A Minnesota PBS Initiative
Calvin Kellerman
My name is Calvin Kellerman. I’m a farmer from North Dakota with a degree in general agriculture graduating from NDSU in 1951. I taught agriculture to WWII veteran farmers, managed a ranch in South Dakota, and worked for the Soil Conservation Service in North Dakota.
As far as I know, our government didn't do much for him other than send him home in a body bag and that was that, because at that time agriculture people were not considered veterans of Vietnam.
I went to Vietnam in 1966 as an agriculture advisor working with the provincial ag chief in Long An province to develop and improve a new kind of rice for increased production. The last 2 years were spent as a regional ag advisor in DaNang and CanTho leaving Vietnam in 1972. Rice production doubled and now the country has enough rice for export.
Click the video below to watch Part 1 of Calvin's story:
Click the video below to watch Part 2 of Calvin's story:
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Mendota Heights, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Long An, DaNang, and CanTho, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Dates of Service: 1966 - 1972
Specialty: Agriculture
Story Themes: Advisor, Agriculture, Calvin Kellerman, Can Tho, Danang, Long An, North Dakota, Rice, Soil Conservation Service, Video
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