Marvin Shrimplin

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin talks about his childhood in rural Ohio and his parents. His father was drafted to World War II where he worked as an engineer.

Keywords: Coal Mining; Coshocton County (Ohio); Farming; Fresno (Ohio); Marion (Ohio); West Lafayette (Ohio)

Subjects: Childhood

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin was a math major in college and belived he would probably be drafted once he graduated, and he didn't feel that joining the army would be hard for him since he was young and single. He talks about why he decided to enroll in the Army's Officer Candidate School.

Keywords: Artillery; College; Mathematics; United States. Army; United States. Army. Officer Candidate School

Subjects: College; Joining the Army

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin talks about his officer training and physical education. He enjoyed the military calling himself a "right angles" person who enjoyed the structure. He talks about his role as fire direction center with the 105mm Howitzer 7th Battalion, 13th Field Artillery. He also worked with the M114 155mm howitzer, the M110 8-inch howitzer, and the M107 175mm guns.

Keywords: Basic training; Fort Sill (Okla.); Physical education and training; United States. Army. Artillery; United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 7th; United States. Army. Officer Candidate School

Subjects: Field Artillery Battalion; Officer training

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin took a ship from California to arrive at Quảng Yên, Vietnam. He talks about moving gun batteries to small LZs, landing zones, on top of hills where they could provide fire support. He recalls how his Colonel tripped some trap and was injured, how one of his forward observers was killed when his helicopter was shot down, and a soldier who was paralyzed by a grenade. They would spend much of their time training and there were regular 15-18 hours days when they were setting up at a new location. He also described how he feels about knowing his actions caused the deaths of enemy soldiers.

Subjects: Artillery; Chinook (Military transport helicopter); Quảng Yên (Vietnam)

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin describes life at camp, which at time could be busy but was always filled with routine like filling sands bags. He wrote many letters home, mostly to his fiancée. Being at a small camp he said was like living in a really small world. Showers were uncommon and long dangerous trips had to be made for supplies.

Keywords: Bunkers (Fortification); Fiancés; Military leaves and furloughs; Rations; Showers; Tokyo (Japan)

Subjects: Communications; Down times; LZ life

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin talks about his training in the Mojave Desert, California. Their battalion had to dye their underclothes green because they couldn't get military issue uniforms. He describes the artillery teams and an injured forward observer who wanted to switch jobs. He contrasts his battalion and battery work.

Keywords: Garand rifle; Mojave Desert; Underwear

Subjects: Artillery team; Battalion vs battery; Training; United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 7th

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin met his future wife on his flight to basic training, she was working as a stewardess at the time. He talks about working with the Vietnamese and his memories of leaving Vietnam. His last six months were spent working in the protocol office at Fort Knox.

Keywords: Captain; Cleveland (Ohio); Flight attendants; Red Cross and Red Crescent; Spouses; Vietnamese

Subjects: Leaving Vietnam; Meeting wife

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin talks about getting a job at Nationwide in Columbus, Ohio after he finished his time with the Army. He relates a funny story where some 4th of July fireworks triggered him to grab his wife and pull her down behind the bed, "get down behind the sandbags." He discusses attending a reunion for his Company. He talks about some of the older guys he served with who had experience from the Korean War, and how he learned a lot from them. Shrimplin relates how his friend Munson ended up being in his wedding.

Keywords: Ashland University; Columbus (Ohio); Fourth of July; Frankfort (Ky.); Kansas City (Mo.); Nationwide Insurance Enterprise

Subjects: Getting a job; Reunions

Segment Synopsis: After returning to civilian life Shrimplin felt a little overwhelmed by the changes in his environment, particular in the bustle surrounding his wedding. In 1968 he started working with computers at Nationwide and transferred into management. He felt his leadership experience in the Army helped him in his career. He also talks about working with forward observers.

Keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder; Weddings

Subjects: Civilian life; Computers; Nationwide Insurance Enterprise; Working with computers

Segment Synopsis: Shrimplin talks about veterans organizations and his experiences with the VA. He discusses how his time in the Army amplified his desire for structure. He feels that everyone could benefit from military or volunteer service. He describes the new trend of people thanking you for your service, which didn't happen in the 1970s and 1980s. His relationship with his father changed after his returned from Vietnam, and he relates some examples of that change.

Keywords: United States. Veterans Administration; Veterans--Medical care; Veterans--Societies, etc.

Subjects: Relationship with father; Veterans Administration; Veterans' Organizations