
| Box 1, Folder 6 |
Biography of Robert A. Seiple 1.0 page |
2011 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 6 |
Biography of Robert A. Seiple from GraceMatters.org from July 2007 interview 1.0 page |
2007 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 6 |
Biographies of Robert A. Seiple from Brown Football Release 2002 - Seiple to be honored 1.0 page |
2002 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 6 |
Biography written by Beth Taylor as part of the Vietnam Vets Oral History 4.0 pages |
2011 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Portrait of Robert Seiple in the Brown University Yearbook "Liber Brunensis" (photocopy) 1.0 page |
1965 |
Series 3. Supporting Materials, 1966-2004
| Container | Description | Date | ||
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Robert Seiple, "A Missing Peace : Vietnam: finally healing the pain." with Gregg Lewis. 194 pages. ISBN:0830812946 2.0 copies |
1992 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 7 |
A Roadmap for Vietnam by Robert Seiple. Ambassador Seiple's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 2.0 pages location http://rfiaonline.org/extras/articles/287-a-roadmap-for-vietnam General Note: accessed via internet 1/23/2011; published 2/14/2004; testimony given 2/12/2004 |
2004 February | ||
| Box 1, Folder 7 |
The Separation of Church and Hate by Robert Seiple, 8.0 pages |
2007 |
Series 4. Correspondence, 1965-1968
Hand written and typed letters sent home by Seiple to his parents. The letters were written from when he was at Officer Candidate School at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia to his last days in Viet Nam.
| Container | Description | Date | ||
| Box 1, Folder 10 |
United States Marine Corps to Robert Allen Seiple 1.0 page Contents Note: Acceptance to the 39th Officer Candidate Course. Signed by R.R. Kurth, Jur. Lt. Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Assistant Director for Personnel Procurement |
1965 November 9 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All, "Busy, busy, busy" 2.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico |
1966 January 14 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Just a quickie...Tuesday went to S.C." 2.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico; snow |
1966 January 27 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Things are still moving along" 2.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico |
1966 January 28 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Tired, beaten Bob here." 2.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico; snow |
1966 February 1 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Heard from Christine" 2.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico; flunked air test; Heard from Margaret…"Maybe I'll marry her." |
1966 February 6 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Almost the end of a big week." 4.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico; passed Navigation flight exam and Naval flight physical; "I can take any physical stuff…Psychologically the place gets me down at times." |
1966 February 11 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Boy am I tired!" 2.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico; "Boy am I tired!"; compass march; On envelope: "P.S. 20% of my platoon is no longer here - they cut out the bad ones quickly" |
1966 February 17 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "This is a holiday-Washington's birthday" 4.0 pages Contents Note: training at Quantico; leadership training; studying |
1966 February 22 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to Family "Sorry I haven't written this week. It has been by far, the busiest and most tiring week we've had." 6.0 pages Contents Note: "the busiest and most tiring week we've had." purchasing "really expensive uniform"; last conditioning hike 'about 1 out of 3 didn't make it." |
1966 March 6 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "I'm about 100 miles south of Dewitt" 4.0 pages Contents Note: On Leave with future wife, Margaret to N.J. then to Iowa; announce engagement with wedding plans in Pensacola, Florida. |
1966 March 18 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Enclosed find check for insurance." 2.0 pages Contents Note: Arrives in Pensacola for pilot training from Iowa. |
1966 March 29 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well I'm pretty much settled down here." 6.0 pages Contents Note: U.S. Marine Corps paper, sent from Flight school at Pensacola. "No mental harassment…now it's gentalmanly courtesy." Sets wedding date to May 14th; starts sea survival May 16th. Passes eye exam so Seiple can be a Navigator. |
1966 April 1 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to Family "Gee am I ever busy" 1.0 page Contents Note: "This is, by far, the toughest academic situation I've ever been in - and they tell us it gets tougher." |
1966 April 7 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Not much free time nowadays" 2.0 pages |
1966 April 11 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "End of week #2" 2.0 pages Contents Note: test results |
1966 April 18 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Sorry I haven't been writing more but this has been my busiest week. Had 3 finals, swim test, PT tests..." 4.0 pages Contents Note: "I think I'm being trained to be the Radar-Intercept officer in the f4-B (the Phantom)." Pre-flight is over; "passed all my subjects with room to spare and I got my highest grad in navigation." Swimming test described. |
