Price, Byron 1975

Tape 1: Byron Price recalls college football recruitment and experiences at the U. S. Military Academy (West Point). Tape 2: He presents a paper to the Westerners on the military service of Indians in the U. S. Army during the 1890s.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Byron Price

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: November 7 and December 3, 1975

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Clark Evans, Speech to the Westerners

Length: 2 hours

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Personal background, Education, Monterey High School, Lubbock, Spanish Club, Football, Baseball, All-District and State football, Southwest Conference recruitment, Appointed to U. S. Military Academy, Southwest Conference recruitment, High pressure recruitment, University of Texas at Austin, Escort service, Coach Darrell Royal, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, Bridgers and Royal compared, Impression of Coach Bridgers and Baylor, United States Military Academy (West Point), Recruiting trip, Reasons for interest, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Reasons for lack of interest, Service Academies’ teams, Bowl game politics, Vietnam War, Recruiting problems, West Point life, Commitment, Homesickness, Change in lifestyle, Hazing of plebes, Plebe system, Traditions, Dropout rate, Cadet leadership, Army-Navy rivalry, Country and Western program, West Point radio station.

Tape 1, Side 2: Blank

Tape 2, Side 1: Evaluation of Indians’ abilities as soldiers, Civil War, Plains, Pawnee Battalion, Indians’ roles as scouts, General Sheridan’s feelings, Army as avenues for assimilation, Indians’ interest in military service, Increasing number of Indian scouts, Establishment of first Indian regular troops, Implementation of plan, Recruiting, Tribal support of program, Tribal objection to program, Conflicts with tribal customs, Married enlisted men, Hair length, Aversion to physical exam, Transfer, Loss of treaty privileges, Success of recruiting program, Location of recruits, Success of projects, Opposition to plan, Diversity of troops, Health of Indian soldiers, Lack of skilled soldiers, Characteristics of good officers, Opposition to Indians as officers, Training activities, "Civilizing" effects of Army life, Alteration of Indian culture, Language barrier.

Tape 2, Side 2: Support for project (1892), Decreasing interest in project (1893-1894), Reaction to failure of project, Reasons for failure, Questions, Later military service, Activities during service, Acculturation, Re-enlistment and desertions, General Schofield, Disciplinary actions, Available records, Indians in Mexican army, Role of scouts, World War II companies, Constricted thinking of Army, Indian officers, Origins of idea, Discrimination, Research methods, Tape on Modern Language Association (MLA), Role of MLA, Grants available.

Range Dates: 1890-1975

Bulk Dates: 1891-1894, 1960s

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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