Vietnam Center and Archive Guest Lecture Series

Museum of Texas Tech University

The mission of The Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive Guest Lecture Series is to enrich the intellectual and cultural life of students, faculty, and the community at large by bringing distinguished individuals to campus for presentations on specific aspects of the Vietnam War, its lasting impact on American politics, society and culture, and on contemporary issues in Southeast Asia.

This series was made possible in 2011-2015 by a generous grant from the Helen Jones Foundation.

2012 Speakers

Dr. Lewis "Bob" Sorley

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012, 7:00pm
Location: Lanier Auditorium, TTU School of Law

A graduate of West Point, Sorley served as an executive officer in Vietnam from 1963-1966. He later served as Assistant Secretary of General Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, and commanded a tank battalion in West Germany. This was followed by time on the faculty of the US Army War College and later work as Chief of the Policy and Plans Division of the CIA. Sorley is the author of numerous books, including A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Years in Vietnam.

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Brig. Gen. Tom Draude

Thursday, March 1st, 2012, 7:00pm
Location: Lanier Auditorium, TTU School of Law

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Corps University Foundation, Draude served for over 30 years in the US Marine Corps, including three tours in Vietnam. He later commanded Marine Security Guards in Europe, the Fifth Marine Regiment, and served as the Assistant Division Commander of the First Marine Division during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He received two Distinguished Service Medals and ten personal awards for combat, including two Silver Stars and the Purple Heart.

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Dr. Raymond Scurfield

Thursday, April 19th, 2012, 7:00pm
Location: Lanier Auditorium, TTU School of Law

A Professor Emeritus of Social Work at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, Scurfield is an expert in PTSD. He served as an Army officer on a psychiatric team in Vietnam from 1968-69, and has spent three decades working with hundreds of combat veterans of the Vietnam War and other conflicts. Scurfield is the author of numerous books and articles on the effects of PTSD.

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Dick Rutan

Thursday, September 27th, 2012, 7:00pm
Location: Lanier Auditorium, TTU School of Law

Dick Rutan served in the Air Force in Vietnam, flying over 325 combat missions. Following his time in the military, Rutan continued his aviation career, earning many honors, breaking many world records, and being inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. In 1986 he was the first person to fly nonstop around the globe without refueling. He received the Presidential Citizen’s Medal of Honor, and his plane "Voyager" now hangs in the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.

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Rocky Bleier

Friday, November 9th, 2012, 7:00pm
Location: Lanier Auditorium, TTU School of Law

A star football player at Notre Dame, Bleier was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968. He also received a US Army draft notice that year. Leaving the NFL, Bleier served in Vietnam with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Wounded when his platoon was ambushed, doctors told Bleier he would never play football again. With the support of Steelers owner Art Rooney, his coach and teammates, Bleier trained for two years and eventually became a star running back for the Steelers during their four Super Bowl wins in the 1970s.

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Guest Lecture Series and Video Links