“Fielding Freed: The Things They Carried: Grunt Gear of the Vietnam War”

The Horry County Museum and the AVX Foundation present a lecture by Fielding Freed on Saturday, May 21^st, on grunt gear of the Vietnam War.

A grunt once said that with all the gear on his back he felt like a turtle and moved about as quickly. This hands-on program will show some of the gear used and carried by soldiers and Marines during the Vietnam War.  Understanding some of the physical demands of jungle warfare starts with the equipment carried by our troops. Historian Fielding Freed will show and discuss original examples including rations, field gear, headgear, uniforms, and the all-important back pack radio used during Vietnam. Veterans and their families are encouraged to attend.

Fielding Freed is Director of Historic House Museums for Historic Columbia. A Native of Chattanooga, Fielding has worked in the museum field nearly twenty years. After a five year stint as a photojournalist, he earned an MS in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Museum Studies Certificate from the Milwaukee Public Museum. His recent work includes serving as part of the reinterpretation team for the Woodrow Wilson Family Home and Museum of Reconstruction.

The program will begin at 1:00 pm in the McCown Auditorium located at 805 Main Street, Conway SC. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 843-915-5320 or email hcgmuseum@horrycounty.org. To view a full list of programs, visit our website at www.horrycountymuseum.org.