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Table of contents What's This?

box Piotter 1, folder 1-2

Series 1. Military records 1968-2013 1969-1970

Physical Description: .15 Linear Feet(2 folders)

Scope and Contents

This series contains records documenting Piotter's service in the Army. The records span the beginning of Piotter's military service to the end. Documents include an "Order to Report for Induction", a list of soldiers going to Vietnam along with Piotter in January of 1969, Piotter's Advanced Individual Training Proficiency Report, and military pay vouchers There are also certificates that were awarded to Piotter. Additionally, the series contains Piotter's dental records.

Conditions Governing Use

This series must be reviewed by the archivist before providing access because it contains sensitive personal information.
box Piotter 1, folder 3

Series 2. Photographs 1969

Physical Description: .04 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains 72 photographs documenting Piotter's service in Vietnam in 1969. The photographs were taken at locations including the Phuoc Binh Base Camp, Song Be, Duc Hue, and near Long Binh. There are images of Piotter, military aircraft, and scenery of the country
specimen-box Specimen box 2, Compartment Compartment 2, box Piotter 1, Uncontainered 2 flags, box Piotter 2, box Piotter 3

Series 3. Realia

Physical Description: 4.3 Linear Feet(3 boxes)

Scope and Contents

Items in this series include Piotter's dog tags, two medals for "Good Conduct" and "Military Merit", two of Piotter's uniforms and a hat, and a Chicago and Illinois state flag.
box Piotter 1, folder 4

Series 4. Ephemera 1969

Scope and Contents

This series contains various items from Piotter's time in Vietnam, including Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner menus for 1969, Vietnamese currency and military payment certificates, a safe-conduct pass, a small card listing "Nine Rules" for soldiers in Vietnam, a small card with a 1969 calendar for Army soldiers, a "Code of Conduct" card, a Geneva Convention Identification card, a card with details on Piotter's "R and R" break in Hawaii, and a luggage tag listing Bien Hoa Air Base.
box Piotter 1, folder 5, box Oversize 1, folder 17

Series 5. Personal papers 1969-2014

Physical Description: .30 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains various documents belonging to Kenneth Piotter. They include a 1971 letter from then-Illinois Congressman John Erlenborn, responding to Piotter about the verdict in the case of Lieutenant William Calley, who was charged and convicted of murder in the incident known as the "My Lai massacre." Piotter had apparently expressed his displeasure with the verdict. The letter from Erlenborn includes a personal note and a public news release from his office about the case.
The documents also include a 1969 letter from then-Chicago mayor Richard Daley, presenting a Chicago flag to Piotter. Additionally, there is a homemade collage that includes pictures of Piotter and his wife and other items from his Vietnam service. Items also include a poem from Piotter that he apparently wrote in 1969 and information about a military prisoner.
box Piotter 1, folder 6

Series 6. Periodicals 1969-1970

Scope and Contents

This series includes a December 1969 copy of Tour 365, a publication for soldiers returning home from Vietnam. There is also a July 17, 1970 copy of "The Bayonet, " a newspaper published at Fort Benning in Georgia that features photographs from Kenneth Piotter.
box Piotter 1, folder 7

Series 7. Biographical Information 2009

Physical Description: .30 Linear feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains a seven-page narrative that Kenneth Piotter wrote on July 21, 2009 about his service in Vietnam, including information about how he was drafted and ended up overseas.