"I can vividly remember one of my first flights over North Vietnam … before we were going to roll in, and it reminded me of pictures I had seen from World War II, and the flak that they threw up then … it wasn’t what I bargained for."
Description of Interview:
David Woodrell is one of two sons born to parents “that came from the Dust Bowl era.” Born and raised in California, he earned his Navy commission in January 1969 via the Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate program while attending California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. Mr. Woodrell discusses his A-6 Intruder missions over North Vietnam and Laos, living conditions and life aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during “line periods” on Yankee Station. He remembers fondly one of the VA-52 crewmembers who was killed in action, and talks about the lasting friendships that still endure today. The interview closes with Woodrell’s opinions on troops returning from combat today, his appreciation for courage and duty, and his observations about the Vietnam War Memorial.
Unit:
Attack Squadron 52 (VA-52) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
Service Location:
Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea
Read the Complete Transcript of this Interview.