Veterans History ProjectSearchable Database

In 2002 the project staff successfully petitioned for Official Partner status in the Library of Congress~Veterans History Project.

This is a nation-wide project whose purpose is to record the memories of US veterans who served in all branches of the Armed Forces. Once recorded and transcribed, these interviews will be preserved for all time in the Library of Congress.    For more information on the program see  https://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/

Full NameRankConflict/WarDigitized ContentLink
Allen, James W.First Sergeant, First Sergeant, Army, Army VeteranKorean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - United States; Korea; Germany; Vietnam; Vietnamsound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Bey, Robert T.Lieutenant Colonel, Marine Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - United States; Korea; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Japan; Thailand; Vietnam; Pacific Theatersound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Beier, Edward D.Chief Master Sergeant, Navy, Air Force VeteranKorean War, 1950-1953, Cold War - Mediterranean; Pacific; United Statesvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Bourne, Robert A.Lieutenant Junior Grade, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Cuba; Puerto Rico; New London, Connecticut; Mayport, Green Cove Springs, Floridavideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Bradley, Paul A.First Lieutenant, Air Force VeteranKorean War, 1950-1953 - Kumsan, Korea; Bangor, Maine; Lackland Air Force Base and St. Angelo, Texas; Greenville, Mississippi; Mather Field Sacramento, California; Langley Field, Virginia; Stead Air Force Base Reno, Nevadasound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Breitenberg, Harry JohnMajor, Army VeteranKorean War, 1950-1953 - Koreavideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Clark, Jr., Eugene O.Gunnery Sergeant, Marine Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Parris Island, South Carolina; New River, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Pacific Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Clemens, Robert BruceStaff Sergeant, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - European Theatersound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Cook, George DallasLieutenant Junior Grade, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Atlantic; Palau; Hollandia (New Guinea); Truk (Caroline Islands); Yap Island (Caroline Islands); Ryukyu Islands; Mariana Islands; Luzon (Philippines); Japan; Pacific Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Crow, Sr., Marshall ThomasCaptain, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953 - United States; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Dibbs, GeorgeFirst Lieutenant, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Astoria, New York; Pacific Theater; Philippines; New Guineavideo recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
Donnelly, Jr., William E.Captain, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - European Theater; Korea; VietnamView Digital Collection
Ferro, Antonio P.Chief Petty Officer, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Pacific Theater; Atlantic Oceanvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Gibbons, David W.Radarman Second Class, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Theater; Philippines; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Japanvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Gordon, Violet Hill, nee AskinsCaptain, WAC (Women's Army Corps) VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; England; France; European Theatersound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Gowing, Robert N.Corporal, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - United States; England; France; Germany; Austriasound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Granston, Robert WyattCaptain, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - United States; Philippines; Pacific Theatersound recording(s), text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Gussow, Erich H.Technician Five, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Richmond, California; Fort Bliss, Texas; England; France; Luxembourg; Belgium; Germany; Fort Benning, Georgia; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Haddon, Alexander W.Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps, Air Force VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953 - European Theater; Stalag 17-Bsound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Hanzel, Joseph AlbertWarrant Officer 1, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Atlantic; Pacific; Bering Sea; Unalaska, Alaskavideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Hartman, Ernest DarlMajor, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Bridgeport, Connecticut; Africa; Italy; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Hennessy, Donal F.Colonel, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Oklahoma; Casablanca, Morocco; Italy; New Yorkvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jarrell, IV, James RobertCaptain, Navy VeteranCold War - Jacksonville, Florida; North Island, California; San Diego, California; Washington, DC; Mediterranean Sea; Indian Oceanvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jeffrey, Roy McLeodChief Petty Officer, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Pear Harbor, Hawaii (12/7/1941); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Vietnamsound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jones, Billy G.Lieutenant Colonel, Army VeteranVietnam War, 1961-1975 - Vietnam; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Hood and Fort Walter, Texas; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Eustis, Operational Test and Evaluation Agency, and Army Material Command, Virginia; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Germanysound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jones, Kenneth LynnCommander, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Norfolk, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Cape May, New Jerseysound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jones, Robert L.Colonel, Air Force VeteranCold War - Korea; Japan; England; Turkey; Vietnamvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Kauffman, Earl SamuelNavy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - South Pacific; Iwo Jima; Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands)video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Klang, Jr., Charles J.Electrician's Mate Second Class, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - United States; Pacific Theater; Iwo Jimasound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Lepre, ClarenceSergeant, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - United States; North Africa; Sicily, Italy; England; Normandy, France; Belgium; Germanyvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Maranzana, ElisoTechnician Five, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - North Africa; Italy; Philippinesvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Marple, Jr., Robert K.First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - European Theatervideo recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
