Scope and Contents

The collection consists of approximately 7 linear feet of correspondence, military training manuals, issues of Preventative Maintenance Monthly Magazine, slides (including audio narration), moving images, photographs, and audio letters documenting Timothy Staats' military service with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Staats was in Vietnam from November 1968-December 1969, attached to the 196th Aviation Company of the 1st Aviation Brigade based at Lane Army Heliport near Qui Nhon, South Vietnam. The letters provide an overview of one soldier's experiences throughout his service and have annotations added by Staats, which help to better explain his service. They include information and perspectives about boot camp and training, the day-to-day routine of a soldier in Vietnam, and a number of other situations. The letters and military manuals date from the war era, with some additional materials dating from the 1980s.

Biographical / Historical

Timothy Staats of Milwaukee, Wisconsin served in the U.S. Army from February 5, 1968 until January, 1971. He was in Vietnam from November 1968 until December 1969, attached to the 196th Aviation Company of the 1st Aviation Brigade based at Lane Army Heliport near Qui Nhon, South Vietnam. He worked as an aircraft armorer and door gunner on CH-47 'Chinooks' helicopters. After completing his tour of duty in Vietnam, Staats was assigned as an aircraft armorer at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Georgia until his discharge from the Army. Upon returning to civilian life, Staats utilized the G.I. Bill to attain AA and BS degrees in Business. He later earned his MBA. In 1996 Staats worked for the Department of Labor in Milwaukee.