Oral+History+Reflection

ORAL HISTORY REFLECTION Topic: Military Base Interview Subject: Richard Nelson (Sophie's Grandfather)

While doing our project, we learned that the Airforce base in Kenai, Alaska was there mainly to spy on the Russians during the Cold War. Before it was a military base it was a correctional facility, that's something that we did not expect because it's a military base. My grandpa was sent there in 1966 and he was only there for two year unit he was sent back to Minnesota. We never knew what the difference between living in the military and just being a normal civilion was. We definately didn't know what the change would be like for going into the military and coming out of the military would be like. For example my grandpa was a Captain and when he would walk pass people on the base they would have to salute him and when he came back no one would do it unless they knew him.

We didn't realize that being in the army would have the effect on my grandpa that it does. We thought that scince he was in the military he would support the war in Iraq, but it was to our surpise to find out that he doesn't support it. It was a shock to me especially, because my mom's cousin and his nephew is in Iraq serving our country. I thought that he would be more favorable to the war. He only is supportive of the troops, because he knows what their going through and he can respect that. There is a life long impact from serving during Vietnam on my grandpa.