Guide to the Gustav Edward Kappler Papers,
1951-2012

Collection Number: 7041

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Nancy Dean
Date completed:
April 1990
EAD encoding:
Peter Martinez July 2001
Date modified:
Jude Corina, July 2012

© 2001 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Gustav Edward Kappler, papers, 1951-2012
Collection Number:
7041
Creator:
Gustav Edward Kappler, 1940-
Quantity:
.6 cubic feet
Forms of Material:
Photographs, manuscripts, audio recordings, ephemera.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Collection of color slides, tape recordings and transcripts describing the vascular surgeon's experiences during the Vietnam War.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Gustav Kappler, Cornell University Class of 1961, M.D. 1965, was a vascular surgeon during the Vietnam War.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Includes color slides, with a tape recording and transcript describing the slides, 1984; also a DVD of a presentation by Dr. Kappler and David Leeser given at Weill Auditorium on February 13, 2012 and a DVD with a Powerpoint presentation of the slides. Also tapes sent home, telegrams, and correspondence, 1970-1984; photograph albums; Vietnamese currency and other memorabilia; and manuscript draft for article.
Booklet compiled for the 2008 Reunion of staff from the Phu Bai/85th Evacuation Hospital, 1971/72, with information about their later lives. Folder of materials from the 2010 Reunion, including updates on their lives, CDs with photographs and songs, and information about Hilton Head.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Kappler, Gustav Edward, 1940-
Vietnam War Veterans Archives.

Subjects:
Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975.
Surgeons.

Places:
Vietnam.

Form and Genre Terms:
Money.
Photographs.
Color Slides.
Telegrams.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Restrictions on Use:
Publication of written, pictorial, or recorded material prohibited without consent of donor.
Cite As:
Gustav Edward Kappler Papers, #7041. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
SERIES LIST

Series I. General Items Box 1-3
Series II. Tape Recordings tr. 4538 to tr. 4544; tr. 5173 to tr. 5178; tr. 5179a to tr. 5184a
Series III. DVD's, CD's DVD-798; CD-418, CD-1642-1644
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
Series I. General Items
Patch - Regimental I-Corps (would not have been worn in Vietnam - too brightly colored)
Box 1 Folder 1
Passport
 Box 1 Folder 2
Love beads, Broken Peace sign, St. Martha medal
 Box 1 Folder 3
Insignia - crest from 85th Evac. (worn on shoulder), major's and medical pins, Vietnamese commendation
Box 1 Folder 4
Vietnam currency
 Box 1 Folder 5
Cassettes (four unnumbered originals, copied onto seven reels tr. 4538-4544) [NOT TO BE USED]
Box 1 Folder 6
1971
Telegrams
 Box 1 Folder 7
Draft of article published in The Chatterbox, newsletter of WASAMA (Women's Auxiliary to the Student American Medical Association - Robin Kappler was National President)
Box 1 Folder 8
1970-1971
Letters home
 Box 1 Folder 9
2010
Phu Bai Reunion, Hilton Head
 Box 1 Folder 10
Photograph album
 Box 1 Folder 11
Slides (5 boxes). Corrected carbon of slide talk transcript, April 6, 1984, tr. 4544
Box 2
1950s
Correspondence to parents
 Box 3 Folder 1
1958-1959
Correspondence to parents
 Box 3 Folder 2
1960-1961
Correspondence to parents
 Box 3 Folder 3
1962-1963
Correspondence to parents
 Box 3 Folder 4
Series II. Tape Recordings
Reel-to-Reel Tapes
Long Binh - first few days
 tr. 4538
Phu Bai
 tr. 4539
Phu Bai - side 1; Bob Hope - side 2
 tr. 4540
Phu Bai later - side 1
 tr. 4541
Phu Bai later - side 2
 tr. 4542
Vietnam reminiscences, 3-8-84
 tr. 4543
Vietnam slides, 4-6-84
 tr. 4544
May 7, 1971
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5173
Vietnam War tape-recorded letters home - side 1- 3 3/4 ips
May 25, 1971
Case
 tr. 5174
Steve Deressner - CU
Roger King - M.C.V. (we trained together)
Helene & Jimmy - sister
Ft. Carson H (EM) CORPORECTOMY
2 Digit midget = short; softball; leisure - at last
Background from Hooch Musk;
Gus Kappler - taped letters home, Vietnam War - side 1
Aug. 16, 1970
Guss Kappler
 tr. 5175
Vietnam War Tape - recorded letters home sent to the Kapplers, III San Antonio, Texas - side 1
Aug. 1970, Nov. 9 1970
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5176
Vietnam War tape - recorded letters home - sides 1 and 2
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5177
Vietnam War tape - recorded letters home - sisters
Description - 85th, Pt. to Saigon
106 units - styrofoam
Arvan - hosp.
PACEX
Payoffs
Booby traps
There 1 month
Copper in background
Robin - side 1
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5178
Vietnam War tape-recorded letters home -
CCN
Busy OR - Vietnamese hepatectomy
Bob - roommate
FNG
EM - enlisted man
Bob building
Building - Bob - side 1
Cassette Tapes
May 7, 1971
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5179a
Vietnam War tape-recorded letters home - side 1- 3 3/4 ips
May 25, 1971
Case
 tr. 5180a
Steve Deressner - CU
Roger King - M.C.V. (we trained together)
Helene & Jimmy - sister
Ft. Carson H (EM) CORPORECTOMY
2 Digit midget = short softball leisure - at last
Background from Hooch Musk;
Gus Kappler - taped letters home, Vietnam War - side 1
Aug. 16, 1970
Guss Kappler
 tr. 5181a
Vietnam War Tape - recorded letters home sent to the Kapplers, III San Antonio, Texas - side 1
Aug. 1970, Nov. 9 1970
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5182a
Vietnam War tape - recorded letters home - sides 1 and 2
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5183a
Vietnam War tape - recorded letters home - sisters
Description - 85th, Pt. to Saigon
106 units - styrofoam
Arvan - hosp.
PACEX
Payoffs
Booby traps
There 1 month
Copper in background
Robin - side 1
Gus Kappler
 tr. 5184a
Vietnam War tape-recorded letters home -
CCN
Busy OR - Vietnamese hepatectomy
Bob - roommate
FNG
EM - enlisted man
Bob building
Building - Bob - side 1
Series III. DVD's, CD's
Battlefield trauma
 Box 1 DVD-798
85th Evac. 38th reunion - Napa
 Box 1 CD-418
Vietnam combat trauma
 Box 1 CD-1642
Audio CD, Vietnam era music
 Box 1 CD-1643
Phu Bai Reunion
 Box 1 CD-1644