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Piotter (Kenneth) Vietnam War Collection
2017.045.w.r
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Kenneth Piotter Vietnam War Collection
creator:
Piotter, Kenneth
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.045.w.r
Physical Description:
4.7 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1955-1975
Physical Location: Leatherby Libraries, Special Collections, CAWL Archives
Abstract: This collection contains an arrangement of papers, realia, and textiles from Army Sp4 E-4 Kenneth Piotter during his service
in the Vietnam War.
Container: Piotter 1
Container: Piotter 2
Container: Piotter 3
Container: Specimen box 2
This collection contains an arrangement of military records, photographs, realia, and other items documenting Sp4 E-4 Kenneth
Piotter's service in the military and in the Vietnam War. The collection includes military records that span Piotter's entire
military career, photographs that Piotter took while serving in Vietnam in 1969, Piotter's military uniforms, his dog tags,
and his military medals and certificates.
Items of interest include a 1971 letter from then-Illinois congressman John Erlenborn about the verdict in the case of William
Calley, who was convicted in the murder of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai.
There are restrictions on the use of certain items in this collection and in cases where previously copyrighted material is
concerned. Folders in Series 1 must be reviewed by the archivist before providing access because they contain sensitive personal
information. Regarding copyrighted material, it is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further
copyright information, please contact the archivist.
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Kenneth Piotter
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Kenneth Piotter Vietnam War collection (2017.045.w.r), Center for American War Letters
Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Series 1: Military records -- Series 2: Photographs -- Series
3: Realia -- Series 4: Ephemera -- Series 5: Personal papers -- Series 6: Periodicals-- Series 7: Biographical information
Kenneth Piotter was born in Berwyn, Illinois in 1944. He was drafted into the Army on July 4, 1968, a year after graduating
from the University of Illinois. The donor writes in a biographical narrative titled "My Vietnam Experience" that he volunteered
for the Army Officer Candidate School so that he could have more time to settle personal matters before entering the service.
Piotter became an officer candidate in the Corps of Engineers and did his basic training at Ford Leonardwood, Missouri.
While Piotter was in advanced training, he learned that he was being assigned to Infantry Officer Candidate School. Piotter
writes that the assignment upset him and he asked to drop out of Officer Candidate School. According to Piotter's biographical
narrative, the officer in charge told him that he was "making a mistake and I would wind up in Vietnam if I did not take my
Officer Candidate orders." Piotter adds that he told the officer that he "would go to Vietnam anyway and would rather go to
Vietnam as an enlisted man in the Engineers than an officer in the Infantry."
Piotter served a year in Vietnam beginning in January 1969. He was assigned to the 31st Engineer Battalion in Phuoc Vinh and
specifically worked with the 31st Engineer HHC S3 division which, according to Piotter, was "responsible for creating and
maintaining engineering drawings of battalion buildings, roads, maps, etc." He also spent time near the Cambodian border
in Duc Hue and Song Be. He left Vietnam in January of 1970.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Vietnam.
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American
United States. Army.
My Lai Massacre, Vietnam, 1968