Interviewer: MAJ Charles C. Pritchett, 20th Military History Detachment

MAJ PRITCHETT: This is MAJ Charles C. Pritchett, Commanding Officer, 20th Military History Detachment, Headquarters, United States Army, Vietnam [USARV]. This morning, 11 June [1968], we are located at the Airborne Division Headquarters (ARVN [Army of the Republic of Vietnam]), Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. And we are interviewing CPT Joseph W. Kinzer, an infantry officer, serial number 0*******, who is one of the division liaison officers. Prior to becoming a liaison officer, CPT Kinzer was a battalion senior advisor within the [ARVN] Airborne Division. He has been in country approximately a year and is scheduled to rotate within the next ten to fifteen days back to CONUS [Continental United States], or Stateside, assignment.

When did you come in [the Army]? 19 ... ?

CPT KINZER: 1959.

MAJ PRITCHETT: 1959. What have been some of your major assignments, or your major assignments since that time?

CPT KINZER: Well, the first five and a half years I was an enlisted man. I was with the 3d Infantry Division in Germany, the 2d Infantry Division at Fort Benning, [Georgia], and the 'Old Guard'1 [at Fort Myer] in Arlington, [Virginia], for two years. I went to OCS [Officer's Candidate School] in [19]64, was commissioned in September [19]64, went to jump school and was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, [North Carolina]. I spent 30 months with the 82d Airborne Division, went to the MATA2 course at Fort Bragg; was then assigned to MACV [Military Assistance Command, Vietnam] as an advisor. Upon arrival in country I was assigned to the Vietnamese Airborne Advisory Detachment.

MAJ PRITCHETT: When did you arrive in country?

CPT KINZER: On the 29th of June, 1967.

MAJ PRITCHETT: What have been your assignments in country?

CPT KINZER: Well, for the first four months I was the senior battalion advisor with the 7th Vietnamese Airborne Battalion. After that I was assigned to the ... [what was] then the 3d Airborne Task Force as liaison officer. And in ... I've had that job ever since, up to date.

MAJ PRITCHETT: Where did you go to college?

CPT KINZER: I didn't, I went to OCS. I just completed high school. I do not have a degree.

MAJ PRITCHETT: And what's your age now?

CPT KINZER: I'm 28 years old.

MAJ PRITCHETT: ... like to ask you a few questions in regards to your tenure as the senior advisor to the battalion. How is (or was) the battalion advisory team organized?

CPT KINZER: The authorized battalion TOE [Table of Organization and Equipment] was three personnel per team: a captain, first lieutenant, and an E-7 [sergeant first class]. I was the senior advisor. 1LT Arvin [was] my assistant battalion advisor. MSG Larson was my weapons advisor.