Scope and Contents

Less than one linear foot of materials documenting Fred Salazar's 1969-1970 Vietnam tour as an infantryman with Company B, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Materials include excerpts from Salazar's diary museum artifacts including an air pillow, an Americal Division wallet, a pair of Ho Chi Minh sandals, and a knife; and a copy of Salazar's book, Vietnam 1969-1970. The materials date from the war era.

Biographical / Historical

Fred Salazar was born in 1949 in Beeville, Texas. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1969 and served for six years, nine months of which were in Vietnam. He served as a E-2 infantryman with Company B, 4/3 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, from September 1969 to May of 1970. Salazar was stationed on San Juan Hill, Duc Pho, and Chu Lai. He was involved in the battle for Hill 285 on 3 January, 1970 and earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Fred Salazar was honorably discharged as an E-4 infantryman in 1971.