Duffle bag, US Army issue

"The fate of many early Irish emigrants was to be drafted into the US Army. On emigrating from a small farm in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo in 1961 I was drafted into the Army a mere 10 months after arriving in New York. This was during the period of the conflict in Vietnam. Everything I owned was packed into this canvas bag and carried around for the two years of full time service, first in Fort Dix, New Jersey, then Fort Belvoir, Virginia and then to Evreux Fauville airbase in France. The mission there was ‘supply by sky’ where supplies were air dropped into Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Four years in the Reserves followed full time service when I was given an honourable discharge into civilian life again. I met many Irish who also served during that time."