The Calvin H. and Yun Yau Kam Military Aviation Collection relates to the 1969-1971 military service of Calvin H. Kam during the Vietnam War and his father Yun Yau Kam's service during World War II and the Korean War. Their service is documented primarily with visual materials and some textual and audiovisual materials.

Calvin Kam's military training and service during the war is represented by textual, visual and auivisual materials. The textual materials consist of military orders and a U.S. Army flight record and certificate. The bulk of this series is made up with photographs and slides. One color photograph depicts soldiers in front of a helicopter, likely from Kam's time training, and eight additional prints depict scenes during helicopter flight training at Fort Wolters, Texas. Among these are images of Kam getting dunked into a pool after soloing. Five color photographic prints and 118 color 35mm slides provide good insight into his military activities and experiences during the war in Vietnam, with depictions of military encampments, personnel, and operations, formation flying, and scenic shots and people of Cambodia and Vietnam.

Five Super 8 films provide an additional glimpse into Kam's training and service after the war. A film titled "Mineral Wells," referring to the town in Texas, includes scenes at Fort Wolters where Kam received his flight training using a Hughes TH-55 helicopter. A film labeled "Savannah" relates to Kam's tactical training with a Bell UH-1 at Fort Hunter Stewart. Another reel also depicts scenes from Kam's time in Georgia and includes Stan Edburg, a friend of Kam's from college and flight school. A fourth reel includes a graduation day "fly by" at Fort Hunter Stewart as well as scenes driving back from Georgia to Spokane, Washington where his wife lived. The fifth film, "Ft. Rucker," likely relates to activities where Kam was stationed after his service in the war.

In addition to the materials on Calvin, his father Yun Yau Kam's military service is represented with black-and-white photographs and two clippings. The clippings note Yun Yau's appointment to 2nd Lieutenant and a citation he earned on Iwo Jima for establishment of an outdoor theater. Seven assorted photographs include Yun Yau's college graduation ROTC picture, military visits and camps, and an aerial shot of Iwo Jima. There are also 27 snapshots likely taken on Iwo Jima, Japan depicting servicemen at leisure, a stage under construction, a cemetary, a Japanese tank, and assorted scenes as well as informal portraits of Kam and other men. Note there are also two images of dead Japanese soldiers. In addition, there are eight small snapshots taken during the Korean War era on Johnston Island, where Kam was stationed. These photos depict military aircraft and were likely taken by Calvin as a child.