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John B. Sorenson Audiotapes

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3373

  • Staff Only

The two audiotapes in this collection contain messages that John B. Sorensen, then serving in Vietnam, recorded and sent to his mother, Mrs. Oscar Sorensen, and other relatives living near Hines, Illinois. One of the audiotape boxes is postmarked 12 April 1964. On the tapes, Sorensen discusses Vietnamese weather (which he claims has two seasons: one of them's hot and wet and the other is hotter and dry), his duties as a helicopter gunner, and the Viet Cong. He also includes some pre-recorded combat sounds for the pleasure of the younger members of his audience and asks his mother to send a number of items, including a pocketknife, Kool-Aid, and cookies. Both tapes were duplicated on CDs, which are also housed in the collection.

Dates

  • 1964 April 12, undated

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet

Abstract

The two audiotapes in this collection contain messages that John B. Sorensen, then serving in Vietnam, recorded and sent to his mother, Mrs. Oscar Sorensen, and other relatives living near Hines, Illinois. One of the audiotape boxes is postmarked 12 April 1964. On the tapes, Sorensen discusses Vietnamese weather (which he claims has two seasons: one of them's hot and wet and the other is hotter and dry), his duties as a helicopter gunner, and the Viet Cong. He also includes some pre-recorded combat sounds for the pleasure of the younger members of his audience and asks his mother to send a number of items, including a pocketknife, Kool-Aid, and cookies. Both tapes were duplicated on CDs, which are also housed in the collection.

Biographical/Historical Note

John B. Sorenson served in the U. S. Army during the early years of the Vietnam War. He spent part of this time as a gunner on a patrol helicopter that inspected suspected Viet Cong villages in the remote areas of Vietnam. He seems to have survived the war, as his name does not appear on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.

Arrangement

This collection consists of two folders.

Acquisition Note

These audiotapes were donated to Special Collections.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480