Scope and Contents

Slides, photographs, film, audio recordings, newsclippings, award citations and artifacts from Erwin C. Vanderland's tour of duty in Vietnam as a chaplain from 1965 to 1966 with the 62nd Engineer Battalion and 1969 to 1970 with the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry 5th Infantry Division.

Biographical / Historical

Elwin Vanderland was born in Utica, New York on December 12, 1936. He joined the United States Army in 1964 and served as Chaplain until his retirement in 1984. Vanderland served two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966 and 1969 to 1970. His first tour of duty was spent with the 62nd Engineering Battalion in Phan Rang. Vanderland's last tour of duty in Vietnam was with the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry 5th Infantry Division in Dong Ha. Vanderland won numerous awards and citations during his service in Vietnam including the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Bronze Star, and two Army Commendation Medals. Vanderland retired from the Army in 1984 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has since worked in ministry in various churches, hospitals, and retirement communities.