Scope and Contents

The William Giles collection includes an undated poem written by Giles, a photograph of Giles in Vietnam; an article describing the attack on Cu Chi base camp, and 18 folders filled with love letters written by Giles while in Vietnam to Ernestine 'Tina' Lott. (1967-1968).

Biographical / Historical

William 'Bill' Giles was born in Chicago IL and attended school there, graduating from St. Elizabeth's High School in 1960. He earned an undergraduate degree in 1964 and was studying pharmacy at the University of Illinois when he was drafted. He entered the Army in 1967, was trained as a medic at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and arrived in Vietnam in September 1967. He was assigned to the 12th Evacuation Hospital at Cu Chi, where he worked as an emergency room medic, including during the Tet Offensive (January 1968) and the May 1968 Offensive. He left Vietnam and returned to the U.S. in August 1969. Bill returned to pharmacy school in January 1970 and received his degre in 1971. He worked as a pharmacist in Illinois and California until retiring in 1998.