Douglas Buikema, Veterans Oral History Project, Vietnam War

[@bloomallen]

My hats off to the interviewer and vet. I have watched many Viet Nam era vet interviews and this interviewer is outstanding. He asked great open-ended questions and allowed the vet to respond in a natural and unforced manner. Job well-done by both men. Thanks!

[@harryboersen514]

I was with the !st engineer bn, First Infantry Div. from Oct 1965 until Oct 1966. We were in some of the first "build up" of troops landing at Vung Tau. We worked building the base camp at Dian and later at Lai Khe. When you told about landing and a welcome home, sure brought some memories back to me. I don't believe in luck but that our lives are blessed in many ways. I learned a LOT about myself. All those who complain about whatever happens here should look at some other countries. We have it great here.

[@enzothebaker7296]

Thanks for your service!!

[@andreoates8405]

Absolutely enjoy listening to Doug he is a wonderful kind spirit, he’s a kind of leader doesn’t have the John Wayne Mantality gun hole attitude that will get guys killed from stupidity, the army makes sense call In the artillery always use caution thanks for sharing thanks Thanks for your service

[@danmurphy4472]

Thank You SIR for your Dedication and Service to our Country during a difficult time....It makes me PROUD to live in a country with Men in it like yourself !!…..Much RESPECT to YOU and ALL Vietnam Combat Veterans...….God Bless all of you and WELCOME HOME SIR !!

[@redrebel5565]

Yes!

[@davew5511]

THIS. CAN GET VERY. VERY EMOTIONALL. I. JUST. WANTED TO SAY BLESSINGS. TO ALL. THE GUYS. BUT. MOST OF. ALL I. HOPE. THEY ALL. HAVE. FOUND. PEEC. IN. THERE. LIFE. TODAY. !!!! 🙏🙏🙏. Peec. In. There. Life. Today. !!!! THANK THEM FOR THERE. SERVICE.

[@kenneth6847]

Great interview

[@davidlinscheid2618]

This courageous veteran told a remarkable story, and told it well.

[@afreightdogslife]

I am a US Army combat veteran. I appreciate everything you guys accomplished and stood for. I salute you all.

[@juanugarteche965]

Excellent interviewer: knowledgeable, respectful and allowing the soldier to speak freely his mind. Don’t see lots of these nowadays.

[@AllAroundAtlanta]

Thank you for your service!

[@douggauzy6258]

I really appreciate hearing from men such as this man . He’s REAL DEAL ! ❤️

[@martingarris6015]

It's probably better that they didn't tell you but the fact is every swamp in North Florida and South Georgia has alligators big ones too. Salute thank you for your service!

[@garyferrellable]

Thank you Douglas ! Well done sir! ❤

[@retydeere1111]

Les Dykema interview, watch it and you will have a whole new respect for these Men.

[@1969tss]

I’m fb friends with that guy. He enjoys my bullshit and we have similar humor. He also says it the way it was. Have you heard Al whites KZbin story yet? His is wild too

[@1969tss]

Oh and Neil Skiles. Wait until you get to the 20 minute mark. It really turns wild. The guys a mess. Won’t look at the camera. The war really messed him up and after you hear his story you would be too. (I would be lol)

[@Lee110456]

What an honest, honorable MAN. So intelligent and brave. Thank God for your services, SIR! And the interviewer let him talk without much interruptions.

[@donburnett8594]

Lots of KZbin videos on Quan Loi … some excellent photos of what the terrain actually looked like. Quan Loi is located about 60 miles north of Siagon and 10 miles from the Cambodian boarder …

[@bayoustateoutdoors9650]

Outstanding interview

[@richardbowers3647]

Interviewer only wants chit-chat. This soldier is relating tid-bits of his experience of surviving in Vietnam. Just saying. He not only stuck his neck out, but had put everything he had on the line.

[@kennethprice5628]

This has to be the best, most insightful intervview I have seen, with really excellent interviewer questions

[@JTOOLSz]

U didnt find that bullet but one found you...I liked your story very much...squad leader

[@cedarg9874]

I talked to many draft dodgers on Wreck Bay on Vancouver Island BC Canada in 1971.

[@williamstokely9589]

I usually love these interviews and I love this guy's honesty and story. But something seemed off with the way you interviewed him. You were being kinda low-key disrespectful with the whole uh huh uh huh thing after every word he said. And then telling him to " oh let's fill in the blanks". Sometimes when you're in one of the worst situations of your life you kinda forget small details. I've never seen you do this to anyone else on here.