Maupin, Joseph T.First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Wright Field, Ohio; Rapid City Army Air Field, South Dakota; Lanker Fieldvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
McCabe, Russell TaylorStaff Sergeant, Air Force VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Gulfport, Mississippi; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)sound recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
McCoy, Giles G.Private First Class, Marine Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Peleliu Island (Palau); Iwo Jima; Pacific Theatersound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Moore, Jr., Walter W.First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Miami Beach, Florida; Clarion, Pennsylvania; Nashville, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; Albany, Georgia; Greenwood and Columbus, Mississippi; Fort Myers, Tampa and Avon Park, Florida; Lavenham, Englandsound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Morris, WalterSecond Lieutenant, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp MacKall, North Carolina; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Pendleton Field, Oregonsound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Mullings, Harold EverettSergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Tuskegee, Alabama; Keesler Field, Mississippi; Lowry Field, Colorado; Tyndall Field, Florida; Godman Field, KentuckyView Digital Collection
Murphy, Eugene J.Aerographer's Mate Third Class, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Bainbridge, Maryland; Jacksonville, Florida; Lakehurst, New Jersey; Argentia, Newfoundlandvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Musmanno, Neal V.Lieutenant, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Olsen, Lloyd ElmoreCaptain, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - France; Luxemburg; Germany; Austria; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Olsen, Richard AlfredLieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant, Navy VeteranKorean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - California; Florida; New York; New Hampshire; Hawaii; Mediterranean; Key West, Floridavideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Peurifoy, Elizabeth L.Captain, WAC (Women's Army Corps) VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Des Moines, Iowa; New York, New York; Dayton, Ohio; San Bernardino, Californiasound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Pierce, Donald L.Army, Army, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - European Theater; Japan; Korea; Vietnamvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Pierce, Frank AbbottRadioman Second Class, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - New Guinea; Morotai, Leyte Island, Mindoro, Luzon (Philippines)video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Pincham, Thomas A.Private First Class, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; Pacific Theatersound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Prescott, Rhona Marie KnoxCaptain, Army Nurse Corps VeteranVietnam War, 1961-1975 - Texas; Virginia; Georgia; Oklahoma; South Korea; Saigon, An Khe, and Qui Nhon, South Vietnamsound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Price, Rayma LondonCaptain, Army Nurse Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Goodfellow Field, Texas; Camp Chaffee Arkansasvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Priebe, Gerald JohnCaptain, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Sicily, Italy; Naples, Italy; Foggia, Italy; Anzio Italy; Rome, Italy; France; Germany; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Prince, AugustusPetty Officer Second Class, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Hawaii; Guam (Mariana Islands); Philippines; Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Formosa; Japan; Pacific Theatervideo recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Reese, A. WillardFirst Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - United States; England; European Theatersound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Rehme, Arthur L.Captain, Navy VeteranVietnam War, 1961-1975 - New London, Connecticut; Norfolk, Virginia; Portland, Oregon; Richland, Washington; Camp Mercury, Nevada; Sandia Base and Los Alamos, New Mexico; Arco, Idaho; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Chelsea, Massachusetts; Greenville, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Da Nang, Vietnamvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Reynold, John ThomasSergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Miami Beach, Florida (basic training); Massachusetts; Italy; Germany; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Richstatter, Robert L.Captain, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953 - North Africa; Italy; German; Austria; Japan; Koreasound recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
Rutledge, JamesCorporal, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania; Pacific Theater; Milne Bay, New Guinea; Philippines; Japanvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Sedlak, Richard KennethChief Radioman, Ensign, Lieutenant, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Cold War - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Newport, Rhode Island; Portsmouth, Virginia; Key West, Florida; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands); Guam (Mariana Islands); Japan; China; Portsmouth, England; Scotland; California; Pacific; Great Lakes, Illinois; Trinidad; Chichi-jima, Bonin Islands, Japan; Newport, Rhode Island; Pacific; Guam (Mariana Islands); Philippines; San Diego, California; Formosa; Centerville Beach, Californiavideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Smith, Norman DaleFirst Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Miami Beach, Florida (basic training); Montgomery, Alabama; Freeman Field, Indiana; Westover Field, Massachusetts; Italy; European Theater; Turner Field, Georgiavideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Sparks, Richard D.Technician Four, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - United States; European Theatersound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Storch, Allen F.Lieutenant, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Pacific Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Thorpe, Frances E., nee WillsEnsign, WAVES (Navy Women's Reserve) VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Northampton, Massachusetts; New York, New YorkphotosView Digital Collection
Umbach, Albert H.Private First Class, Army VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Camp Blanding, Florida; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Vendryes, Henry DerrickTechnical Sergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Texas; Arizona; European Theatervideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Wadington, EdwardStorekeeper Third Class, Navy VeteranWorld War II, 1939-1945 - Pacific Theatersound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Wood, Douglass GurneyColonel, Air Force VeteranVietnam War, 1961-1975 - Georgia; Washington, DC; Japan; Vietnamvideo recording(s)View Digital Collection
Wright, Deidre JeanMajor, Air Force VeteranPersian Gulf War, 1991 - Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; United Kingdom; Okinawa, Japan; Iceland; California; Louisiana; Nevadaphotos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection

