Carter, Billy

Item

Title
Carter, Billy
Performer
Billy Carter
Interviewer
William Vollano
Description
Bill Carter was born in Huntsville, Alabama on July 15, 1941. His family moved to Detroit when Bill was very young. He did not complete high school, but later got his GED. His father helped to get him into GM at the age of 18. Although he tried to join the Army, they refused him, but drafted him later at the age of 23. With only a few months remaining on his tour, he was extended for six months and sent to Vietnam, where he was a cook for the "Grunts." After leaving the Army, he returned to GM and was able to retire at the age of 47, after 30 years of service (Army time counted towards retirement). Bill never married; but he did have a couple of long-term girlfriends, although he has no children. He receives medical care at the Veterans Hospital in Ann Arbor. Although he had malaria when he was in Vietnam, it has not returned. He is still being evaluated for the effects of "Agent Orange" since he does have breathing problems. Bill now lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Date Span
Dates of Service
Subject
Drafted; United States Army; 1st Cavalry Divison; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam; United States; Specialist Five
Publisher
Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University
Collection Location
1/23
https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.72825
Spatial Coverage
Vietnam; United States