1966 April 28 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Just a short note--it's late and we start survival training tomorrow." 2.0 pages Contents Note: Starts survival training the next day. |
1966 May 2 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Here's the stuff" 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Mary is coming home with us." |
1966 May 29 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Gee Mom-you're really subtle..." 8.0 pages Contents Note: Margaret is going to work. [She] will have to put off her first flying lesson. |
1966 May 29 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "We're happily in Iowa after a long enjoyable trip" 2.0 pages |
1967 October 8 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Everything is working out fine" [POSTCARD Aloha from Hawaii] 1.0 postcard Contents Note: Postcard from Honolulu "Great connections" "Be in Okinawa in 9 hours" signed Bomb[er] Bobby |
1967 October 16 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Greetings from Okinawa." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I really envy the guys on there way home. Thirteen months seems forever now." |
1967 October 18 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Greetings from RVN. Been here 3 days now and still haven't flown." 2.0 pages |
1967 October 21 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well, I'm a little discouraged." 3.0 pages Contents Note: "and you'd be surprised how people fight over the really good missions" |
1967 October 28 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to folksy "Hi-livin BB here --keeping busy" 4.0 pages Contents Note: BB=Bomber Bob; "using 28, 500-lb bombs - that's 7 tons and really lights up the area when they go off." |
1967 November 2 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well I've just completed my 2nd week of flying --11 missions" 4.0 pages Contents Note: "...flown once in the daytime. Everything else is from 8 o'clock at nite to 5 in the morning." |
1967 November 5 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Did you get the tape recorder yet?" 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Heh, I got an Air Medal - Bill will hee-haw this off as nothing --and it is, but I got one anyway." |
1967 November 9 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Marine Brothers Meet Briefly in Da Nang, Vietnam (newspaper clipping) 1.0 page Contents Note: With photo of brothers Lt. Robert and Lt. William Seiple : "Two Phillipsburg Area Marine officer-brothers met briefly in Da Nang, Vietnam, recently --one just completing a 13 month tour there and another just arriving for a 13 month tour." |
1967 November 7 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Just a short note." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Tomorrow I start a new project…I'm going to Special Forces Camps to help put up radar reflectors." |
1967 November 13 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Dad "Happiness is having 59 birthdays and no grey hairs." 4.0 pages Contents Note: "We're getting rain everyday now and it makes for hazardous takeoffs, landings, etc…Will fly my 20th mission tonight." |
1967 November 14 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Boy am I ever writing letters from home." 3.0 pages Contents Note: "won't go into all the details since I plan to make a tape." description of N. Vietnam fortifications. |
1967 November 16 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "No - putting up radar reflectors doesn't keep me from flying." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I got my 2nd airmedal last night and am flying my first "Rolling Thunder" tonight." "Rolling Thunder is any mission above 18˚00˚ N(lat)." |
1967 November 23 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Right now I'm sitting up in bed -" 2.0 pages Contents Note: Now we spend all our free time throwing darts. |
1967 November 28 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well I think the monsoons are here." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I still haven't flown any "Rolling Thunders" (RT) |
1967 December 2 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Peoples "I don't think I've written in a while" 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I got my 3rd air medal 3 days ago. No big deal. I still haven't done anything heroic." |
1967 December 9 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Older generations "Schedule writing Bob here -- probably wrote his last schedule." 2.0 pages Contents Note: Still no tape recorder |
1967 December 11 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well another exciting week has drawn to a close." 4.0 pages Contents Note: "Two days ago we had a SAM fired at us (John Schidel + I)" |
1967 December 22 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well, it's Christmas and I guess it's the worst Christmas I ever had." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "My afternoon hop was one of the prettiest pieces of bombing that I have ever seen. "bad week last week… RF-4 crashed into the runway and killed both crew members…2nd plane lost during the "truce"". |
1967 December 25 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Family "Christmas Card" 4.0 pages Contents Note: Snoopy Da Nang; 1 page folded into a 4-page card |
1967 December | ||
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, I've gotten most of my letter writing and thank you's all caught up" 2.0 pages Contents Note: Basic training officer; Naval Air Training Operating Standardization NATOPS; mediocrity in unit; "Short-timer" in the Marine Corps. |
