William H. Loy III Papers

1966-1986
Manuscript Collection #1164
Creator(s)
Loy, William H., III
Physical description
1.001 Cubic Feet, 223 items
Preferred Citation
William H. Loy III Papers (#1164), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Letters, photographs, ephemera, maps, and printed materials (1966-1968, 1986) of U.S. Navy Hospitalman 3rd Class (HM3) in the Vietnam War relating to his training at the Great Lakes Naval Station, Great Lakes, IL; his service in Company D., 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps, in Da Nang and Phu Bai, Vietnam; and his Rest and Recreation leaves in Bangkok, Thailand, Georgetown, and Penang, Malaysia.


Biographical/historical information

William H. "Bill" Loy, III was a native of Alamance County, North Carolina, and graduated from Washington High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 and trained as a Hospitalman at the U.S. Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Illinois. In 1967, he was promoted to Hospitalman 3rd Class (HM3) and assigned to Company D., 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division then stationed in Da Nang, South Vietnam. He served with the 1st Medical Battalion during his entire tour in Vietnam. In April 1968, the 1st Medical Battalion moved north to Phu Bai, near the Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]. He served there until the end of his tour in Vietnam. In October 1968, the Navy promoted Loy to HM2 and transferred him to Company H. & S. [Headquarters & Service]. He completed his service and returned to the United States in December 1968. During his tour in Vietnam, Loy took Rest and Recreation leaves in Bangkok, Thailand and Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.

In the 1st Medical Battalion, Loy's job consisted primarily of maintaining the inventory of medical supplies and re-ordering medical supplies that were in short supply, but he also did carpentry work, packed sandbags, and shared in the general military duties of his unit. After returning from Vietnam, Loy spent the remaining months of his military service at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

After leaving the Navy, Loy attended North Carolina State University and earned an engineering degree from East Carolina University. He worked as an engineer for the telephone company now known as Embarq [formerly known as Sprint; previously known as Carolina Telephone Company] for more than 30 years. He retired in March of 2006 and died on 10 March 2007. His father, William H. Loy, Jr. died in 1970.

Loy is survived by his mother, Ursula F. Loy of Greenville, N.C.; his wife of 31 years, Sharon Dunbar Loy; his sister Joy L. Rountree and brother-in-law Earl, of Sunbury, N.C.; and his brother Eric Loy and sister-in-law Robin of Greenville, N.C.


Administrative information
Custodial History

May 2, 2010, (unprocessed) 223 items, 1.001 cubic feet; Papers (1966-1968, 1986) of U.S. Navy Hospitalman 3rd Class (HM3) relating to his training at the Great Lakes Naval Station, Great Lakes, IL; his service in Company D., 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps, in Da Nang and Phu Bai, Vietnam; and his Rest and Recreation leaves in Bangkok, Thailand and Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia; and consisting primarily of letters to his father, mother, brother and sister and other friends and family members in Ayden, North Carolina, Corapeake, N.C., Roanoke Rapids, N.C, Siler City, N.C. and Washington, N.C., in Chatham County, Gates County, Halifax County, and Pitt County, N.C.; primarily relating to his job ordering medical supplies for his unit, but also including his daily life, the military situation in Vietnam, including the Tet Offensive, and the battles at Khe Sanh and A Shau Valley; relating to the U.S. presidential campaign, race relations, family matters, etc. and consisting primarily of holograph and typescript letters, but also including, photographic prints, ephemera, maps and printed materials See preliminary inventory attached. 1 box and 1 oversized folder. 223 items. 854 p. (ca. 1.001 cubic feet) Recd. 2/9/2010. Donor: Mrs. Ursula F. Loy and Mr. Eric C. Loy

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Ursula F. Loy and Mr. Eric C. Loy

