Texas Tech University

Interview with Tom Esslinger

Oral History Item Number: OH0333
Pages
117
Media Type
Oral History
Author(s)
Richard B. Verrone, Ph.D.
Physical Location
Stacks
Language(s)
English
Format
MP3
Time - Hr:Min:Sec
5:23:15
Digitized in HD?
No
Dates
Existence: 21 August 2003
General Note
(USMC) John Thomas 'Tom' Esslinger, originally from Ephrata, Pennsylvannia served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 until 1970. Tom went to Vietnam in September 1967 and served with India Company and Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, and operated out of Camp Evans. In December 1967, his unit was sent to Khe Sanh where it eventually occuppied Hill 881 South during the 77-day seige. After Khe Sanh, from April to July 1968, Tom, as CO of India Co., operated out of Quang Tri City and then west of Da Nang running various missions. In early August, he was made Assistant S-3 with the 3/26 Marines and served in that capacity until completing his 13-month tour in October 1968.

Perma Link
https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=OH0333

Citation
Interview with Tom Esslinger, OH0333. 21 August 2003, John Thomas Esslinger Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=OH0333, Accessed 11 Feb 2026.

Pub Credit Line
OH0333, John Thomas Esslinger Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University

Added: 25 Aug 2003 [Updated: 20 Apr 2008]