Jeff Wagner Interview

1. Jeff Wagner Interview Vietnam Veteran and Medic

2. Background of our friendship • We met while performing in an amateur play • We hit it off right away and had many discussions • Jeff’s occupation • His marital status • His military experience in Vietnam

3. Our subsequent relationship • We worked together on two other plays • We became friends • We have common interests • We enjoy each other’s company • We are going to spend a week together in Spain with a group of friends from the theatre

5. Preparation for the interview • Called Jeff to see if he was comfortable talking about his time in Vietnam • Double and triple checked with him about this! • Set up interviews on two consecutive nights over my spring break

7. The Interviews • Interview One: Met with Jeff in his home • Began the interview with family background and his school years • We were interrupted once by a phone call that he had to take. • We ended the first interview at the point where Jeff had shipped out to the West Coast, but had not left the U.S. for Vietnam.

9. The second interview was the following night. • Bulk of this interview is of Jeff’s time in Vietnam • Discussion of his return • Discussion of how much his tour as a medic influenced his decision to eventually become a nurse • Talked about his medals. • Talked about his life after he returned from Vietnam to the present.

17. Thoughts on the interviews: • Interviewer – Sherry Brown • My questions could have been more precise • I could have followed up with some more in-depth questions regarding the role of the medic in Vietnam (MEDCAP).

18. Narrator – Jeff Wagner • I was surprised that he was a little shy when we began the interviews • However, he warmed to his subject and became less nervous, especially during the second interview • Jeff would answer any question I had without a problem. In fact, he became a bit perturbed with me when I asked repeatedly if talking about Vietnam would make him uncomfortable (pre-interview)

20. Conclusion • For me, this was a very good interview about a part of the military service in Vietnam (the medic) that I knew very little about. • Jeff was a good narrator with excellent recall. • I could have been more precise with my actual questions. • I did cover the material in the interviews that I thought was necessary to cover. • The interview process was a very good experience for both of us.

21. The wide range of professional capabilities made the 95th Evacuation Hospital a referral center for difficult cases throughout the Northern Military Combat Tactical Region. Specialty services including neurology, dermatology, oral surgery, psychiatric consultations, orthopedic surgery, general surgery and special radiographic procedures were provided thorough this facility. The hospital was among the last to close with the mass exodus of American troops in March 1973.