University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Robert (Bob) Daugherty, 1977-

OH-VOA D38 Ro

Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNCA

Title

Robert (Bob) Daugherty Oral History

Creator

Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection

Subject

LCSH:
Daugherty, Robert (Bob), 1977-
United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps
High school students

Subject

Keyword: Asheville High School ; Jr. ROTC ; Marine Corps

Description

Abstract: Daugherty discusses his experience with Asheville High School's Jr. ROTC program, and his plans to go to college and join the Marine Corps.  He describes drills, uniforms, rules and procedures of the ROTC program.  He talks about females being given entrance into male drill teams, and discusses the controversy at the Citadel in Charleston, SC.  He gives his views on politics, leadership, the draft, drugs and crime.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

Robert (Bob) Daugherty

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2002-04-08

Type

Sound ; Text ; Image

Format

Physical Description: 9-page abstract ; 1 60-minute audiocassette and 1 copy ; 8 color photographs ; 1 newspaper article

Identifier

Source

OH-VOA D38 Ro

Language

English

Relation

References: VOA Col. Alfred J. Thomas and Sgt. Charles Fisher Oral History

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 146 ;  Date of acquisition: 1998

Processed By

Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard and staff

Interview Date

Interview Location

Biography

List of names

Side 1:

Bob is battalion commander of the Jr. ROTC at Asheville High School.  He was born 1/14/77 in Hamburg, Germany.

[12] When he was in the 8th grade in Jr. High he saw a demonstration of close-order drill and wanted to join.  Ten percent of the school population at the High School is in this program.  In the summer his activities take 90% of his time.

[25] In the summer the group works on traffic control, helped with the Antique Fair (Vetust Club - see Grace Kouns tape) at the civic center and act as color guards (see enclosure).  Some students have summer jobs but most are on campus. On Tuesday and Thursday the females practice silent drill.  This is close-order drill without commands.  He is an instructor.  The males do this with rifles.  The program has evolved over the past 20 years with slight changes.

[62]  Squad exhibitions with 7 members are harder and take more practice.  Previous drills have been put on video and, after the steps have been memorized, the sequence becomes automatic.

[73]  He considers a "foul" a team mistake, not an individual mistake.  He discusses mistakes and cover-ups. The rifles weigh 10 lbs and can cause damage which must be anticipated.

[89] Alternates, like understudies in the theater, must know all 12 positions.  [Anthony Tilghman]

[116]  This year, students in his group who are going to college will be in the Marine Corps.  He is planning to graduate early, go to boot camp and college in the fall.  He will graduate from the Marine Corps as 2nd lieutenant.  He wants to go to NC State or Wilmington or Greensboro.  He must be in that area because of proximity to Marine Corps base.  [Mike Reven, Jamie Knight, Anthony Tilghman]

[134] He is grooming his replacement but the decision will be up to the staff.  [Courtney Jones, Col. Alfred Thomas, Sgt. Charles Fisher, Master Sgt. Duncan]

[140] Last year females were put in the drill team with the males.  This was not a good idea because the rifles are too heavy - newer, lighter ones will be used in the future.  Females need more experience with close-order drill and more are needed in the battalion.  We discuss the controversy at the Citadel (see enclosure) and he said that there is no prejudice here - that the ROTC is one happy family.

[185] Several times a year teams in dress blues go to Jr. High school classes.  Cadets talk to students, answer questions and some students write names down for more information.  The schedule for ROTC is in the course outline.  Some students don't like the military but most are interested.

[218] Students spend 3-5 hours doing homework for each hour in class.  They are advised to work in study groups.  He is taking advanced placement (AP, which will count for college credit) in calculus and physics.

[239] His father is professor of physics at UNCA and his mother is an administrative director in the UNCA Computer Center.  His father was working in Germany for 1½ years with the gamma ray observatory.  He also worked here with NASA. [Joseph K. Daugherty, Robin C. Daugherty]

[249] He and his family have visited Germany and he discusses the youth today as compared with the Hitler youth.

