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Transcribed oral history interview with Gary Lindquist a member of the National Guard Unit that was stationed in the Worthington Minnesota Armory. File contains spiral bound and unbound transcribed interview, signed release agreement and notes. Interview was conducted by Barbara W. Sommer.

INTERVIEW DATE: August 11, 2020

INTERVIEW LENGTH: 45:31

RECORDING MEDIUM: digital audio, MP4

TECHNICAL NOTES: The interview was recorded remotely using Zoom, a web-based video conferencing tool. during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was transcribed by Lois Glewwe, project transcriber.

INTERVIEW NOTES: Gary Lindquist served in the National Guard from 1962 to 1968. His unit was 135th Infantry, 47th Infantry Division-the Viking Division, 3rd Battalion. He did the interview in the Nobles County Historical Society museum at its location in the basement of the Nobles County Library at that time. He was pleased to be part of the project and provided information about the Worthington National Guard during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the early years of the Vietnam War. He also described the Worthington National Guard's role in guarding Bobby Kennedy during his visit to Turkey Day in Worthington (1966).

SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW CONTENT: Gary Lindquist discussed going into the Worthington National Guard, infantry basic training, the Worthington National Guard during the Cuban Missile Crisis, summer duty at Camp Ripley, weekend and evening duty at the Armory, providing security for Bobby Kennedy's visit to Worthington during Turkey Day (1966), Turkey Day visits by other well-known politicians including Hubert Humphrey, memories of the Armory interior and its use by the National Guard, preparations for possible deployment of the Worthington National Guard to Vietnam, the decision to close the Armory, and his thoughts about having served in the National Guard.

This transcript was made possible by Legacy funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund established by the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008, and administered by the Minnesota Historical Society. Funding was awarded to the Nobles County Historical Society through the following grant: R-MHCG-1912-24013 | $9,950 | MN Historical and Cultural

The Minnesota National Guard in Worthington, Minnesota Oral History Project. This oral history project focused on interviews with former members of the Minnesota National Guard in Nobles County who served from the Worthington National Guard Armory building.

Contact the Nobles County Historical Society for more information