Scope and Contents

The collection consists of over one linear foot of slides, photographs, newspapers, and insignia booklets documenting George Kelling's service in Vietnam as executive officer with Company C, 15th Medical Battalion, 1965-1966. Included in the collection are photographs that Kelling received from USAF Captain Bob MacNaughton while he was employed by the Department of the Air Force as a civilian historian and underground anti-war newspapers from Fort Bragg. Also included are greeting cards; a Thanksgiving Day menu; two documents given to Kelling by MacNaughton, who went to Hanoi as part of a team sent to arrange a POW transfer in 1973 (a flight plan form and a currency exchange form); and a narrative written by Kelling relating his experiences as XO of C Company 15th Medical Battalion supporting the 3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry Division in the Battle of Ia Drang - which was used by Joe Galloway for his book We Were Soldiers Once and Young. Also included is a book and an anti-war flyer. The materials are dated 1965, 1973, ca. 1986, 1997, or are otherwise undated.

Biographical / Historical

George H. Kelling served in Vietnam as the executive officer of Company C, 15th Medical Battalion in Vietnam, 1965-1966. Kelling retired from the Army in 1978 and then earned a PhD in History. After receiving his PhD, Kelling spent the next 12 years working as a civilian historian with the Department of the Air Force.