1967 December 29 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert all ye peoples of the Harmony clan "Here's your favorite war correspondent..." 2.0 pages Contents Note: worst holiday season ever; opinions on the state of the war Bombing, Aerial--Vietnam Christmas Soldiers--United States--Correspondence Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Marine Corps. Seiple, Robert A., 1942- |
1968 January 2 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, are you all worried about the Da Nang Rocket attack?" 3.0 pages Contents Note: describes attack on his unit 242 |
1968 January 3 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Aunt Moochie/Aunt Mary "Hello little sister" 1.0 page Contents Note: 1st child born; talks about wanting to sass X.O. (commanding officer); Air Medals |
1968 January 9 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks, "Well Mom, it sounds like you're getting all sentimental again." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I've never been so anxious to be somewhere else." |
1968 January 13 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks, "Once more from that long thin line in the orient," 1.0 page Contents Note: Rolling Thunder mission description. |
1968 January 20 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "I got your cheese, crackers and candy yesterday…" 4.0 pages Contents Note: The war has picked up in its intensity. |
1968 January 24 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert Hello all you home-front folks, "I realize I haven't written in a while.." 1.0 page Contents Note: to Khe Sahn |
1968 January 29 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Well hello, "I promised to write and fill you in on Khe Sahn" 4.0 pages Contents Note: description of attack on base and Da Nang; Hill 881; up to 87 flights |
1968 January 30 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks, "First, I'll write a longer letter tomorrow." 2.0 pages Contents Note: In Japan. |
1968 February 3 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "We started school today… 2.0 pages Contents Note: In Japan - Instructed about highly classified material "nuclear this and that". Met Jerry Bucchi, Brown Football captain 1963; |
1968 February 5 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All 'Well, this little boondoggle to Japan has been good for me." 2.0 pages Contents Note: In Japan. Chance to act as a civilian. Called M.A. "great hearing her voice". Learned Lang Vei S.F. camp was overrun. "thought it was impenetrable" "Some of the tactical decisions that go on over here make me sick." |
1968 February 8 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Once again, your favorite war correspondent," 1.0 page Contents Note: flying north; opinions about war strategy |
1968 February 13 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks and Little Sisters "Looks like another long letter coming up…" 1.0 page Contents Note: describes bombing run in North Vietnam --"an enjoyable hop and a productive one." Flying with pilot Satch Schedel. flew 97th mission and got 8th Air Medal last week. Issues between U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps. "So much of this war is political i |
1968 February 17 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Seiples, "Just a short note - I'm going out to fly in support of Khe Sahn;" 1.0 page Contents Note: Flew 100th mission. |
1968 February 19 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All, "Well, if you're reading the papers… 1.0 page Contents Note: Refers to bombing of Hanoi ; opinions on tactics; "I've probably told you that I don't think we are going to win this war." signed "A war despondent if there ever was one" |
1968 February 26 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "And happy one March!" 1.0 page Contents Note: May have been on T.V. footage shown in States after rocket attack. 10th Air medal, 112th mission |
1968 March 1 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well, I'm in one of my typically good moods." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "if I die over here, I'll die happy." Dick Pershing of Yale, killed. "We're the football in a huge political game…[between] a couple of bickering services." |
1968 March 4 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks, "You're reading words from one tired individual." 1.0 page Contents Note: rebuilding bunkers; 12 March Air Force takes over the airways in I Corps. |
1968 March 10 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks, "I guess I haven't written in awhile…" 1.0 page |
1968 March 19 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All and Happy Birthday Bill, "First of all…." 1.0 page Contents Note: ."..can expect phase II of the Tet Offensive between now and 15 April" "It's a fun hop - anything that moves is fair game and we hit it." Khe Sahn in the daylight "looks like the moon -- cratered all over from thousands of tones of bombs." |
1968 March 20 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "First of all - thank you for all those pictures…" 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Hell, they are keeping a lot of news from you people back home. They keep a lot from us too…" Written on United States Armed Forces - Vietnam Stationery which has a map image of North Vietnam, South Vietnam with cities, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. |
