Finding Aid for the Charles T. Bryant Vietnam War correspondence 2019.036.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
4/30/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Charles T. Bryant Vietnam War correspondence
source:
Bryant, Bernard Lee , II
Creator:
Bryant, Charles T., Chief Warrant Officer
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.036.w.r
Physical Description:
0.01 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1966 January 1 - 1968 May 12
Abstract: This collection contains seven correspondence from CWO Charles T. Bryant, USN to Bernard Bryant during the Vietnam War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Vietnam 6
Container: 5
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Bernard Lee Bryant II.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
According to the donor, Chief Warrant Officer Charles T. Bryant, United States Navy attended Tennessee High School in Bristol,
Tennessee, as well as Penn State and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He retired from the Navy.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Charles T. Bryant Vietnam War correspondence (2019.036.w.r), Center for
American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains seven correspondence from CWO Charles T. Bryant, USNavy to his brother Bernard Bryant during the
Vietnam War.
During his correspondence, CWO Bryant tells his brother all of the places he has been and will go, providing details and dates
as to his ship, USS Ticonderoga, and their travel plans. Of note, on January 1, 1966 he explains that he is leaving Sasebo,
Japan for "Yankee Station" in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam for air strikes and then provides a 24-hour
detail of that routine. He also mentions, on December 17, 1966, inspections from Washington while during a "line period" (that
is on the front lines in Tonkin) to ensure there was not another tragedy like the fire that killed many sailors on the USS
Oriskany earlier in the fall.
On February 14, 1968 he discusses their first "alpha strike," a joint effort of all carriers in "Yankee Station" to hit Vinh
Air Base. Some of the bombs they dropped have a delayed fuse to intentionally explode later when the Vietnamese are conducting
repairs on the base. Also mentioned is the loss of a pilot to a SAM missile.
On April 7, he says that the "new limits on strikes didn't have much effect on our days business. Naturally we all hope for
peace talks and a halt to the war. I have my doubts about how effective the pause will be."
The last letter talks briefly about his plans for the future and hoping to be stationed in an exchange or commissary in the
southeast US when he rotates out in October 1968.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States. -- Navy
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Equipment and supplies
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Naval operations, American
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
Bryant, Bernard Lee , II