A Minnesota PBS Initiative
A Change of Heart
Barry Riesch returned from the Vietnam War with a sense of survivor's guilt and disillusionment. After getting sober several years later and coming to terms with his troubling experience, he became involved with the anti-war movement.
I feel that if there was a reason for my life being saved at all is to do what I can do to stop this shit from happening.
Barry's story was captured with the help of TPT's Minnesota Remembers Vietnam team.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: St. Paul, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: St. Paul, United States 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1968 - 1970
Veteran Organization: Veterans for Peace, VFW
Unit: 199th Light Infantry Brigade, CO E 4th BN
Specialty: 11C10
Story Themes: 199th Light Infantry Brigade, Addiction, Anti-war Movement, Barry Riesch, Combat, Company E 4th Bn, Draft, Drugs and Alcohol, PTSD, Student Deferment, Survivor's Guilt, Veterans for Peace, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Watch
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