Showing posts with label Veterans History Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veterans History Project. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Iraq War veteran preserves his stories for Library of Congress

Bomb disposal vet from Iraq War preserves his stories for Library of Congress
Florida Times Union
By Matt Soergel
Posted: July 29, 2013

ST. AUGUSTINE - Tim Fredericksen — tall, muscular, looking every bit the elite ex-military man he once was — leaned forward in an armchair to tell some of his war stories.

He got through the details fine: where he grew up, when he served, the tough training. How it was all he ever wanted to do, how he went to an Army recruiting office the minute he got out of his California high school, how that was the easiest day that recruiter ever had.

Then he told of coming to Iraq for the first time: the U.S. air base under fire as his plane landed, the blazing heat, the unfamiliar sounds of a country at war.

His memories ambushed him. His voice faltered. Tears came.

George McLatchey handed over a box of tissues and turned off the recorder that was capturing those war stories. Fredericksen wiped his eyes. “Sorry about that.”

McLatchey spoke gently in reply. “Tim, you don’t need to apologize.”

Moments later, he turned the recorder back on, and Fredericksen, with a tissue in his hand, started talking again. For 56 minutes, he told his stories — funny ones, sad ones, horrific ones — which will now be preserved for future generations, future historians.
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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Project Preserves Memories of U.S. War Veterans

Project Preserves Memories of U.S. War Veterans
By: CBS News
Jun 07, 2013

(CBS News) Thursday was the 69th anniversary of D-Day, when U.S. forces stormed the shores of Normandy during World War II.

A project aims to save American military history. They are just a few of the thousands of stories of America's war veterans being preserved by the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress has collected 87,000 stories through audio and video recordings. It also preserves photographs, letters and diaries.

"'So don't fret and tell pa not to get hysterical. Love Butch,'" said Bob Patrick as he read aloud from a letter.

It's called The Veterans History Project, and Patrick is the director.

"We're not trying to recreate history or rewrite history or disprove history," said Patrick. "Really, what that experience was like for those who go off to war and most importantly at the end, what did it all mean to them."

The library has collected 87,000 stories through audio and video recordings. It also preserves photographs, letters and diaries.
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Page

Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Page


Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress




WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join
with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on
the VA Web site - www.va.gov - featuring the oral
histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.



"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans,
preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and
heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to
encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future
generations."



Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal
histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from
each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on
the U.S. map in the display.



As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to
"Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to
the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets --
which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to
follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to
access the project's extensive digital archive.



VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its
implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA
Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program.
VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its
facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts
are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.



"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action
for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they
know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the
Veterans History Project.



The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of
American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.



The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American
wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from
Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately
65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans
History Project.



The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using
guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets

Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov

or the toll-free message line at (888)
371-5848.


Friday, October 30, 2009

Vietnam vets sought for documentary

Vietnam vets sought for documentary
Are you a Vietnam veteran who wants to tell your story for a documentary?
The Florida Veterans Programs & Projects Inc. will work with the St. Johns County Veterans Service Office and Vietnam veteran Tom Waskovich as the project military adviser. All interviews will be recorded and sent to the Veterans History Project and forwarded to the Library of Congress.
Participants must fill out a release form and questionnaire. For downloadable forms, call Michael Rothfeld at (904) 829-0381 or e-mail him at mrothfeld@anyveteran.org.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Real Ex-POW's Veterans History Project Wants to Know Your Story

Ex-POWs battle against time to tell stories

By James Hannah - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jul 27, 2009 7:34:38 EDT

DAYTON, Ohio — Museums are seeing an increase in donations and oral histories from the swell of former U.S. prisoners of war eager to leave their legacies. But museum officials still worry that too many POWs approaching their late 80s and 90s will go to their graves without publicly telling their stories.

The National Prisoner of War Museum, in Andersonville, Ga., said it expects to have a 40 percent increase in artifacts, journals and other donations from former POWs this year compared to last year. Primarily, those contributions are coming from those who fought in World War II.

The number of U.S. POWs in World War II, about 130,000, dwarfs those from other wars. There were about 7,000 POWs in the Korean War, and about 725 in the Vietnam War. World War II ended more than 60 years ago, and the number of U.S. POWs is shrinking fast.
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Ex-POWs battle against time to tell stories