WARNING: This interview contains graphic and potentially disturbing content!
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00:00:00 - Interview introduction / Background information

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer:T oday is Monday November 9th, 2015. This is an interview with Jim Troxell

Segment Synopsis: Jim Troxell is introduced and discusses his early life growing up in Oshkosh (Wisconsin).

00:02:47 - Joining the Navy Reserves / Volunteering for Vietnam

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: So why did you join the Reserves?

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses his decision to join the Navy Reserves in 1965 and boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Base (Illinois). He then talks about volunteering to go to Vietnam and landing in Subic Bay. He also mentions staying at Camp Tien Sha.

00:08:03 - Receving treatment at Tomah Veterans Affairs Hospital (Wisconsin) / Coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Okay, so you just handed me this little slip from Tomah.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses his treatment at the Tomah VA and the difficulties he's faced getting help with PTSD. He reads a piece of writing that was done by another (anonymous) veteran about PTSD, entitled “The Elder’s Thoughts.”

00:14:50 - Deploying to Vietnam / Dealing with memories from Vietnam after service

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: So you went over in 1966, did you have any idea what you were getting in to?

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses deploying to Vietnam in 1966 and his naivete about the conflict before his tour. He then talks about his experience at LZ Lambeau in 2010 and seeking treatment at the VA for PTSD after his service.

00:19:36 - Memories of Combat [This segment contains graphic and potentially disturbing content!]

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: Vietnam. The first thing I remembered, and it took me a while, was a chopper crash.

Segment Synopsis: This segment contains graphic and potentially disturbing content! Troxell discusses witnessing a helicopter crash in Vietnam and retaliating against enemy forces. He relates this to another incident, after his service, hunting and having trouble killing deer. He also talks about his memory of being caught in an ambush and his feelings of survivor's guilt.

00:25:57 - Memories of Combat (cont.) [This segment contains graphic and potentially disturbing content!]

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Partial Transcript: Troxell:The third memory, it took me a while and at first I remembered it all wrong.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell talks in detail about hand-to-hand combat.

00:29:16 - Memories of combat / Coping mechanisms [This segment contains graphic and potentially disturbing content!]

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: I got one more memory. Wow.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell talks about witnessing the deaths of civilian children. He also discusses coping mechanisms for dealing with these tough memories.

00:34:51 - Artwork: "Dragon"

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: I'd like to talk a little bit about my picture.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell explains photographs that are a part of the Dragon art piece that he created. This includes photographs from the White Elephant (Da Nang), Camp Tien Sha, and the USS Sanctuary

00:44:55 - Other memories from Vietnam

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: What I remember on the road to Marble Mountain

Segment Synopsis: Troxell shares brief stories from what he remembers from the road to Marble Mountain Combat Base, Hill 327, Phu Bai, Hue, and the Perfume (Huong) River

00:49:23 - Trading shirts with a South Vietnamese Ranger / Handling a weapon

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: I've got a shirt - it's not a souvenir which I was kind of hoping it would be.

Segment Synopsis: Troxel relates a story about trading shirts with a South Vietnamese Ranger. He also talks about learning how to handle and fire a carbine.

00:54:34 - Expressive art therapy

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Okay this is the second file of the interview with Jim Troxell, November 9th, 2015.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell reads the caption for the Dragon art piece and discusses meeting Tim Mayer of the Artist for the Humanities (A4TH) program. He talks about the benefits of expressive art therapy and his reaction to other artwork in the War:Raw exhibit.

01:00:26 - Attempts to get diagnosed with PTSD / Sick Bay in Vietnam

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: You were talking about another piece of work you saw at the museum.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses his attempts to get his PTSD recognized and diagnosed back in the States. He also talks about his experience in sick bay with a high fever (while deployed) and interacting with other patients.

01:05:20 - Survival and coping mechanism / Narrating photos from Vietnam

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: The way I survived deliberately is I didn't want to know anybody's name

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses his survival and coping methods while in country, which mostly entailed not getting close to other service members. He also continues to show the interviewer photographs and describes them as they are shown.