Processing information

Encoded by Jonathan Dembo, May 02, 2010

Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Loy, William H., III
Corporate Names
United States. Navy--Military life
Topical
Khe Sanh, 1st Battle of, Vietnam, 1967
Khe Sanh, 2nd Battle of, Vietnam, 1968
Tet Offensive, 1968
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Davison, Carla, Roanoke Rapids, NC. Letter to Mrs. Sue Loy, Washington, NC (19 March 1986) Holograph. 1 item. 2 p. Note: To Mrs. William H. Loy, Jr
Box 1 Folder b Loy, Eric C., Washington, NC. Letter received from his brother Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division, Da Nang, South Vietnam (18 March - 27 June 1968) Holograph. 3 items. 10 p
Box 1 Folder c Loy, William H., Jr., Washington, NC. Letters received from his son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) - 2d Class (HM2) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division, Da Nang, South Vietnam (27 Aug., 24 Oct. 1968) Holograph. 2 items. 6 p. Note: Birthday greetings; father's health
Box 1 Folder d Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letter received from her son, U. S. Navy recruit, William H. Loy, III, Class "A" Hospital Corps School, Co. 66-68, Great Lakes, IL (2 Nov. 1966) Holograph. 1 item. 4 p
Box 1 Folder e Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (9 - 31 Dec. 1967) Holograph. 9 items. 28 p
Box 1 Folder f Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (2 - 30 Jan. 1968) Holograph, Photographic prints (color), Ephemera. 16 items. 65 p. Note: Letters of 26 & 29 Jan. have color photos, including 1 of movie star Barbara McNair visiting the troops
Box 1 Folder g Loy, William H., Jr., Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (2 - 29 Feb. 1968) Holograph & Typescript, Photographic prints (color), Ephemera. 16 items. 58 p. Note: Letters of 9, 14, 23 & 29 Feb. have clippings, ARVN safe conduct passes & military scrip & ephemera
Box 1 Folder h Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (2 - 26 March 1968) Holograph & Typescript, Printed forms. 13 items. 53 p. Note: Sketch map of 1st Medical Battalion position, Da Nang (6 March); Letter from mother & medical order forms (22 March). Letter from mother discusses her reaction to the movie "Bonnie & Clyde."
Box 1 Folder i Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang - Phu Bai, South Vietnam (1 - 30 April 1968) Holograph & Clippings. 15 items. 63 p. Note: Includes accounts of his battalion's move from Da Nang to Phu Bai (10 April) & his planned rest & recreation trip to Thailand in May (28 April)
Box 1 Folder j Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai, South Vietnam (3 - 30 May 1968) Holograph & Ephemera. 11 items. 41 p. Note: Includes accounts of the A Shau Valley Battle (6 May); of his rest & recreation trip to Thailand in May (28 May); planning for his next duty station
Box 1 Folder k Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai, South Vietnam (3 - 30 June 1968) Holograph. 15 items. 48 p. Note: Includes accounts medical supply concerns (1 June), illnesses (5 June), "house mouse" servant (7 June), Khe Sanh Battle (9 June), "lifers" softball games (16 June), dates with native women (17 June), "pot" smoking (21 June), inspections (27 June)
Box 1 Folder l Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai, South Vietnam (2 - 31 July 1968) Holograph. 16 items. 71 p. Note: Includes accounts of casualties, operations, next duty station, clippings; disorderliness (3 July), Androcles & the Big Cat clipping part 1 (7 July), casualties not as bad as Tet (8 July), expecting more attacks (9 July), cartoon (10 July), malaria cases (19 July), sporadic fighting (21 July), dissention in the ranks (27 July),
Box 1 Folder m Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai, South Vietnam (2 - 31 August 1968) Holograph, Typescript & Clippings. 13 items. 53 p. Note: Includes accounts of medical supply (2 Aug.); family members (6 Aug.); battalion muster & medals & treatment of Vietnamese civilians,(10 Aug.) living conditions, registering to vote, R. & R. applied for (Penang, Malaysia) (14 -31 Aug.), casualties, George Wallace, Richard Nixon, Eugene McCarthy, Vietnam policy,, letter from mother enclosed (18 Aug.); casualties, patient census Androcles & the Big Cat clipping part 2 (19 Aug.); Viet Cong attack (24 Aug.) ; cystitis (30 Aug.); medical supplies (31 Aug.)
Box 1 Folder n Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai, South Vietnam (3 - 28 Sept. 1968) Holograph, Typescript & Clippings. 9 items. 38 p. Note: Includes accounts R. &. R. in Penang, Malaysia, trip to Da Nang (3 Sept.), Democratic convention, medical supplies (6 Sept.), Brown Library (8 Sept.); D Company move to Da Nang (10 Sept); return from Penang R. & R., medical supply, Hubert Humphrey campaign; return for rehabilitation humor letter (25-28 Sept.)
