Scope and Contents

The collection consists of one USB drive containing digital photographs of documents housed in the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library that pertain to Vietnam and Indochina. The documents include memos, conversation transcripts, meeting minutes, and reports. Also included is an oral history interview conducted with Colonel Howard Cohen and letters that Dr. Cohen wrote home to his wife and parents from Vietnam.

Biographical / Historical

Dr. Howard Barry Cohen was born in New York City, NY in 1939. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1966, where he served for 20 years as a medical officer. From 1966-1967, he served with 7th Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg. Then from June 1967 to June 1968, he served with 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam - first with B Team at Ban Me Thuot and then D Team at Can Tho. He was involved in the Tet Offensive. Finally, from 1968 to 1987 he served with the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He received the Bronze Star and the Combat Medical Badge. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1987 at the rank of Colonel. Following his military service, Dr. Cohen worked various medical positions including a residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and a fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, as well as positions with Letterman Army Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Medical Group.