U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) announced a new interview in the Veterans History Project Series today – a way to feature the accomplishments and military careers of Florida’s 17th District veterans. This interview features United States Army veteran Phillip Stotz of Venice, Florida.
“Thank you to my fellow Army veteran for sharing his story of being drafted into the Vietnam War. So many of our country’s veterans didn’t ever plan on serving, but their contributions and experiences are an integral part of our nation’s history,” said Rep. Steube.
“My goal was to work in the farm machinery industry, which I eventually did for 40 years, but that whole thing was interrupted by being drafted in 1968. I did not want to participate in the military. It wasn’t my idea, but I didn’t have a choice in it. I made the best of it by going to Officer Candidate School,” said U.S. Army veteran Phillip Stotz.
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Of his time serving in Vietnam, Stotz recalled, “They issued us a flak jacket and gas mask, so I wore that thing and carried that gas mask around for about two days; when the next helicopter came in, I got rid of it, because it was just too heavy. So, you go through being frightened and then you get complacent and then right at the end, you get frightened again because you know something could happen and screw it all up and not make it home.”
The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.
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Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate.
If you live in Florida’s 17th congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.
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