10- Interview with Olie Pope- Veterans Service Director- Part Two
In this episode of the H21-Southern Branch-Austin, Texas Chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we deliver the second and final part of the interview with Olie Pope, the Director of the Travis County Veterans Service Office. In attendance from the chapter were Bobby Briscoe, chapter Commander, and Fred Castaneda, Public Affairs Officer. This discussion took place immediately after the rededication ceremony of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in downtown Austin, Texas. You can get the first part of the interview in our earlier episode number 8.
In this conclusion to the interview, we review the requirements for being awarded the CIB, as well as how a combat infantryman can get the formal documentation for receiving the CIB.
We also touch upon the theme of the plight of the returning veterans from another perspective–that of trying to find closure in our own personal situations from the memories of combat. For myself, it was my participation in the St. Edward’s University stage play called Tracers (and for me, it served as a form of therapy).
In addition, Bobby Briscoe describes how he discovered his mission in life — that of relating to, and encouraging, the children and youth, so that they can make a better life for themselves. He gives a couple of cases-in-point in his attempt to communicate with youngsters at a point in their lives when they can make a decision to improve their situation for the better.
Our thanks to Olie Pope and his staff for reaching out to the veterans and for supporting our organization, the Austin, Texas chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association.