Oral History Interview with Walter Cottrell
Title
Oral History Interview with Walter Cottrell
Narrator (written)
Walter Cottrell
Narrator First Name
Walter
Narrator Last Name
Cottrell
Interviewer
Taylor Mauney
Abstract
Walter O. Cottrell reflects on his experiences during the Vietnam War era in an interview for the Dartmouth Vietnam Project. He recounts his early life growing up in a military family in Frederick, Maryland and later Arkansas and California. He discusses his decision to attend the University of Michigan for a year and a half before dropping out to join the Marines in 1967. He details his participation in various training programs such as Navy ROTC, Parris Island boot camp, and Officer Candidate School. Cottrell describes his service in Vietnam as a platoon commander, executive officer, and briefly a company commander with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, discussing the challenges of combat, leadership, and camaraderie. He recounts the physical and mental toll of war, including his injuries, and shares his mixed feelings on military and political leadership decisions. Cottrell discusses his struggle to reintegrate into civilian life after the war and his eventual pursuit of a career as a veterinarian, reflecting on how his military experiences shaped his life.
Date of Interview
February 12, 2020
Subject
Military Service (Marines)
Upper Valley Resident
Vietnam Veteran
Language
English
Rights
Interview Audio Source (MP3)
//rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DDHI/histories/cottrell_walter/cottrell_walter.mp3
Interview Transcript Source (PDF)
//rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DDHI/histories/cottrell_walter/cottrell_walter_transcript_final.pdf
HTML
//rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DDHI/histories/cottrell_walter/cottrell_walter_transcript_final.html