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Edwin Mark Trawczynski collection, 1968-1985

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Series I: Manuscripts
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/1-2 Correspondence, 1969-1970
2 folders
Digital content available
MS01: Correspondence from the veteran to his parents and to his brothers, Mark and David. The veteran signs most of the letters "Butch". The last letter is not dated and includes 2 poems.
Topics covered include: in-country training; finances; assignment to the 101st Airborne Division; asking family not to worry about assignment; enemy demolition men; guard duty; artillery fire; enlisted men's club; mortar attacks; religious services; low casualty rate of the 101st Airborne Division; assigned to work in the dispensary; living conditions; insects; heat exhaustion; near miss when the ammo dump was accidently blown up; advising brother to join the Air Force; jungle rot; seeing actress Chris Noel in person; Father's Day; request for food and sundry items from home; poker games; ghost at family house; brother Mark finishing fourth grade; family getting their first color TV while veteran is overseas; difficulty staying clean; recreation; learning to repel; finding an abandoned enemy base camp; twenty-four hour recon patrol; Vietnamese children; thoughts on fighting and being there for the children of Vietnam; falling on a rail tie at night and having to go to the rear for x-rays; being put in for Combat Medic Badge; description of action in battle; being scared; C-rations; weather affecting resupply; Eagle Beach; sending souvenirs home; looking forward to getting off the line and doing "Med-Caps" (treating children and villagers); plans once home; radio duty; promotion; working at aid station; cutting helicopter landing zones (LZ) in the mountains; reporters visiting; dry fast frozen meal (LRPs); finding an enemy complex; river crossing class; USO show with actress Sheila Kuehl; actor Gary Vinson; sleeping near an abandoned village in a graveyard; amphibious assault; seeing a young tiger; Recon platoon reunion in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland; rice paddies; athletes foot; ring worm; rest and relaxation (R&R) in Bangkok, Thailand; opinions on two different massacre incidents; Thanksgiving dinner; selection of draftees; ex-lieutenant of a North Vietnamese Army Sapper Corps identifying weaknesses at Fire Base Rifle; comparing the Army to the Marine Corps and Air Force; poetry.
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/3 Correspondence, 1969-1970
1 folder
Digital content available
MS02: Four letters from other soldiers to the veteran.
Letter 1: Specialist 4 David Thomas writing to the veteran while both are in Vietnam with 72 days until estimated time of separation (ETS). Topics covered include: rest and relaxation; freedom; being civilians again; statement made by soldier "war is hell but hell has a purpose"; wishing the veteran a Merry Christmas (12/14/1969).
Letter 2: Specialist 5 Larry Gallagher writing to the veteran while both are in Vietnam. This is a Christmas card with a hand written note inside. Topics covered include: Larry being selected for school, leaving 12/18/1969 to return home and letting the veteran know in case he tries to write.
Letter 3: Specialist 4 David Thomas writing to the veteran while both are in Vietnam with 42 days until ETS. Topics covered include: meeting the veteran on March 27, possibly at the Washington Monument; resting up during R&R; David writes about only getting a few rockets in his area; R&R in Australia; mentions Gallagher's early out for school (01/13/1970).
Letter 4: Tom R. LaPisto writing to the veteran after Tom has returned to civilian life and the veteran is almost out. Topics covered include: returning home from Fort Belvoir; driving through a snow storm; getting a ticket in Arkansas; other soldiers they both knew; soldiers trying to get out early; hoping to work part time as an orderly in a hospital then use the G.I. Bill; hoping the veteran is doing well (01/15/1970).
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/4 Creative Works, [1969-1970]
1 folder
Digital content available
MS05: Copy of 2 poems from MS01, letter 56. Poem/Prose on the topic of what it means to be a man and notes "From Pacific Stars & Stripes." Poem titled "Five Stars Fade Away."
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/5 Memoir, undated
1 folder
Digital content available
MS03: Unpublished memoir, "Seek and You Will Find," about the veteran's memories of serving on a fire base in Vietnam.
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/6 Military Papers, 1968-1985
1 folder
MS04: Certificates, awards, service records, service forms, special orders, and related documents.
Series II: Photographs
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/7-8 Photographs, 1968-1970
2 folders
Digital content available
PH01-PH190: Trawczynski and fellow soldiers on duty and during free time in Vietnam; Trawczynski during training at Fort Leonard Wood; sightseeing in Washington, DC; on R&R in Australia.
BOX-FOLDER MSS2356/9 Copy photographic prints, 1968-1970
1 folder
Digital content available
PH191-PH213: Color copies of photographs that belonged to a soldier who served with the veteran in Vietnam.

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