In 2002 the project staff successfully petitioned for Official Partner status in the Library of Congress~Veterans History Project. Local veteran groups were contacted and lists of potential interview candidates were compiled. The first interview was completed, featuring Violet Hill Gordon, a member of the first class of women selected for Officerโ€™s Candidate School in what was to become the Womenโ€™s Army Corps. Mrs. Gordon is one of several of our veterans who are featured on the Library of Congressโ€™ website: https://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp/search?query=Flagler+County+Public+Library&field=affiliation

Our veterans are also featured in two books published by the Library of Congress and the National Geographic Society, Stories of War and Forever A Soldier. Both volumes present unforgettable stories of wartime service and are highly recommended reading.  Our materials were used in these books, including Dr. Giles McCoy USS Indianapolis and Dr. Augustus Prince the pioneer navy radar specialist.


Violet Hill Gordon

Womenโ€™s Army Corps. Violet Hill Gordon
Womenโ€™s Army Corps. Violet Hill Gordon

GORDON: [pause] I think that we have covered everything. When we went to Washington to the dedication of the Womenโ€™s Memorial it was such an exciting, exhilarating moment! 

It is one thing to see two WACs. It is mind-boggling to see a whole amphitheater of women representing all branches of the service (which was not true at the time that the WAC was formed) and to see the range both in age and rank because by and large those in attendance certainly there were the retired and the women from World War II and subsequent wars, Viet Nam and what not but the bulk of them were women who were on active duty, in all branches of the service, representing all colors, all races, and all ranks.

Violet Hill Gordon (right)

It was something that I would have never envisioned in 1942 was right there in front of me. It was really so exciting. The final touch was the flyover of the Air Force with women pilots! [laughing] It was a great moment, a great moment!

The Library of Congress selected the Violet Hill Gordon interview and the Rhona Prescott interviews to use as samples of the Veteran’s History Program on their website.


George Dibbs – combat photographer World War II

Years ago Terry Jones discovered a true American hero in our midst, George Dibbs. She invited him to do a Friends program and did a terrific display of memorabilia from his days as a combat photographer during WWII. That prompted Bill Ryan and me to interview Mr. Dibbs and forward digital copies of his treasures to the Library of Congress. There they were archived and subsequently discovered by Sean Kennedy and his team who were creating a web series on โ€œlostโ€ film from that era. You may have seen them in the library recently, shooting new footage. This is payday for those of us who worked on the project, and it never would have happened without the generous support of the Friends. Thanks to you, Mr. Dibbs has been given the recognition that he so richly deserves. 

Author: FCHS