Newton Talks, an oral history project. Interview with Robert Ellertsen, a Vietnam era veteran, 1967-1969.
(Digital Resource)

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Newton Talks is an oral history project initiated in 2015 by the City of Newton Mayor's Office. It involves a collaboration among several city departments including Historic Newton, Newton Free Library, Newton Senior Center, Newton Veterans Services and Crossing Generations, a Newton South High School student group that aims to bridge the gap between generations. The project will be conducted in phases, the first of which focuses on Veterans' stories and experiences.

Digital slide show created by John Walsh.

Interviewed by Kim Hewitt.

Recorded at Newton Free Library, Newton, Mass. on August 17, 2016.

Robert Ellertsen enlisted in the Navy in the spring of 1967, a few weeks prior to graduating from Gettysburg College (Penn.). He completed Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport (RI) before attending flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola (Fla.). He dropped out of the flight program and completed the Aircraft Maintenance Officers Course at the Naval Aviation Officers School in Memphis, Tenn. Ellertsen transferred to the Lakehurst Naval Air Station (NJ), where he worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer until he finished his service in 1969. His commission officially ended in March, 1974. After his service, Ellertsen used G.I. Bill benefits to complete his MBA at Boston University. Ellertsen recalls his motivation for volunteering to become a Naval officer, the fear of being drafted into the Army, and the relative normalcy and comfort of his life in the military during the war. He talks about his disagreement with the war, and reflects on the loss of life.

Preferred citation: Newton Talks, an oral history project, interview with Robert Ellertsen, a Vietnam era veteran, 1967-1969. Special Collections, Newton Free Library, Newton, MA.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.