Opeka, Raymond (Interview outline and video), 2008

Smither, James (Interviewer)

Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission (Kentwood, Mich.)

WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.)

Raymond Paul Opeka was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1956. He convinced his mother to give him written permission to join the Army before he graduated from high school. He was sent to Fort Polk for basic training where he did very poorly on many of the physical tests and activities, and in the advanced training. Opeka was able to remain in the Army at that time because of the shortage of enlisted men. Raymond was sent to Germany, where he continued training. Many of the men he was stationed with were doing lots of drugs and there were also many racial fights.

2008-09-04

Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives

Veterans History Project (U.S.)