1968 March 29 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks, "First let me thank everyone home there for all the goodies you sent." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Well all you armchair politicians, what do you think about Johnson now? "still flying TH's in the first 60 miles of NVN." Squadron only flying 10 hops a day …[with] 18 crews to fly them. This means a lot of free time,.." |
1968 April 3 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All, "First, Dad, I hope you are feeling better." 2.0 pages Contents Note: I have often thought that King was living on borrowed time…" in reference to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. sent audio tape |
1968 April 6 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All " I haven't written in a while but as you know I spent a few days in the Philippines" 2.0 pages Contents Note: dog training in U.S. |
1968 April 13 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "No, I don't have a new ribbon,…" 2.0 pages Contents Note: Bible, Phillips translation ; preparing for Hawaii to meet son. Tom Macy |
1968 April 15 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well peace talks are still proceeding rather slowly." 1.0 page |
1968 April 19 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Family "Excuse the stationery." 2.0 pages Contents Note: Getting uniform together for Hawaii. "I have a hop tonight but it's a milk run right here in the Danang area." 80 missions North |
1968 April 25 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well I'm back in Danang" 1.0 page Contents Note: After Hawaii meeting son |
1968 May 8 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Got your letter today and it was good to hear from you." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Well we all will be watching the peace talks and also the increased infiltration from the North. I'm afraid that the commies will stall for time till they have all their troops resupplied…" |
1968 May 10 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Mamas and the Papas, and the girls "Gee is it ever hot here." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "92 missions North; threat of rocket attack here at DaNang is so strong that we have to divert after our normal mission. We've been going to Thailand." |
1968 May 21 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Peoples, "Heh, thank you very much for the book on anitiques [sic]" 2.0 pages Contents Note: I'll calm down after I get 100. Right now I have 94 [North], 175 all together. "Satch and I took a hit about a week ago." "Our sister squadron did lose an A6-A when I was in Hawaii." |
1968 May 25 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Got the letter with the picture in it today…" 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Last night I flew my 100 mission North (180 altogether). There are only 2 other B/N's in the squadron with over 100 missions North and they both have les than 20 days to do. I have five months left." Description of a good 100th bombing. |
1968 May 31 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "How about that." 1.0 page Contents Note: I think I'll tell you a little about the air war up North. |
1968 June 8 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Peoples "Glad to hear from you all," 1.0 page Contents Note: The war goes on and the personality conflicts continue. |
1968 June 15 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well I went over 200 missions a couple of nights ago." 1.0 page Contents Note: I guess that means I'm 2/3 of the way home. Also well over 1000 tons and working on my 19th air medal. |
1968 June 22 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "No, I haven't been sending any tapes home lately." 1.0 page Contents Note: Went to the 200 mission dinner last night. I guess you have to expect some discomforts over a 13 month tour. |
1968 June 29 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All, "Just a short note." 1.0 page Contents Note: describes planting mines along the Song Ben Hai, the river separating North and South in the DMZ. "I really have no hate in my heart for any of those people and really feel that the whole war has reached the absurd. Right now it is just senseless killing |
1968 July 6 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, here I am, all tired out from a couple hours of handball..." 1.0 page Contents Note: "all tired out from a couple hours of handball" |
1968 July 10 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All " Well, glad to hear that they are finally getting to our class in the promotion room." 1.0 page Contents Note: Things have been looking up this week in the squadron." New C.O. and new X.O. |
1968 July 16 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Heh, summer is almost over…" 2.0 pages Contents Note: I only have about 100 days of flying left. |
1968 July 21 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Once again your favorite war despondent reporting from the Danang TAOR." 1.0 page Contents Note: "Last night the MAG 11 flight line received an estimated 10 rounds of 144 mortar fire." |
1968 July 27 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Captain Robert A. Seiple, in all his glory, here at the keyboard." 1.0 page Contents Note: 240 missions, 140 North, 21 Air Medals |
1968 August 2 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Wow I know I haven't written in a while…" 4.0 pages Contents Note: Last full day in the Philippines [2 days of Jungle training, rest is R&R] |