01:10:53 - Narration of photos from Vietnam (contd) / Being sent home from Vietnam

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: And you said you got two R&R’s?

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses what he remembers from his R&R. He also discusses being sent home after a stay in the hospital. Throughout he narrates photos from his time in service.

01:13:38 - Thanksgiving at Camp Tien Sha / Bob Hope shows [This segment contains strong language]

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: Also I was there one Thanksgiving at Camp Tien Sha, the other one I wasn't

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses Thanksgiving at Camp Tien Sha and the great food. He also discusses being in attendance for two Bob Hope shows. He also mentions another account of witnessing combat.

01:21:40 - Struggle with having false memories / Memories of a helicopter crash

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: But like I say these things I remember, the four basic ones I know are true, these others, hopefully a lot of them are false memories.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses his struggle with potential false memories. He also talks briefly about South Vietnamese dignitaries visiting Da Nang City. He also returns to his memories of a helicopter crash and the guilt associated with witnessing that event.

01:28:07 - Discharge from the Navy / Transitioning into Civilian Life

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Tell me a little bit about your homecoming, when you got back to the States, what you remember of getting sent back home.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell talks about returning to the States and receiving his final discharge papers in 1970. He discusses alcohol abuse and legal trouble. He also talks about hunting and the feeling of being done with killing.

01:32:10 - Reactions to being called a hero / Learning how to view the enemy

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: I don't like it when they call everybody in the military a hero and I don't like it when people at the VA say, “Thank you.”

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses his adversity toward being called a “hero” and people thanking veterans for their service. He also talks about learning how not to dehumanize the enemy.

01:37:07 - Survival during combat / Hand to hand combat and experience in an ambush [This segment contains graphic and potentially disturbing content!]

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: Going back to how your mind works, I noticed that in the time I was over—not right away but that depending on your mindset you could be very courageous, above and beyond.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses survival and the brain and body work in a combat situation. He also talks about hand-to-hand combat techniques and what he was going through during an ambush.

01:42:28 - Other memories from time in country / Combat pay

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: Remember I mentioned I was on ship?

Segment Synopsis: Troxell talks about being on a ship that was taking on water. He also tells of a time that he and others stole steak and alcohol that was meant for General Westmoreland. He also mentions his combat pay and buying a new car. Throughout he continues to narrate other souvenirs and ribbons from his time in service.

01:49:12 - Artists for the Humanities (A4TH) Return and Recovery Program for Military Veterans

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: So tell me how you got involved with the art therapy group.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discusses getting involved with art therapy group and what it has meant to him. He also talks about trying to help other veterans in the group.

01:53:20 - The importance of sharing stories / Fear of fire and napalm

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: - she had a sister, her husband was in World War II, okay?

Segment Synopsis: Troxell talks about the therapeutic potential of sharing stories and relates a story he heard from a World War II veteran. He then discusses his fear of fire that likely stems from his experiences with napalm.

01:56:03 - Thoughts on civilian reactions to veteran's experiences / Reflections on the causes of war

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: You talked a little about the dragon we have in the Museum and kind of what you would want another veteran to get out of seeing it

Segment Synopsis: Troxell shares his thoughts on what civilians might get out of the War:Raw temporary exhibit. He also discuses his understandings and thoughts on the causes of war.

02:01:15 - Bridging the gap between civilians and veterans

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Partial Transcript: Interviewer: Okay. So one thing I wanted to bring to your attention, you said you hadn't really given a lot of thought of civilians witnessing the exhibit but that's kind of the intention of the exhibit

Segment Synopsis: Troxell talks about how telling stories can be difficult and how he feels about the interview as a reflection of his time in service.

02:03:58 - Veterans activities and differences between veterans of different eras / Interview conclusion

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Partial Transcript: Troxell: ‘Cause I did go to an Honor Flight.

Segment Synopsis: Troxell discuses going to an Honor Flight welcoming event, where he was part of the crowd welcoming home veterans after the flight. He also contributes his thoughts on other veteran activities and his thoughts on the difference between Vietnam veterans and modern-day veterans.