Box 1 Folder o Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) - 2d Class (HM2) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co. - "H & S,' Co. 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai - Da Nang, South Vietnam (2 - 30 Oct. 1968) Holograph, Ephemera, Brochures. 13 items. 69 p. Note: Includes souvenirs & accounts R. &. R. in Penang, Malaysia, trip to Da Nang (2 Oct.), promotion to HM2, medical supplies, Democratic campaign, treatment of Vietnamese civilians (3 Oct.), left behind after D Company moved to Da Nang, transfer to H. & S. [Headquarters & Service] Company (5 Oct.); Camp Lejeune next duty station (9 Oct.) monsoon & casualties steady (12 Oct.); dislikes new "mod sound" radio format, and incident between white and black individuals and discriminatory actions in Washington (15 Oct.); Black Power demonstrations (22 Oct.); Penang Map moved to oversized folder
Box 1 Folder p Loy, William H., Jr. (Mrs.), Washington, NC. Letters received from her son Hospitalman 2d Class (HM2) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co. - "H & S,' Co. 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Phu Bai, South Vietnam (1 - 28 Nov. 1968) Holograph, Typescript, Ephemera, Brochures. 10 items. 32 p. Note: Includes Korean belly dancer show, bombing halt, medical supply problems, the Harrad Experiment (1 Nov.); chiropractic profession, Pres. Lyndon Johnson endorses Hubert H. Humphrey for president (4 Nov.); casualties, Nixon's election victory, "The Green Berets" movie, peace talks (8 Nov.); radio station format change to rock (10 Nov.); drunk patient tranquilized (11 Nov.); uprising in Swan Quarter (14 Nov.); Viet Cong attacks (21 Nov.); hope to be home for Christmas, buy a car (24-28 Nov.)
Box 1 Folder q Pike, P. P. (Mrs.), Siler City, NC. Letters received from her nephew Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co. - "H & S,' Co. 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (5 Jan. - 23 Aug. 1968) Holograph, Photographic print (color), Postcard (color). 10 items. 32 p. Note: Letters addressed to "Dear Aunt Max"; includes accounts of his medical supply job, enemy attacks, color photo of Loy sandbagging a defensive position (5 Jan.); Vietnamese house girl (26 Jan.); Tet Offensive (30 Jan. - 15 Feb.); casualties light to moderate (11 Mar.); move north to Phu Bai (16 April); attacks on A Shau Valley, Hue, & Khe Sanh (undated); Bangkok, Thailand R. & R. (26 May); peace talks (8 July)
Box 1 Folder r Robertson, Jamie B. (Mrs.), Ayden, NC. Letters received from her nephew Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co. - "H & S,' Co. 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang - Phu Bai, South Vietnam (March - June 1968) Holograph. 2 items. 32 p. Note: Letters addressed to "Dear Mrs. Robertson"; includes accounts of his medical supply job, enemy attacks, move north to Phu Bai (March 1968); Bangkok, Thailand R. & R. (1 June)
Box 1 Folder s Rountree, G. Earl "Jo" (Mrs.), Corapeake, NC. Letters received from her brother Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (31 Dec. 1967 - 26 Feb. 1968) Holograph. 9 items. 34 p. Note: Letters addressed to his younger, married sister "Dear Jo"; includes accounts of his arrival in South Vietnam (31 Dec. 1967); medical supply job (15-25 Jan. 1968); Tet Holiday (29 Jan.); Tet Offensive enemy attacks (30 Jan.-11 Feb.)
Box 1 Folder t Rountree, G. Earl "Jo" (Mrs.), Corapeake, NC. Letters received from her brother Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang - Phu Bai, South Vietnam (8 March - 26 May 1968) Holograph & Ephemera. 13 items. 48 p. Note: Letters addressed to his younger, married sister "Dear Jo"; includes accounts of casualties, expected move to Phu Bai, hopes for Bangkok R. & R., Viet Cong attacks (8 March); detailed account of move to Phu Bai (10 April); enemy attack (11 May); account of R. & R. in Bangkok, Thailand (26 May)
Box 1 Folder v Rountree, G. Earl "Jo" (Mrs.), Corapeake, NC. Letters received from her brother Hospitalman 3d Class (HM3) William H. Loy, III, 1st Medical Battalion, 'D' Co., 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF, Da Nang, South Vietnam (14 Aug. - 20 Oct. 1968) Holograph & Typescript. 8 items. 26 p. Note: Letters addressed to his younger, married sister "Dear Jo"; includes accounts of his weight loss, volleyball, dental work (14 Aug.); "slobs" in unit, "semi-mass casualty situation" (19 Aug.); planned R. &. R. in Penang, Malaysia, rumored move to Da Nang, promotion to HN2 (6-15 Sept.); account of Penang R. & R. (28 Sept.); transfer to H & S. Company, Camp Lejeune next duty station, father's health (10-20 Oct.); I.M.A. CIVILIAN LETTER (Oct.)
Folder os1 Penang, Malaysia Map; Map of Georgetown [verso], Penang: The Ganesh Printing Works, (ca. 2 Oct. 1968) Printed. 15.25" x 17.5" No scale. 1 item. 1 p. Note: removed from #1164.1.o