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Steve Sober

"There's a lot more to patriotism than picking up a flag and waving it," says Steve Sober. This Vietnam veteran loves his country so much that he was willing to speak out against it when it failed to live up to its principles. Like thousands of other Vietnam veterans, Sober joined the Army believing it was a beacon of freedom in the world and that he had a duty to stop the spread of Communism around the world. But while in Vietnam, his actual experiences violently contradicted his previous beliefs.

The Vietnam War was the most unpopular war in U.S. history; by 1971, more than 70% of the American public opposed the war. A majority not only believed the war was a mistake, but it was fundamentally immoral. Thousands of active duty American G.I.s opposed the war and engaged in daily acts of resistance, and thousands more veterans, like Steve Sober, marched against the war in protest.

Born in Antananarivo, Madagascar in 1948 to a family within the foreign service, Sober grew up abroad for most of his early life. Living in places like India, Iceland, and Czechoslovakia, Sober was exposed to both experiences and people that influenced his political consciousness, perspective, and understanding of America and its role in the world -- all from a young age.

February 13th, 1967, a year into his time at Dickinson College, Sober enlisted in the U.S. Army. It was when he was working as a travel clerk in New York that he received his orders to Vietnam -- not a month after the Tet Offensive, both a major escalation and one of the biggest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. Stationed at the Phu Hiep Base, Sober worked as a company clerk in the finance unit as well as the company truck driver for the compound. Sober was honorably discharged after returning from Vietnam on September 16th, 1969.

Draft or Join

After graduating from high school in 1966, Sober studied at Dickinson College. During his time there, the Vietnam War continued to rage and escalate. U.S. troops stationed in Vietnam increased by tens of thousands, the Draft becoming more and more of a threat to American men. In 1967, Sober decided to volunteer for the U.S. Army, both because he felt a patriotic duty to, and to be able to choose his initial occupation, rather than be assigned one when drafted.

When asked if he notified his parents of his plans to enlist in the military, Sober responded, "No, not really. It was either get drafted or join."

Communicating with Vietnamese Citizens

Most of the American troops sent to Vietnam had a hasty, if any, understanding of the country's language and culture. With little or no contact with Vietnamese citizens, most American soldiers did not know how locals felt, and at times, unable to tell an enemy from an ally, leading to the all-too-common dehumanization of the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.

Sober, being born in an ex-french colony, and growing up hearing French regularly from his family, particularly from his father, was able to speak French and communicate with some Vietnamese citizens during his time in Vietnam. Being able to do what other American soldiers couldn't -- interact with locals -- Sober was able to learn how some Vietnamese citizens felt about the war and the American troops.

The things he learned from the Vietnamese locals sparked uneasiness inside him with what the U.S. was doing in Vietnam.

"And that is where I began to get uneasiness about what we were doing. Because they were telling me things in French that they would not say in English. Almost certain they would not be talking about national pride."

Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW)

When Sober returned from Vietnam, he learned of the organization called Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). The national veterans' organization was founded in New York City in 1967 to advocate for the rights and needs of veterans, as well as provide a voice for the growing opposition to the Vietnam War from service members returning from Vietnam.

After finding a flier, Sober joined the VVAW and their march protest from Trenton, New Jersey to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, as a part of the VVAW's Operation RAW (Rapid American Withdrawal). The march included demonstrations showcasing American soldiers' treatment of Vietnamese citizens and destruction of Vietnam.

"I remember going through those VFW -- in front of VFW facilities and people are [screaming], 'why didn't you go there, hippie?' They would not accept the fact that we were Vietnam veterans protesting the war. Would not accept it."

Patriotism

Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide

Steve Sober's Full Oral History Interview

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Steve Sober, "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" by Jason A. Higgins Steve Sober, "Crossing the Military Civilian Divide," interviewed by Dr. Jason A. Higgins and Madison Cholewa, January 25, 2023, Williamsburg, VA at the College of William & Mary "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" project is part of a 4-VA Collaborative research project by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities, and Andre Taylor, oral historian at the College of William and Mary. Special thanks to our three research assistants Leena Alsayab, Madison Cholewa, and Gabrielle Wells, who are undergraduate students and recent graduates of Virginia Tech.
Steve Sober: The VVAW, Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide Steve Sober, "Crossing the Military Civilian Divide," interviewed by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, Jan. 25, 2023, Williamsburg, VA. "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" project is part of a 4-VA Collaborative research project by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities, and Andre Taylor, oral historian at the College of William and Mary. Special thanks to our three research assistants Leena Alsayab, Madison Cholewa, and Gabrielle Wells, who are undergraduate students and recent graduates of Virginia Tech.
Steve Sober: Draft or Join, Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide Steve Sober, "Crossing the Military Civilian Divide," interviewed by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, Jan. 25, 2023, Williamsburg, VA. "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" project is part of a 4-VA Collaborative research project by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities, and Andre Taylor, oral historian at the College of William and Mary. Special thanks to our three research assistants Leena Alsayab, Madison Cholewa, and Gabrielle Wells, who are undergraduate students and recent graduates of Virginia Tech.
Steve Sober: Communicating with Vietnamese Citizens, Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide Steve Sober, "Crossing the Military Civilian Divide," interviewed by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, Jan. 25, 2023, Williamsburg, VA. "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" project is part of a 4-VA Collaborative research project by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities, and Andre Taylor, oral historian at the College of William and Mary. Special thanks to our three research assistants Leena Alsayab, Madison Cholewa, and Gabrielle Wells, who are undergraduate students and recent graduates of Virginia Tech.
Steve Sober: Patriotism, Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide Steve Sober, "Crossing the Military Civilian Divide," interviewed by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, Jan. 25, 2023, Williamsburg, VA. "Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide" project is part of a 4-VA Collaborative research project by Dr. Jason A. Higgins, postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities, and Andre Taylor, oral historian at the College of William and Mary. Special thanks to our three research assistants Leena Alsayab, Madison Cholewa, and Gabrielle Wells, who are undergraduate students and recent graduates of Virginia Tech.