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Catalog Number: VIS 201.0640
In this interview, James L. Garner relates his experiences as an Air Force pilot in the Vietnam War. He describes his childhood and family background. His father helped build the dam which created Lake Texoma. His father was drafted during World War II but stayed stateside as a rifle range instructor in El Paso and Salt Lake City. His mother encouraged him to be anything he wanted to be. He reminisces about his grandfather, who did woodworking and let him play with scrap wood and leftover nails. Mr. Garner earned the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts as well as the Order of the Arrow and became Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He describes his first airplane ride as well as his time in ROTC and the Air Defense Command in college. He details his early flight training in the Air Force. He tells of Major Daniel of Edwards Air Force Base setting a climb record with the T-38 trainer. He recalls encountering Dolly Parton and Porter Waggoner while training in Tennessee. He relates stories of his experiences in Vietnam. He tells of delivering supplies to aid miners trapped in a mining disaster in Pennsylvania after he returned to the States. He recounts a training exercise with Scottish Marines in Dundee. He tells of his retirement from the Air Force and hiring at Delta Airlines. He discusses his family and retirement.