1. What is your name?

Bill McBride
2. Branch of service he/she served in?

USMC
3. What was your rank?

1st Lieutenant
4. Were you drafted or did you enlist?
I enlisted in 1958
5. Where were you living at the time?
Mill Valley, CA
6. Why did you join?
Graduated from high school, didn't have anything planned. originally joined a reserve unit and then shipped over into the regular Marine Corps after bootcamp.
7. Why did you pick the service branch you joined?
Had several friends in the Marines. Wanted to be in the toughest and the "best".
8. Do you recall your first days in service?
Pretty much like they were yesterday.
9. What did it feel like?
10. Tell me about your boot camp/training experience(s).
It was very demanding, both physically and mentally. We were constantly on the go...very little free time. Marine boot camp is legendary. Look at the boot camp scenes in "Full Metal Jacket" to get an idea. It is not too far off.

In addition to boot camp,I had a lot of other training in many subjects at various schools and units before I went to Vietnam. This included basic officer Infantry training at Quantico Virginia and Vietnamese Language training at Monterey, CA.
11. How did you get through it?
Gutting it out, taking it seriously, swallowing pride.
12. Where exactly did you go?
Phu Bai, Vietnam
13. Do you remember arriving and what it was like?
It was very hot, rained alot, muddy, muggy,
14. What was your job/assignment?
15. Did you see combat?
16. Were there many casualties in your unit?
17. Tell me about one of your most memorable experiences.
18. Were you a prisoner of war? Tell me about your experiences in captivity and when freed.
19. Were you awarded any medals or citations?
20. How did you get them?
21. How did you stay in touch with your family?
22. Did you have plenty of supplies?
23. Did you feel pressure or stress?
24. Was there something special you did for "good luck"?
25. How did people entertain themselves?
26. What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
27. Do you recall the day your service ended?
28. Where were you?
29. What did you do in the days and weeks afterward?
30. Did you make any close friendships while in the service?
31. Did you continue any of those relationships?
32. Did you join a veterans organization?
33. What did you go on to do as a career after the war?
34. Did your military experience influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
35. If in a veterans organization, what kinds of activities does your post or association have?
36. Do you attend reunions?
37. How did your service and experiences affect your life?