James "Jim" Drake
U.S. Navy, 1967 – 1970
Jim Drake is a U.S. Navy veteran, Vietnam veteran, and longtime Daytona Beach resident whose life after service has centered on family, community, and veterans’ advocacy. Born in Spring Lake, New Jersey, in 1948, Drake moved to Florida at age nine and graduated from Mainland High School in 1967. Anticipating the draft, he joined the Naval Reserve with several high-school friends. After training at Great Lakes, Camp Pendleton, and Coronado, Drake deployed to Da Nang in June 1968. Assigned to Camp Tien Sha with the Naval Support Activity, he performed tower, perimeter, guard, and jeep-patrol duties around the strategically important port while enduring frequent rocket and mortar attacks. He was on duty during the February 1969 attack that destroyed landing craft YFU-78. After Vietnam, he served aboard USS Herbert J. Thomas in San Diego and returned to Daytona Beach in 1970. Drake spent 45 years in the automobile business. In retirement, he became active in Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048, assisting veterans with benefits, organizing food drives, speaking in schools, serving on the honor guard, and preserving the memory of fallen friends.
Full Interview
Interview Summary
Access the complete transcript here
Introduction (0:46 – 4:00)
Deployment to Vietnam (4:00 – 7:51)
Working in the Car Business (7:51 – 10:36)
Introducing the Family (10:36 – 13:05)
Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1048 (13:05 – 23:57)
Daily Life in Vietnam (23:57 – 34:01)
Entertainment and News in Vietnam (34:01 – 41:37)
Adjusting to Civilian Life (41:37 – 46:04)
Reflecting on Service (46:04 – 55:50)
