Interview, Charles Phillips, USAF

Charles Phillips (b. 1949) was born in Rochester, New York, and joined the United States Air Force on December 3, 1969. He completed his training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. Phillips specialized in weapons mechanics and became an Air Force Sergeant. He was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in Da Nang, Vietnam. Phillips was in the service for 4 years and was discharged in November 1973. He worked for Kodak as an automatic equipment mechanic for 39 years and joined the local Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20, serving as a tour guide for the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Highland Park.

In this interview, Phillips explains that he enlisted in the Air Force in order to avoid being drafted into the Army. He reveals that he initially wanted to join the Marine Corps, but that the recruiter for the Marines was out to lunch when he went to sign up, so he chose the Air Force instead. He notes that he volunteered to go to Vietnam and reflects on his experiences there. Phillips talks about the after effects of his military service and shares a story about being in a restaurant back home and diving under a table when he mistook a siren for a bomb warning. Phillips explains that the war changed his political views and that he no longer votes because of this. Phillips is an active member of the local Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20, and reports that he is very close with the group. He also enjoys working with an organization called Vet to Vet, which helps veterans transition back to civilian life.