Burt Logan

Segment Synopsis: Logan talks about growing up in a small town in North Carolina, his parents, and schooling. His family has a military heritage in the United States extending back to the Revolutionary War. His father served on an oil tanker in World War II and told of a German u-boat trying to sink their ship. Logan explains why he decided to enroll in West Point Military Academy.

Keywords: Marion (N.C.); Rutherfordton (N.C.); Submarines (Ships)--Germany; Tankers; United States Military Academy; United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; World war II

Subjects: Childhood; Choosing the military; Military Heritage

Segment Synopsis: Logan spent a lot of time his junior and senior year getting recommendations for the United States Military Academy. Ultimately he received two nominations, but his nomination of record was from Senator Sam Ervin. Logan discusses his patriotic motivations, the politics of the 1960s, and his awareness of the costs of the Vietnam War.

Keywords: Ervin, Sam J., Jr. (Sam James), 1896-1985:United States Military Academy; Recommendations; Taylor, Roy A. (Roy Arthur)

Subjects: Motivations; West Point Nominations

Segment Synopsis: On July 2 1972 Logan left for West Point. He discusses his transition from a small town in North Carolina to New York City. He states that even if he hadn't gotten into West Point he was still set on a military career and would have found a way to make it work. He talks about his first day at the Academy, getting processed, and the 86 lb. of hair cut that day, all of which he describes as a blur.

Keywords: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport; La Guardia Airport; New York (N.Y.); United States Military Academy; West Point (N.Y.)

Subjects: Military resolve; Traveling to NY

Segment Synopsis: Logan talks about the rigorous training and schedule that worked to thin the class into those who really wanted to be there, and those that didn't. He relates two moments that tested his resolve and taught him important lessons about the military mindset.

Keywords: Breakfast; Classes (Groups of students); Military cadets; Physical training; United States Military Academy

Subjects: Lessons; Thinning cadets

Segment Synopsis: Logan discusses the differences in the treatment of cadets by the public from the 1970s to the 2010s and how that effected choice of branch. He ultimately selected artillery to be high in branch selection and post assignment. He also discusses the integration of the Army life into the largely academic setting of West Point.

Keywords: Football; Rutgers University; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; War on Terrorism, 2001-2009; largely academic, summer between sophomore and junior years, better connection to army training today

Subjects: Branch selection; Exposure to military training; Preferences in branch

Segment Synopsis: Logan recalls the fall of Saigon on April of 1975 and the end of the Vietnam War. His own service fell between June 1976 when he was commissioned June 1981. These five years were the only period between World War II to the present when there was no significant military action. He talks about returning home to hear about what his friends were doing and describes the pride at his graduation.

Keywords: Vietnam War, 1961-1975:Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam); World war II

Subjects: Deployment expectations; Graduation; Personal life

Segment Synopsis: Logan talks about getting accepted to West Point. Early on the physical demands of the Academy were his "achilles heel." His father employed reverse psychology to provide additional motivation. Logan discusses his physical education requirements.

Keywords: Physical education and training; Reverse psychology

Subjects: Parents Support; Physical education

Segment Synopsis: Logan and the other junior officers from West Point enjoyed officer basic training because it was less pressure than they were accustomed. Logan talks about the absence of NCOs from the Academy and how it took some time to understand and appreciate their role. He talks about his Forward Observer Survey and Reconnaissance Platoon Leader training, the changing survey methods for field artillery, and the culmination of his officer basic training.

Keywords: Fort Sill (Okla.); Howitzers; United States. Army--Officers--Training of; United States. Army. Noncommissioned Officer Corps

Subjects: Differences between West Point and Officer Training; Life on Fort Sill

Segment Synopsis: Logan describes his active-duty at Fort Riley more like a regular job which included tasks like equipment maintenace and continued training. He discusses field exercises at Fort Irwin and 1979's REFORGER (Return of forces to Germany) exercises. Logan notes that there was a greater separation between active duty military and civilians at the time. He also relates a story from the time he was at West Point about training to protect the National Color in case of protests.

Keywords: Fort Irwin (Calif.); Fort Riley (Kan.); Manhattan (Kan.); Mannheim (Germany); Military education; United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st

Subjects: Off-base life; Training; Transitioning to active duty

Segment Synopsis: Logan talks about his experiences at Fort Riley as a forward observer, survey and reconnaissance platoon leader, service battery commander, logistical officer, and working staff at division artillery. Feeling like he understood the Army he realized he didn't have a passion for it. His love of history and his strong feelings about the role of museums in learning he decided to pursue a career in museums. He discusses attending the Cooperstown graduate program and working at the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, USS Constitution Museum, and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

Keywords: Cooperstown (N.Y.); Cooperstown Graduate Program; Fort Riley (Kan.); Manitowoc (Wis.); Museology; USS Constitution Museum; United States. Army; Wisconsin Maritime Museum; Wyoming Historical and Geological Society

Subjects: Choosing to leave the Army; Experiences at Fort Riley; Museum work

Segment Synopsis: Logan reviews the lessons he learned from the Army which gave him focus and the ability to work with others. He describes the West Point experience, "you wouldn't do again for a million dollars, but wouldn't give it up for a million either." He talks about how he is still serving, just in a different way and how he was fortunate to not have had to go into combat, but also feels he never got to do what he was trained to do. He also discusses veterans organizations and what people should know about those who serve.

Keywords: Historical museums; Military education; West Point Society of Central Ohio

Subjects: Army lessons; Veterans organizations; West Point experience