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Infantry--11C10 Mortars; 196th Light Infantry Brigade
Vietnam, 07/67-07/68
Maurice Costello
First Interview:
The Newberry Library
1) Intro; mortars
2) Going out into the field; Viet Cong (VC)
3) Mortarmen went out less; basecamp set-up
4) Back to the world; survival
5) Draft; alternatives- college
6) First day in Chu Lai
7) "Getting short"; extending; sergeant
8) Friend- divorced, paralyzed; draft letter
9) Wouldn't change anything; lessons, benefits
10) Event in service proud of
11) Good relationship with platoon; doesn't like authority
12) No contact with buddies afterward; Smitty
13) After: protested war; drugs
14) Art teacher; art
15) Event not proud of
16) Art before Vietnam; motorcycles
17) Art: own shows; timely pieces
18) Art discussion
19) Veteran art discussion
Second Interview:
The National Veterans Art Museum
1) How became mortarman; relationship with locals
2) Humorous event; advice; trained hard
3) Physical health
4) Misconception; mundane things
5) Built awesome hooch
6) Glamorization; war movies
7) Talking about it through art
8) Dismantle stereotypes; art in that
9) War; war is killing, everywhere
10) Iraq and Afghanistan; opinion
11) More Iraq and Afghanistan; mob mentality
12) Injury and suicide; "War is not good"
13) Veterans of today
14) Indiana; job after came back
15) General attitude toward veterans; didn't let anyone know
16) Relationship to Chicago
17) Artwork: Autobiography
18) More artwork; therapeutic
19) Drugs- escaping; art better path
20) Role of veteran art- understanding
21) Art as bridge, communication; NVAM
22) Letters to politicians
23) More NVAM
NVAM
Library
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