Ernest Medina Interview
Q: What was your role in the Vietnam War?
A: I was the commanding officer of Company C, 1st Batallion, 20th Infantry of the 11th Brigade.
Q: What was your unit responsible for?
A: Our unit was responsible for the My Lai Massacre.
Q: What was the My Lai Massacre and when was it?
A: The My Lai Massacre was the Vietnam Mass murder attack done by the U.S. army on March 16,1968.
Q: How many people died in the My Lai Massacre?
A: Between 350-500 unarmed civilians.
Q: Were you scared to fight in the war?
A: Of course I was scared, everyone was. You have to be brave and stay strong. I did it for my country.
Q: How does it feel to be a commander?
A: It feels great, but I have a big responsibility. I get to give orders to the troops and I try to be the best leader I can be. I fight and die for my country!
A: I was the commanding officer of Company C, 1st Batallion, 20th Infantry of the 11th Brigade.
Q: What was your unit responsible for?
A: Our unit was responsible for the My Lai Massacre.
Q: What was the My Lai Massacre and when was it?
A: The My Lai Massacre was the Vietnam Mass murder attack done by the U.S. army on March 16,1968.
Q: How many people died in the My Lai Massacre?
A: Between 350-500 unarmed civilians.
Q: Were you scared to fight in the war?
A: Of course I was scared, everyone was. You have to be brave and stay strong. I did it for my country.
Q: How does it feel to be a commander?
A: It feels great, but I have a big responsibility. I get to give orders to the troops and I try to be the best leader I can be. I fight and die for my country!
Interview on Jose Gigantoni Gonzales 04/28/13
1. What was some of the things that you did before or when you were in war?
- Well umm... some of the things I did was try and protect my platoon the best I could to not let them get shot or killed in action. Another thing I did was pray alot that was able to let me live. If I were to die I wished that I was die instantly so Iwould not have to go through the pain like some of my platoon men had to go through.
2. How did you get wounded in the fire fight?
- My platoon was booby trapped on a regular patrol on the Cambodian and Vietnam border. I got wounded by a grenade made by the Vietnamese soldiers containing sharp nails, barbed wire, and sharp cans. I am so thankful for god that it was a serious or fatal injury. But the other two soldiers beside me were not so lucky.
3. How well did you get along with other soldiers when you first came to the Vietnam base?
- Well.... I was nervous at first not knowing what to expect from people but I learned that most of the soldiers were just like me got a draft notice and came to the war. I met two amazing people their names were Jimmy Ramos and Patrick Foster I met both of them driving amblances for the wounded and the deceased soldiers of the war.
4. Do you think this war was necessary?
- No, I do not think this war was necessary because I believe that this war was just a test subject for the United States to use new and improved technologies.
5. How did the war affect you when coming home?
- The war affected me alot, when I came home I landed in Oakland California. I went straight to a motel and slept for about a day and a half. When I finally was awake I had PTSD also known as post-traumatic stress disorder. I never really talked to anyone about for about a year and I was very isolated from my family.
By: Neil M. Gonzales
- Well umm... some of the things I did was try and protect my platoon the best I could to not let them get shot or killed in action. Another thing I did was pray alot that was able to let me live. If I were to die I wished that I was die instantly so Iwould not have to go through the pain like some of my platoon men had to go through.
2. How did you get wounded in the fire fight?
- My platoon was booby trapped on a regular patrol on the Cambodian and Vietnam border. I got wounded by a grenade made by the Vietnamese soldiers containing sharp nails, barbed wire, and sharp cans. I am so thankful for god that it was a serious or fatal injury. But the other two soldiers beside me were not so lucky.
3. How well did you get along with other soldiers when you first came to the Vietnam base?
- Well.... I was nervous at first not knowing what to expect from people but I learned that most of the soldiers were just like me got a draft notice and came to the war. I met two amazing people their names were Jimmy Ramos and Patrick Foster I met both of them driving amblances for the wounded and the deceased soldiers of the war.
4. Do you think this war was necessary?
- No, I do not think this war was necessary because I believe that this war was just a test subject for the United States to use new and improved technologies.
5. How did the war affect you when coming home?
- The war affected me alot, when I came home I landed in Oakland California. I went straight to a motel and slept for about a day and a half. When I finally was awake I had PTSD also known as post-traumatic stress disorder. I never really talked to anyone about for about a year and I was very isolated from my family.
By: Neil M. Gonzales