GVSU Veteran Interviews – Ripcord Association
Grand Valley State University — Ripcord Oral History Project

GVSU Veteran Interviews

Ripcord veterans interviewed by Dr. James R. Smither of Grand Valley State University — the firsthand accounts that formed the foundation of The End of the Rope

Over many years, Dr. James R. Smither of Grand Valley State University conducted in-depth interviews with veterans of the Battle of Firebase Ripcord. These interviews — preserved in the GVSU Digital Collections and on YouTube — became the foundation of his book The End of the Rope: The Ripcord Campaign and American Disengagement in Vietnam, released May 1, 2026.

Each interview is a firsthand account of the battle from the men who were there. Click any link below to hear their stories. Dark green buttons open the GVSU Digital Archive. Red buttons open YouTube video interviews.

To learn more about the book, visit our End of the Rope page — Association members may order at a 50% discount.

140
Veterans Interviewed
102
GVSU Archive Interviews
52
YouTube Video Interviews
16
Both GVSU & YouTube
🔍
All 140 veterans
Veteran Unit Interview Links
Alexander, Floyd B/2-319 , A/2-506
Alioto, Michael B/1-501
Aronson Marc B/319 Field Artillery
Barrowcliff, Robert A/159 ASHB
Bashford, Lindon D/2-506
Bond, Bruce 58th Inf Scout Dog
Bort, Frank C/2-506
Brady, Bruce A/2-506
Buffington, Jerone C/2-506
Buhr, Paul A/2-506
Campbell, James C/2-506
Campbell, William (Tex) D/2-506
Chiarelli, Mike B/2-506
Connelly Joseph D/1-506
Cooper, Dale C/2-506
Corradetti, David C/2-506
Cox, Anthony D/1-506
Critchlow, Anthony HHC-2/506
David, Kenneth D 1/506
Day, Harold D/2-17 Air Cav
Delagrange Merle D/1-506
Delfino Frank HHC/1-506
Doyle, Richard D/1-506
Drury, Richard D/1-506
Faine, Steven HHC/1-506
Fieser, Lawrence A & C 1/506
Flanburg, Rex D/2-506
Fowler, John C/2-506
Freeman, Leigh C/2-506
Gilbert Freddie D/2-506
Glennon, Martin A/2-506
Graham, Robin HHC 2-506
Gunn, Steve D/2-506
Hahn, Rick HHC 2/506
Hand, William B/2-506
Handley, Terry D 1/506
Hansmann, Paul B/2-506
Haris, James HHC/ 2-506Surgeon
Harrison, Ben HHC CO 3rd Bde
Hawkins, Charles A/2-506, C/2-506, HHC
Hawkins, Chuck Part 1 A/2-506, C/2-506, HHC
Hawkins, Chuck Part 2 A/2-506, C/2-506, HHC
Heath, Bill A/2-506
Hennessy, Michael D/1-506
Hills, Frank 58th Inf Scout Dogs
Hines, Ray Part 2 2/319 Arty
Hines, Ray Part 1 2/319 Arty
Hodges, Terry D/1-506
Holmen, Chuck A/159 ASHB
Holthausen, Don C/2-506
Hudson, Ron A Btry 1/39th FA
Ireland, Dale C/159 ASHB
Jimmy Howton Pathfinder
Joyce, Jim 1/506 Recon
Kenyon, Dave B/326 Engineers
Kiefer, Don A/2-506
Kiekintveld, Gregory B/326 Engineers
Kirschner, Gunther D/2-506
Kohmetscher, Norman B/2-501
Kuennen, John C/2-506
Lane, Dale A/2-506
Layton, Robert B/2-501
Leibecke, Robert C/2-506
Letica, Michael B/101 Avn Bn Kingsmen
Lewis, William B/158 ASHB
Lieb, Charles C/2-506
Lockwood, David A/2-11 Arty
Lund, John 2/501 Recon
Lyssy, Walter 2/506 HHC
Mackey, Michael C/159 ASHB
Manthei, Steve C/2-506
Marshall, Frank A/2-506
Marshall, Frank 2nd Interview A/2-506
Marshall, Frank 3rd Interview A/2-506
Martin, Al A/ 2-11 FA
McCormick, Ted B/1-327
McCoy, James D/1-506
McCrory, Ron E/2-506 Mortars
McVay, Douglas A/2-506
Meloro, Peter C/2-506
Meyer, JP 159 ASHB
Meyer, Uwe B/2-506
Mihalko, John E/2-506
Miller, Noel A/2-17 cav
Minias, Joseph C 2/506
Mitchell, David D/2-501
Montgomery, Rick B/2-506
Moore, Leonard min-cav
Moyer, Jerry C/2-506
Murphy, George B/2-320 Arty
Nelson, Bruce 2/319
Newman, Tim A/2-506
Pack, Thomas B/2-319 Arty
Pautz, Brian A/159 ASHB
Peacock, Thomas D/2-506, A/2-501
Peters, Ben B/2-506
Phillips, Gregory D/1-506
Pioche, Jacob C/2-506
Pioche, Jacob C/2-506
Poloski, Stanley B 2/319 Artillery
Puffer, Doug D/2-506
Pullen, Steve B Trp 2/17 Cav
Reilly, John HHB 2/11 FA
Renner, Michael A/2-11 FA
Roach, James D/2-506 C/3-187
Rodgers, Jerry 326th Med Dustoff
Romig, Robert D/2-506
Senft, Peter HHC/2-506 S2
Shuttleworth, Fred E/2-506 mortars
Skaggs, Wayne D/2-506
Skinner, Marc D/2-506
Slaughter, Everett B/2-506
Smith, Joe B/326 Engineers
Smith, John D/1-506
Smoker, Bob C/2-506
Snyder, Dave A/2-11 Arty
Spaulding, Fred 3rd BDE S3 AIR
Spruill, Wayne D & E /2-506
Stam, Jeff HHQ/1-501
Straub, Chris D/2-501
Tamburini, John 2/319 FA
Tarbuck, Robert C/2-506
Tauer, Dale D/1-506
Tipton, Charles C/2-506
Tolson, Phil B/2-506
Van Cleve, Charles B/2-319 C/2-506
Van Hout Craig B/2-506
Vasquez, Isabelino C 2/506
Virgilio, Ron D/2-506
Wallace, Bob C/2-506
Wallace, Steve B/2-506
Whipple, Bruce E/2-506
Whiteis, Rauland B/2-506
Widjeskog, Lee A/2-506
Wilcox, Jeff A/2-506
William Williams B/2-506
Worrall, Bob B/2-501
Yearwood, John B/2-17th Cav
Yonts, David A/2-506
Zahn, Ron A 2/11 FA