1968 August 12 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks "Got back yesterday, read all the mail…" 1.0 page Contents Note: Orders in to Wing - I'm going back to Cherry Pit. |
1968 August 14 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Well I talked to Greg Gobel last night." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "Flew number 250 last night." Going to Penang next month for R&R. [G. Gobel is related to Uncle Les and Aunt Ruth] |
1968 August 20 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Folks (and the girls) "Greetings once more from the war zone. 2.0 pages Contents Note: "no rocket attacks in the last 4 days" "A week from today I'll be in Japan." |
1968 August 26 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Happy September" 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I have 263 missions now." |
1968 September 3 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All (all that's left), "Glad to hear that all the hustle and bustle of summer is over..." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "…second R&R canx." "Satch and I are going to Japan…another nuclear refresher school." |
1968 September 13 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to Grandparents and aunts "Got a letter from M.A. today" 2.0 pages Contents Note: still need 21 more missions for 300; on around October 12th going to Iwakuni, Japan |
1968 September 19 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to all "I guess I'm not writing enough, but you know, the war has become a little bit routine." 1.0 page Contents Note: "we are doing the same things that we were doing 5 months ago, the objectives are still clouded, the end along, long way in the future." |
1968 September 25 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "Not a whole lot of news …" 1.0 page Contents Note: "I will only fly 4 more hops, which will give me 300" |
1968 October 5 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All again "How about that, two letters in two days." 2.0 pages Contents Note: "I realize these last two years have been hard on all of you, but perhaps you'll be able to breathe a little easier now." |
1968 October 6 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "I could have written sooner but…" 2.0 pages Contents Note: from Japan - "greatest time I've ever had on an out-of-country save Hawaii!" |
1968 October 17 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to All "I wrote (dictated) about 25 letters tonight --" 2.0 pages |
1968 October 25 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
Seiple, Robert to all "Greetings from a real short-timer." 1.0 page Contents Note: "I will be leaving this place of the eternal summer on the 3rd of November." "Guess what. I got a Distinguish Flying Cross!""...It's been a wonderful year though, like I've said many times, and I'll have experiences that will last a lifetime." |
1968 October 27 | ||
| Box 1, Folder 15 | Envelopes Contents Note: Envelopes for letters sent by Robert Seiple to his parents that got separated from the letters. None of the envelopes have postmarks on them because they were sent for free through the military postal system so they cannot be reunited with their original letters. |
1966-1968 |
Series 5. Reel-to-Reel Tapes
5.0 reels
Recorded messages Seiple sent home to his family. Contents were about care packages he received and enjoyed, descriptions of missions flown, and discussion of his daily life as a soldier. Total of five tapes.
| Container | Description | Date | ||
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
Seiple, Robert to all "#1 Reel-to-reel narration of experiences" Second roommate killed. 1.0 reel Contents Note: "Bombardier Bobby"; Tape mentions popcorn maker, his brother Bill's friends and his 2nd roommate killed. In Seiple's oral history in 2011 he notes that he lost 2 roommates in the first three weeks in Vietnam, the last was pilot he knew since his times in Florida. Deeply affected by this death. |
1967 October (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
Seiple, Robert to all "#2 Reel-to-reel narration of experiences" TPQ mission, living conditions. 1.0 reel Contents Note: Includes comments about TPQ mission, living conditions, what a bombardier does, airplanes taking off, fine weather in Vietnam, being fairly detached, Air Force planes going down. |
1967 November 9 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
Seiple, Robert to all "#3 Reel-to-reel narration" Vietnamese as soldiers 1.0 reel Contents Note: Comments on Vietnamese as soldiers, two seconds away from guns, only Marines have M-16 and problems with it |
1967 (circa) | ||
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
Seiple, Robert to all "#4 Reel-to-reel narration" Listed as MIA two nights ago, Bob Hope USO show 1.0 reel Contents Note: December 1967 Listed as MIA, numerous SAM warnings, Tally Ho Hops to N.V.N., Bob Hope USO Christmas Show DaNang [wasn't that good] 35 m away from Miss World, 50m away from Bob Hope. |
1967 December | ||
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
"#5 Reel-to-reel narration" Mom, Dad and family in New Jersey, Christmas 1966 to William C. Seiple in Vietnam 1.0 reel Contents Note: Mom, Dad and family recorded messages for William C. Seiple (Bill), Robert's brother, Christmas [1966]. Bill was serving in Vietnam. The recording was made in New Jersey on December 23rd and 24th 1966 [?]. Wishes of Merry Christmas, hang in there, we're pulling for you...etc., and descriptions of the weather (17" snow) and the things they were doing in the family gathering. Interesting comment: "Pop one off for me yet?" - Aunt M. |
1966 December 23-24 |
