Charles M. Gilkey's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center

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Catalog number: VIS 508.011
This interview is conducted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Atlanta Branch. In this interview, Charles Gilkey recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army during the Korean War era. He describes his family, including his oldest brother, who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, and his father, who served in World War I. He describes his involvement in scouting, becoming a scoutmaster at a very young age. He was drafted into the military in 1951 and describes the basic training he received. His group was among the first group inducted into the newly desegregated Army and he recalls the reactions of the white soldiers to their arrival, concluding that once they saw how well trained his unit was, resistance to their presence evaporated. He describes his duties as a demolition specialist; the camaraderie of his unit; their living conditions and food; and their leisure activities. He comments on the history of Soviet aggression in Germany, where he was assigned. He describes his post-military education, using the GI Bill and working his way through school. He reflects on his time in the military; the influx of women in the military; his retirement; and relocating to Atlanta to be near his family. A talented artist, he shows several of his drawings and designs.