Interview, Joseph Harkness, USA

Joseph Harkness (b. 1953) was born and raised in Batavia, New York. After a failed attempt to join the United States Air Force, he signed delayed entry papers with the United States Army in 1972, buying himself a six-month deferment so that he could attend community college. Harkness completed basic training at Fort Dix, in New Jersey. When he reported for duty, he was assigned to the Army’s Medical Corps to be trained as an x-ray technician. After 3 years, Harkness was honorably discharged in 1975. He returned to Batavia and attended Genesee Community College, where he studied computers. Harkness got a job at Eastman Kodak, where he worked for 30 years. He became a member of the local Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20, and served on the board of directors for 10 years.

In this interview, Harkness explains that he knew he was going to be drafted so he tried to enlist in the Air Force, but was turned down, so he joined the Army instead. Harkness himself remained stateside during his military service, but he speaks about his close contact with numerous soldiers who were sent to Vietnam. He provides details of his training as an x-ray technician and describes the working environment at military hospitals around the country. Harkness explains that he had daily contact with men that had severe physical and psychological injuries from serving in Vietnam. He says that his military experience was both positive and negative, but that he does not feel frustration or anger over his service like some men who saw combat in Vietnam.