Physical Description: .7 Linear Feet(15 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains 334 lettters written by Sgt. Don Zuber, Jr., USA to his parents Don, Sr. and Laura Zuber beginning August 18,1968 and ending March 22,1970. They begin while he was in basic training at Fort Ord, CA, continue through communications specialist training at Fort Gordon, GA and then the majority of his service as a radio operator at various posts in Vietnam. In training he describes daily routine, apptitude tests, inspections and detailed combat and physical training.

He describes his fellow soldiers as "all really good guys... It seems as though all prejudice between the races is nonexistence (sic). It is amazing because we are entirely equal here together. No one has any more than the other guy. We have about 5 colored guys here with us and everyone enjoys talking with everyone." He writes about applying for Officer Candidate School and Military Occupational Specialty training and his good fortune of being selected for radio operator's school.

In Vietnam, principally at Bien Hoa and Quan Loi, he writes of daily life, food, books he is reading, current movies, specifics of his job, traveling by plane, helicopter and truck to other bases to change radio frequencies and codes, fellow soldiers, local Vietnamese people (see esp. letter of 6/27/69), commanding officers, and the rain, mud, heat and insects. In his autobiographical description of the collection, "My Letters Home" (see Series 7, Folder 22) Zuber says he deliberately chose not to write his parents of the negative and dangerous aspects of the war and his service. In his letter of 08/23/69 he writes his opinion of why the U.S. must be in Vietnam, about the Vietnamese people and his change in attitude toward them.

Although while in specialist training Zuber expressed his hope of being stationed in Germany, on February 25, 1969 he shares the news he is being sent to Vietnam. He writes that he has "a strong faith in God and I'm sure that he will protect me. I guess he is sending me to Viet Nam to save someone's life. I am sad but I will keep my head high and do my very best.... I must admit I am a little scared about it all but too - I'm sure it will broaden my outlook on life. It will help me grow up a bit more." He writes of his excitement about flying over the Pacific Ocean and of the advantage of an early out of the Army for having served 12 months overseas.

The last folder in this series (Folder 15) contains four undated letters. Most describe photos, but includes one thank-you letter to Don, Sr. and Laura Zuber from SP/4 Tony C. (Speedy) Gonzales.

Physical Description: .1 Linear feet(2 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains 21 letters from Sgt. Don Zuber, Jr., USA to his uncle and aunt in Santa Maria, CA. A letter of August 5, 1969 includes a small photograph cut from a snapshot of a woman wearing a turquoise coat and a corsage. Zuber writes first of his basic training at Fort Ord, CA, his assignment as a radio operator, trips to San Francisco and Monterey on leave. He writes of further radio communications training at Fort Gordon, GA., family news, art and art lessons, hopes of assignment to Germany. From Vietnam he describes the weather - rain, mud, heat and of changing base locations in Quan Loi, Bien Hoa, Xuan Loc. Zuber's last letters include general decriptions of his plans for his life when he returns home - earning money, going to college, travel.

Physical Description: .025 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series includes three letters and a postcard from PFC Jon M. Young, USA to his uncle Guido Tognazzini. On a postcard from Fort Polk, Louisiana, Nov. 1965, Young writes of learning compass navigation and field communications, viewing weapons demonstrations and anticipating rifle training. A letter from Germany in March 1966 asks his uncle's advice about the kinds of guns he should buy there and ship home. He writes he "like(s) the Army a little bit but there is a certain lack of freedom and a lot of little things that are inconvenient and irritating." In the last letter Young wishes his uncle fast recovery from illness and hospitalization, then writes of night guard duty and wildlife in the German forest. In the document Don Zuber, Jr. wrote describing the collection ("My Letters Home", Folder 22) Zuber says "Jon was a casualty very soon after arriving in Viet Nam." It is not clear from this mention whether Jon M. Young was killed or injured. However, vvmf.org/WallofFaces lists U.S. Army SPF5 Jon Michael Young of San Luis Obispo, CA as a casualty with date of death 4/4/68 in Kien Hoa, Vietnam. Since Guido Tognazzini is referenced as "Uncle" by both Jon M. Young and Don Zuber, Jr. it is possible they were cousins.

Physical Description: .025 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains two photographs of Sgt. Don Zuber, Jr., USA described in correspondence. One is a formal portrait head and shoulders shot taken in 1968 after Zuber's basic training. Another photo is an informal snapshot of Zuber sitting in his quarters in Vietnam, captioned "3 weeks to go!!!"

Physical Description: .05 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains three original issues of Blackhorse newspapers from June, July and November 1969. The Blackhorse is a monthly publication of 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. The newspapers contain articles and photographs about the activities of the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment in Vietnam.

Physical Description: .05 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series includes one map titled Vietnam Conflict Map Including Continent and Special Maps and Indexes and Chronology of Events since World War II. The map is undated. Published by Hammond Inc., Copyright C.S. Hammond and Co., Maplewood, NJ. It includes an "Economic Map of SouthEast Asia" that identifies agricultural, mineral and industrial products from various regions. A political map of "Vietnam and Neighboring Countries" identifies capitals, international boundaries, canals, rivers, railroads, major roads, major airbases and U. S. Marine and Army landings in 1965. The map also includes "Events Leading to the Crisis -- A Chronology of the Vietnam Conflict Since 1945."

Physical Description: .05 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series includes a five-page document titled "My Letters Home" written by Don Zuber, Jr. dated May 19, 2014. It is bound in a paper folder with a clear plastic cover and consists of a title page and dedication, an autobiographical description and history of the collection and a list of materials in the collection. The autobiographical section tells of his induction to the Army, training, and service in Vietnam. It includes his perspective on his life, the war, and his desire to protect his parents from worry. Zuber writes of his decision to donate his letters to the war letters project and his contact with Andrew Carroll. He dedicated the collection to his parents Don Zuber, Sr. and Laura Aholin Zuber, his wife Diana Jo Ductor Zuber, his sons Jeremy Alexander Zuber and Joseph Adam Zuber and his grandson Benjamin Edmund Zuber.