Phil Elkins 
U.S. Army Veteran 

Phil Elkins was drafted into the U.S. Army in the 1960s, as soon as he graduated from high school. When asked why he went, he replies, “It was either that or five years in prison.” Within five months, Elkins had been trained as a medic and was on his way for a year’s deployment in Vietnam. In this presentation, he presents his story through both words and song, accompanying himself on a guitar. The songs include stories of his time in Vietnam and his return to civilian life. Elkins, who grew up in East Los Angeles, is known in the Chico area as “Senor Felipe,” the host of the program “L.A. Sounds” on KZFR Community Radio. 

Recorded: October 19, 2016