[270] He used to be a Boy Scout but had to drop this when he became involved with ROTC because of the time.  He does not consider himself a right-wing conservative or a left-wing liberal but in the middle.  He feels that everyone should show respect for the flag.  [Master Sergeant Duncan]

[295] Every class tries to be a big happy family.  In 1983-84 the cadets were predominantly black.  This year the ratio is 60/40.

[318] In the past several years there hasn't been much news coverage (see enclosed and Col. Thomas - seems better now). The news centers around drugs and guns on campus - however the situation is worse in the Jr. High than in the High School.

[332] There was a big walk-out when the principal was fired from the Asheville Middle School.  The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders used to be rebels - the big boys, but when they come to High School, they are the little guys. (see O. L. Sherrill and Stefan Weir tapes)

[368] School helps students grow up - especially the ROTC - where they are given more responsibility.  The academic break between Jr. High and High School is a shock.  He expects college will be a shock also.  He has spent time around UNCA and can see how much bigger it is.

Side 2:

He describes the uniforms
1.  For traffic detail and labor and first year cadets – camouflage - First year $100-$150 expense - from Marine Corps.

2. Dress green - green pants and tan shirt - long sleeves and tie.  Shorts for summer.  Green garrison cover (hat).

3.  Dress blue - blue pants, tan shirt (drill team members only). Drill competition ("fancy stuff") blue jacket with white cover (hat).  Females have slightly different garrison cover (hat).
Uniforms can cost from $500 to $700.

[2/31]  He was in 2nd class of Boy Scouting in troupe A, Presbyterian Church.  One leader didn't like the ROTC and it went down hill. However he couldn't have done both Scouting and ROTC.

[2/45]  For the first few days that he wore his uniform his friends ragged him.  He wears his uniform once a week.  Few of his friends knew he was in scouting.  He liked camping and went to Camp Daniel Boone and the regular campgrounds.  Scouts come from all over the country.  He went to Yorktown.

[2/79]  Before he got his license (his father taught him to use the manual shift on UNCA campus), he took the bus from his house on Kimberly Ave to school.

[2/94]  Drivers Education is taught for 2½ -3 hours every day after school.  The cars are automatic with an additional brake on the passenger’s side.  Drivers practice in Biltmore Forest, on the highways and in the city.  [Coach Dodson]

[2/116] He doesn’t "hang out" in spare time.  He uses the computers, plays the guitar with a rock band.

[2/144]  He explains "augmentation."  He will not be active in the Marines until augmented - this is like getting tenure when he would be promoted from 1st lieutenant to captain.  A person has 5 years to pass this and can come up to the board several times.

[2/164]  Col. Thomas is his role model and he has seen students change under his influence.  He watched one man, who originally had no initiative, develop into a #1 Marine.  Thomas can estimate a person by looking into his eyes.  [Col. Alfred Thomas, Darby Carter]

[2/203]  He is an only child.  His parents were born after WWII (1945 and 1946). During the Vietnam War they were hippies, opposing the war and more liberal than most.  From what his parents told him he feels that the Vietnam War was not fought to be won, the country did not back the soldiers, and it should have been more like "Desert Storm."  He opposes the draft because draftees make poor soldiers. The Marines have the highest standards of all the military branches.  [Joseph K. Daugherty, Robin C. Daugherty]

[2/275]  He feels there is a difference between leaders and politicians and likes to think the people are sick of Washington.  The president is not popular and should be more in touch with the people to get the feeling of the citizens before making decisions.  [Bob Dole, Bill Clinton]

[2/309]  Regarding drugs, he feels the laws should be stricter and people selling drugs should be sent to the electric chair.  If drugs were legalized the gangs and cartels would be broken.

[2/332]  Criminals always have guns and hand guns are needed on the street for self protection.  Finger printing should be required for everyone.

[2/380]  Asheville High ROTC is #1 in nation and has been so rated a number of times.  Mentions his friends who are successful.  [Anthony Tilghman, Sybil Gaines, Melissa Bowditch]

Thanks.

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