Veterans History ProjectSearchable Database

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/

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

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.

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