A Guide to the David A. Young Papers, 1965-1966

Biographical Note

David A. Young (1948-?) of Memphis, Tennessee served as a paratrooper with the HQ Company, 2nd Airborne Battalion, 8th Cavalry (airmobile), in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. He experienced combat in numerous battles with the Viet Cong, during which his company took heavy casualties, including friendly-fire casualties when accidentally mortared by another battalion.

Scope and Contents

David Young's thirty-one page manuscript diary, kept between November 1965 and May 1966, recalls in brief, vivid entries his experiences under mortar and machine gun fire, the deaths of fellow soldiers and his longing to return home. His collection also includes two "witness statements" describing the death circumstances of soldiers, a clipping from Stars and Stripes concerning "Operation Crazy Horse," photographs, ephemera, and one of Young's military ID tags.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted access

Use Restrictions

Unrestricted use

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

David A. Young Papers, 1965-1966, the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Detailed Description of the Papers