James E. Mercer Interview, 2010-06-30 [MilColl OH 567] - North Carolina Digital Collections

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Document Details

Title

James E. Mercer Interview, 2010-06-30 [MilColl OH 567]

Link

https://archive.org/details/milcolloh567mercer

Date

June 30 2010

Creator

["Mercer, James Edward, 1944-"]

Contributor

["Edmister, Rusty."]

Rights

All rights held by the State Archives of NC. Permission to publish must be obtained from the registrar in writing.

Description

James Edward Mercer was born on March 10, 1944, in Rocky Mount, N.C., to Frank and Marie Mercer. In 1962, Mercer graduated from Swift Creek High School, a segregated African-American school in Whitakers, N.C. He joined the U.S. Air Force in early 1964. Mercer completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He finished aircraft mechanic training at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas. Upon the completion of his training, Mercer was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in Otero County, New Mexico. In January 1966, Mercer deployed to Vietnam for the Vietnam War. He served as an aircraft mechanic in the 391st Fighter Squadron, stationed at Cam Ranh Air Base in Khánh Hòa Province, South Vietnam. He returned to the United States in January 1967. Mercer was stationed at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California, for the remainder of his military service. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in the spring of 1968, having reached the rank of Staff Sergeant during his military career. Following his time in the U.S. Air Force, Mercer worked for United Airlines, and later as an engine specialist for Pratt & Whitney. At the time of this interview, Mercer was living in Timberlake, N.C.

Subject

["Vietnam War, 1961-1975","Veterans","United States. Air Force--African Americans","United States. Air Force","Retired military personnel","Personal narratives","Oral history","Oral histories","Military history","Lackland Air Force Base (Tex.)","Holloman Air Force Base (N.M.)","George Air Force Base (Calif.)","Amarillo Army Air Field (Tex.)"]

Digital Collections

["Veterans Oral History Collection"]

Format

["Sound recordings","Oral histories"]

Hosted By

["State Archives of North Carolina","Internet Archive"]

Identifier

MilColl_OH_567_Mercer.mp3

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