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 Veteran Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - United States; Korea; Germany; Vietnam; Vietnam sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Bey, Robert T.Lieutenant Colonel, Marine Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - United States; Korea; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Japan; Thailand; Vietnam; Pacific Theater sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Beier, Edward D.Chief Master Sergeant, Navy, Air Force Veteran Korean War, 1950-1953, Cold War - Mediterranean; Pacific; United States video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Bourne, Robert A.Lieutenant Junior Grade, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Cuba; Puerto Rico; New London, Connecticut; Mayport, Green Cove Springs, Florida video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Bradley, Paul A.First Lieutenant, Air Force Veteran Korean 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, Nevada sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Breitenberg, Harry JohnMajor, Army Veteran Korean War, 1950-1953 - Korea video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Clark, Jr., Eugene O.Gunnery Sergeant, Marine Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Parris Island, South Carolina; New River, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Pacific Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Clemens, Robert BruceStaff Sergeant, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - European Theater sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Cook, George DallasLieutenant Junior Grade, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Atlantic; Palau; Hollandia (New Guinea); Truk (Caroline Islands); Yap Island (Caroline Islands); Ryukyu Islands; Mariana Islands; Luzon (Philippines); Japan; Pacific Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Crow, Sr., Marshall ThomasCaptain, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953 - United States; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Dibbs, GeorgeFirst Lieutenant, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Astoria, New York; Pacific Theater; Philippines; New Guinea video recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
Donnelly, Jr., William E.Captain, Navy Veteran World 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 Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Pacific Theater; Atlantic Ocean video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Gibbons, David W.Radarman Second Class, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Theater; Philippines; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Japan video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Gordon, Violet Hill, nee AskinsCaptain, WAC (Women's Army Corps) Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; England; France; European Theater sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Gowing, Robert N.Corporal, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - United States; England; France; Germany; Austria sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Granston, Robert WyattCaptain, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - United States; Philippines; Pacific Theater sound recording(s), text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Gussow, Erich H.Technician Five, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Richmond, California; Fort Bliss, Texas; England; France; Luxembourg; Belgium; Germany; Fort Benning, Georgia; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Haddon, Alexander W.Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps, Air Force Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953 - European Theater; Stalag 17-B sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Hanzel, Joseph AlbertWarrant Officer 1, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Atlantic; Pacific; Bering Sea; Unalaska, Alaska video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Hartman, Ernest DarlMajor, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Bridgeport, Connecticut; Africa; Italy; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Hennessy, Donal F.Colonel, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Oklahoma; Casablanca, Morocco; Italy; New York video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jarrell, IV, James RobertCaptain, Navy Veteran Cold War - Jacksonville, Florida; North Island, California; San Diego, California; Washington, DC; Mediterranean Sea; Indian Ocean video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jeffrey, Roy McLeodChief Petty Officer, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Pear Harbor, Hawaii (12/7/1941); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Vietnam sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jones, Billy G.Lieutenant Colonel, Army Veteran Vietnam 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, Germany sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jones, Kenneth LynnCommander, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Norfolk, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Cape May, New Jersey sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Jones, Robert L.Colonel, Air Force Veteran Cold War - Korea; Japan; England; Turkey; Vietnam video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Kauffman, Earl SamuelNavy Veteran World 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 Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - United States; Pacific Theater; Iwo Jima sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Lepre, ClarenceSergeant, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - United States; North Africa; Sicily, Italy; England; Normandy, France; Belgium; Germany video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Maranzana, ElisoTechnician Five, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - North Africa; Italy; Philippines video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Marple, Jr., Robert K.First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - European Theater video recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
Maupin, Joseph T.First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Wright Field, Ohio; Rapid City Army Air Field, South Dakota; Lanker Field video recording(s)View Digital Collection
