Orman Eugene Waller papers, 1972-1984 (bulk 1972-1974)
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Organized by format.

Snapshots,Arrangement follows original order as they appeared in photograph album. Photocopies of original layout of album are filed with Waller's manuscripts.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Abstract: Manuscripts, color snapshots, a unit newsletter, an oral history interview and transcript, and a DVD containing two military films, all relating to the service of Orman Eugene "Gene" Waller (also known as "Wally") in the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Waller worked as a loadmaster on a C-130 Hercules transport plane and was stationed in Thailand, Cambodia, and Taiwan from 1972-1974 during the Vietnam War.

Scope and content: Manuscripts include a few identification cards (some with redactions made by library staff for privacy reasons), a newsletter entitled "Det One Report" issued July 4, 1972, photocopies of the original layout of Waller's photograph album, and the album itself, minus the photographs, which have been removed from the album for preservation reasons.

Snapshots are in color and consist of 86 prints, plus one 8x10 black and white print (filed with larger photographs). The snapshots are arranged based upon their original order in Waller's photograph album. Perhaps most significant are a few images (photos # 10-13, #25) of U.S. negotiations with the North Vietnamese in Hanoi during November 1974, where Waller was present. One of the individuals photographed was one of the chief interrogators at the infamous North Vietnamese prison compound known as the "Hanoi Hilton." Other unrelated snapshots show North Vietnamese prisoners embarking or disembarking from a U.S. transport aircraft (photos #33-39). Another small series of photographs (photos #51-53, #58, #81) show High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) paratroopers about to make their jump over Koke Thiem, Thailand in May 1973. The vast majority of the remainder of the snapshots show Waller and his friends at leisure, mostly in Thailand. Some photographs show his living quarters and living conditions in barracks or apartments. Locations of photographs include: Utapao, Lop Buri, Takhli, Koke Thiem, and Korat, Thailand; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Taiwan; Hanoi, North Vietnam; Camp Evans, An-Toi, South Vietnam; Incirlik, Turkey; and Elmendorf, Alaska.

The DVD includes two films, transferred from videotape. The first, entitled, "The Way It Is: The Tactical Airlift Story" was produced by Aerospace Audio Visual Service for the Tactical Airlift Command of the U.S. Air Force. It is about tactical airlift operations and features the C-130 Hercules aircraft. It includes scenes of cargo aircraft operations and personnel, including numerous interviews with airmen. They discuss various missions including flying in supplies, food, medical supplies, ammunition, evacuating casualties and dead bodies, and prisoners. Among many others, some members of the Tennessee Air National Guard unit, the 118th Airlift Wing, are interviewed in this film. (Color : approx. 53 min.). This is followed by a shorter film entitled: "A-10 Thunderbolt II" about the specialized tank-killing aircraft built by Fairchild Industries. (Color : approx. 15 min.) Scenes feature demonstrations of the A-10's bombing technique and power against enemy armored forces, and highlights the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing based at Bentwaters in England. No dates of either film are provided, but they appear to be from the mid-1970s.

An oral history interview with Waller conducted by Betty Richards on Mar. 25, 2008, (on 1 compact disc, in mp3 format) is also part of the collection, and includes a transcript. In this interview he tells about being part of the Pacific Air Force in Tactical Air Command and the Military Airlift Command that evacuated Saigon. He had 3,786 hours on flight missions. He participated in the Choi Hoi mission of dropping propaganda leaflets encouraging the Viet Cong to come to the U.S. side by giving monetary rewards.

Further details about Waller's materials in the collection can be obtained by consulting the various finding aids to the Veterans History Project collection.

Cite as: [photograph no. or item citation], Orman Eugene Waller Papers, Vietnam War Series, Veterans History Project Collection, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code). Nashville Public Library does not have intellectual property rights to these materials except for oral history interview.

Oral history interview,copyright deeded to Nashville Public Library at time of interview.

Orman Eugene Waller;,Gift;,2008.,Acc. 2008.020.

Orman Eugene Waller, more commonly known as Gene Waller or just "Wally" during his time in the military, was born in Erin, Tenn. in 1945. He joined the Air Force in 1962 and served until 1985. During the Vietnam War, he served as a loadmaster for C-130 Hercules transport aircraft as part of the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, and was stations in Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan, and South Vietnam. At the time of his interview in 2008, he was suffering from cancer, which he believed was a result of exposure to Agent Orange while serving during the Vietnam War. He died in 2009.

In English

Finding aid available in repository; ,folder level control.

Materials in possession of Orman Eugene Waller until time of donation to Nashville Public Library.

Forms part of the Vietnam War series of the Veterans History Project collection.

Process;,2009;,Linda Barnickel.

No further accruals are expected.