[@frankhiggins9850]

He said he had thanksgiving dinner 🥘 n cu chi.... My man 😂😂

[@WillChandlerFLD120]

Platoon. You're gonna love the nam.for fu#kin ever

[@donburnett8594]

I was a E5 buck Sargent 1st Cavalry 1967-68 11B/11C … same MOS as this guy… at first I thought this guy was full of 💩…. But later on in this interview I got some respect … yeah he saw some combat… but he spent some recovery time in the rear soaking up some rays … eating COLD ice cream … This US draftee had the privilege to train several new regular army RA’s … Sargents (E-5-6-8’s) and 2nd Lieutenant’s … got more holes in me than John Kerry and a bullet crease below my left butt cheek from an AK47… never got a Purple Heart 💜… not ever an asprin … just alcohol poured on my butt… Yeah I was lucky … several others around me weren’t so lucky … the first cavalry division relocated south late October? 1968 … landed in Quan Loi … then out to the Cambodian border … we took over on this LZ that the Big Red One was on out in them rubber trees … they’d been overrun and had many KIA’s … We airlifted out a backhoe to dig a trench (mass grave for NVA) we drug “lost count” on how many bloated days old bodies into that trench … this isn’t all about me, but wanted to say thanks to this guy. There was a big difference between sitting on an LZ waiting for incoming mortars and rockets… and out in the field walking into ambushes trying to find the guys packing those armaments … damn nightmares.

[@sellmeyoursoul6601]

this guy is very intelligent

[@aj200415]

Damn this interviewer is so monotone & just cold...When the guy gets emotional and crying he’s just like “okay, ahh what do you...”. And just moves on and doesn’t care at all...

[@danpollard4210]

Interviewer sees the guy trying to stop crying. He is trying to helping him by moving on.

[@simonhellier7281]

Interviewer has no empathy at all! Pity.

[@redrebel5565]

Wow his squad leader was killed. 4 times the Soldier told him and interviewer gave zero reaction, then he asked the Soldier if his reaction to the squad he took over was the right way to handle it! Aargh!! What a Great Soldier and Patriot!! This interview could be emotional for the Soldier but should not aggravating.

[@danpollard4210]

The interviewee is sure all twitchy and shaky. I think he hiding something.

[@Mike-fo4iq]

Interviewer is terrible

[@1969tss]

I hate the guy giving the interview as well.

[@topgeardel]

Veterans going "Hollywood" for history. Here's my story. I am a proud Vietnam/Draft resistor. All those guys that went to Vietnam were chumps and pawns of their Government and the military/industrial complex. They chose to go, willing or unwilling, to a war their Government didn't have the guts or integrity to declare. Vietnam did nothing to Americans or the US. It was essentially an Asian civil war for independence after decades of colonialism. These guys did nothing for American safety, security and freedom. They were nothing more than invaders and aggressors in someone else's country across oceans from the US. They are not heroes or someone's victim...they are survivors of an American disaster which they participated in.

[@M98-j9k]

Protester goes Hollywood, needing attention.

[@topgeardel]

@@M98-j9k Oh no...Vietnam veterans get that award.

[@luci8749]

Apparently topgeardel does nothing but give derogatory comments re the videos I’ve read your comments if u can’t treat these brave men nicely say nothing Go read a book

[@topgeardel]

@@luci8749 You're right. I comment on every propaganda video that KZbin puts in front of me. Why? Unlike Vietnam veterans and their brainwashed supporters, I care about the future generations of Americans. They aren't given the big picture from these clowns...that's why there have been other "Vietnams".

[@randysoerries2859]

👎👎🤮 right on bottom feeder.

[@donburnett8594]

I was a E5 buck Sargent 1st Cavalry 1967-68 11B/11C … same MOS as this guy… at first I thought this guy was full of 💩…. But later on in this interview I got some respect … yeah he saw some combat… but he spent some recovery time in the rear soaking up some rays … eating COLD ice cream … This US draftee had the privilege to train several new regular army RA’s … Sargents (E-5-6-8’s) and 2nd Lieutenant’s … got more holes in me than John Kerry and a bullet crease below my left butt cheek from an AK47… never got a Purple Heart 💜… not ever an asprin … just alcohol poured on my butt… Yeah I was lucky … several others around me weren’t so lucky … the first cavalry division relocated south late October? 1968 … landed in Quan Loi … then out to the Cambodian border … we took over on this LZ that the Big Red One was on out in them rubber trees … they’d been overrun and had many KIA’s … We airlifted out a backhoe to dig a trench (mass grave for NVA) we drug “lost count” on how many bloated days old bodies into that trench … this isn’t all about me, but wanted to say thanks to this guy. There was a big difference between sitting on an LZ waiting for incoming mortars and rockets… and out in the field walking into ambushes trying to find the guys packing those armaments … damn nightmares.