McCabe, Russell TaylorStaff Sergeant, Air Force Veteran World 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 Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Peleliu Island (Palau); Iwo Jima; Pacific Theater sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Moore, Jr., Walter W.First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World 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 Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp MacKall, North Carolina; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Pendleton Field, Oregon sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Mullings, Harold EverettSergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World 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 Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Bainbridge, Maryland; Jacksonville, Florida; Lakehurst, New Jersey; Argentia, Newfoundland video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Musmanno, Neal V.Lieutenant, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Olsen, Lloyd ElmoreCaptain, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - France; Luxemburg; Germany; Austria; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Olsen, Richard AlfredLieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant, Navy Veteran Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - California; Florida; New York; New Hampshire; Hawaii; Mediterranean; Key West, Florida video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Peurifoy, Elizabeth L.Captain, WAC (Women's Army Corps) Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Des Moines, Iowa; New York, New York; Dayton, Ohio; San Bernardino, California sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Pierce, Donald L.Army, Army, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - European Theater; Japan; Korea; Vietnam video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Pierce, Frank AbbottRadioman Second Class, Navy Veteran World 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 Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; Pacific Theater sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Prescott, Rhona Marie KnoxCaptain, Army Nurse Corps Veteran Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Texas; Virginia; Georgia; Oklahoma; South Korea; Saigon, An Khe, and Qui Nhon, South Vietnam sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Price, Rayma LondonCaptain, Army Nurse Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Goodfellow Field, Texas; Camp Chaffee Arkansas video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Priebe, Gerald JohnCaptain, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Sicily, Italy; Naples, Italy; Foggia, Italy; Anzio Italy; Rome, Italy; France; Germany; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Prince, AugustusPetty Officer Second Class, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Hawaii; Guam (Mariana Islands); Philippines; Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Formosa; Japan; Pacific Theater video recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Reese, A. WillardFirst Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - United States; England; European Theater sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Rehme, Arthur L.Captain, Navy Veteran Vietnam 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, Vietnam video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Reynold, John ThomasSergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Miami Beach, Florida (basic training); Massachusetts; Italy; Germany; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Richstatter, Robert L.Captain, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945, Korean War, 1950-1953 - North Africa; Italy; German; Austria; Japan; Korea sound recording(s), photosView Digital Collection
Rutledge, JamesCorporal, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Fort Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania; Pacific Theater; Milne Bay, New Guinea; Philippines; Japan video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Sedlak, Richard KennethChief Radioman, Ensign, Lieutenant, Navy Veteran World 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, California video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Smith, Norman DaleFirst Lieutenant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Miami Beach, Florida (basic training); Montgomery, Alabama; Freeman Field, Indiana; Westover Field, Massachusetts; Italy; European Theater; Turner Field, Georgia video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Sparks, Richard D.Technician Four, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - United States; European Theater sound recording(s)View Digital Collection
Storch, Allen F.Lieutenant, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Pacific Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Thorpe, Frances E., nee WillsEnsign, WAVES (Navy Women's Reserve) Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Northampton, Massachusetts; New York, New York photosView Digital Collection
Umbach, Albert H.Private First Class, Army Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Camp Blanding, Florida; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Vendryes, Henry DerrickTechnical Sergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Texas; Arizona; European Theater video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Wadington, EdwardStorekeeper Third Class, Navy Veteran World War II, 1939-1945 - Pacific Theater sound recording(s), photos, text transcription(s)View Digital Collection
Wood, Douglass GurneyColonel, Air Force Veteran Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Georgia; Washington, DC; Japan; Vietnam video recording(s)View Digital Collection
Wright, Deidre JeanMajor, Air Force Veteran Persian Gulf War, 1991 - Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; United Kingdom; Okinawa, Japan; Iceland; California; Louisiana; Nevada photos, 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 Officer’s Candidate School in what was to become the Women’s Army Corps. Mrs. Gordon is one of several of our veterans who are featured on the Library of Congress’ 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

Women’s Army Corps. Violet Hill Gordon
Women’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 Women’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 “lost” 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