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Catalog number: VIS 508.004
This interview is conducted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Atlanta Branch. In this interview, Wilton Bobo recalls his career in the United States Navy during and after the Vietnam War. He remembers growing up in Washington, D.C. and explains that although the schools he attended as a child were segregated, he received an excellent education. He attended Howard University, majoring in engineering, and explains that when it became clear that he would soon be drafted, he enlisted in the US Navy submarine reserves with the understanding that his active duty would be postponed for a year. He was selected for Officer Candidate School and describes the curriculum there. He describes in detail some of his assignments in the Navy, including serving as the communications officer on the USS Boston while it provided gunfire support from the waters off the coast of Vietnam; clearing the mines in Haiphong Harbor after the peace accords were signed ending the War; and circumnavigating the globe in the USS Inchon. He recalls several experiences while onboard ship including peacefully defusing tensions after a fight between Marines and sailors. He describes punishment onboard ship including what the “brig” was like. He remembers serving at a Naval communications station where the women in his command tended to become pregnant quite often and describes how improving the training they received and assigning them to better, more demanding jobs resulted in much lower pregnancy rates. He describes later serving as the commanding officer of an ROTC unit and how rewarding he found it was to help young people. He recalls his retirement; post military careers; and reflects on leadership, the military, and how it informed his life. He remembers experiences he had with his grandfather in South Carolina and offers advice to younger generations considering military service.