WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Veterans History Project
Member Center:
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. More>>
Preserving Stories of Service for Future Generations More>>
By the age of 21, Darrell Graf had already taken part in two major military operations with the 82nd Airborne: the Invasion of Panama and Desert Storm. Now he shares his stories from Iraq. More>>
It started out as a way to pay for college, but the military became much more for Darrell Graf. He shares his story from the Invasion of Panama. More>>
It was a long road before "Vic" Duvic became a pilot with the 17th Bomber Group. But once he joined their ranks in North Africa, he would finally get to use his flight training. More>>
Maurice Duvic had big plans to fly with the Army Air Corps during World War II. But it almost didn't happen for him. More>>
Bud Stell was 23 years-old when he was drafted into Vietnam. He explains how his background as a hunter made him so good at setting booby traps. More>>
Harold McDonald was just 17 years-old when he joined the navy in 1943. He shares his stories from aboard the USS Portland. More>>
Alex Epperson left pilot school at Hinds Jr. College to join the Army Air Corp in 1942. He shares his stories from service in the US and Burma. More>>
Maurice Laird shares his story as a replacement soldier in Italy during WWII. More>>
Red Womak served in the Pacific with the 1st Marine Division during WWII. More>>
Clara Brent is not a veteran, but she works to make a difference in the lives of those who have served.
More>>
James Causey Served in the Pacific during WWII, and went on to become a career soldier. More>>
Quinn's story continues in Bastogne, Belgium. More>>
Kendall Quinn was 18 years-old when he answered the call to join the Army in World War II. He recalls the invasion of Normandy. More>>
Thomas Rex Bass served as an Army medic just a little over a year. But his 14-months in Vietnam made an impression on him that would last a lifetime. More>>
Don Rinehart spent time aboard the USS Sutton as it carved a place for itself in the history books. More>>
Bill Walls enlisted in the Navy in October 1941. He was 24 years-old. He remembers the sinking of the USS Yorktown. More>>
As Correll continues his story, he remembers the brush with mother nature that almost cost him his feet. More>>
This World War II vet served in the European Theater. He encountered grave danger before he ever set foot on foreign soil. More>>
C. L. Mason was 18-years-old when he was drafted into the Navy. It was 1943. He would serve aboard a destroyer called the Shannon DM25. More>>
Joe Henderson recounts the Invasion of Normandy. More>>
Joe Henderson continues his story with his service at the Battle of the Bulge. More>>
Emmett Skeen joined the Navy in 1944. He shares his stories from Iwo Jim and Okinowa. More>>
James Foster explains how left Pelilu and was injured in Okinowa. More>>
James Foster served with the marines in two of the major campaigns in the Pacific. In his own words, we'll hear his story from the bloody battle of Pelilu More>>
Gus Heilbronner went to Mississippi State in 1938 and entered the ROTC program. He liked it so much, that he decided to pursue it as a profession.
More>>
Margaret Braswell was barely out of high school when she became a clerk in the office of Chief Navel Operations in 1944. More>>
Willie Myers shares his stories from the 63rd Infantry Division in WWII. More>>
This veteran served as a medic during the vietnam war. He fought to save lives-often while putting his own at risk. More>>
This veteran spent five days in combat during World War ii. But in that time, Bill Tolleson experienced enough misery to last a lifetime. More>>
Howard Miskelly was just 18 years-old when he made his trip to the draft board. He remembers it like it was yesterday. More>>
William Hales dropped out of school to join the military in 1951. He was a "sewing machine jockey" in the Air Force. More>>
Howard Sessums served on two fronts during WWII. He shares his stories from the European and Pacific Theaters. More>>
AD McBeath turned 18 the day after he finished high school. He celebrated his birthday with a trip to the draft board. World War II was underway. He joined the army infantry. More>>
Jerry Boutwell served in a recon unit in the Army's 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, during Vietnam. More>>
Howell's military career began when he was just 18. He shares his stories from the Navy. More>>
Webb Shivers joined the Marines before he could be drafted in WWII. He worked with heavy equipment in the 2nd Aviation, Engineer Battalion. More>>
We pick up Brumfield's story as he was captured by the Germans. More>>
Vernon Brumfield served in the US Army during the Battle of the Bulge. More>>
World War II was underway and this soldier enlisted in the U.S. Navy, to avoid being drafted into the Army. His experience prompted him to become an author. More>>
James Tynes was 20 years-old and living in Lawrence County when he was drafted into the Marines. More>>
Henry Laird flew B17's during WWII. He was shot down over Luxemborg. More>>
Joe Moss served in the Army in Europe during World War II, long before his time in the state legislature or as a Hinds County judge. More>>
Cecil Payne was part of the first wave of attack on the Pacific island of Tarawa. In just minutes, he suffered a gunshot, shrapnel injuries, and a landmine explosion that ripped apart his arm. More>>
Cecil Payne would spend time serving with the Marines in New Zealand, before heading to the bloody battle of Tarawa. More>>
Jerry Prescott nearly died when he was shot in action during the Vietnam War. More>>
Carl Gatlin was already enlisted in the U.S. Army when the US entered into War War II. He would go on to serve in Africa, Italy, France and Germany before the war was over. More>>
This veteran and five of his brothers answered the call to serve in the United States armed forces. He served in Europe with the Army during World War II. More>>
Irene Worthy grew up on her family's farm in Lemon, Mississippi, just south of Forest. But she had dreams beyond picking cotton and tilling the fields. She shares her stories from the Army Nurse Corp. More>>
Thomas Holt continues his story from WWII, with a daring escape from a German POW camp. More>>
Thomas Holt started his Army career as a 2nd Lieutenant immediately out of military school and soon became a POW. More>>
CD Lancaster joined the Navy during WWII, even though he couldn't swim. It almost cost him his life. More>>
The promise of excitement and travel prompted Turner Alford to join the Navy when he was 18 years-old. More>>
John Cockrell was 19 years-old when he decided to enlist in the military. He recalls his accounts of Operation Iraqi Freedom after 9/11. More>>
Clifford Wiggins enlisted in the Navy in 1943 when he was just 17 years-old. He would serve as a torpedo man aboard the USS Craven. More>>
Thomas Hughes was 16 years-old when World war two started. He served in the European and Pacific theaters with the Army. More>>
John Means shares his stories from the navy and working for the future President of the United States, George Bush Sr. More>>
Van Barfoot recounts the events of May 23, 1944 in Cerano, Italy, the day he earned his Medal of Honor. More>>
Van Barfoot is best known in Mississippi for his service in World War II, but he served in the Army for years before those days near Carano, Italy, when he earned his medal of honor. More>>
Thomas Kirk was an infantry soldier in the Army during WWII. He shares his story from the Battle of the Bulge. More>>
We bring you the story of a veteran who grew up knowing he wanted to serve in the military. Willie Stallworth signed up for two tours in Vietnam. What he saw there forever changed his life. More>>
Carlton Frazier served in the army infantry during World War II. He shares his experiences from the Battle of the Bulge and various places in Europe. More>>
Clarence Derrington served in the Army in Europe during World War II. He was a prisoner of war with serious injuries from a mortar attack by the Germans. More>>
Lamar Sibley served as a gunner with the army during World War II. He shares his stories from the European theater, including the Battle of the Bulge. More>>
Joseph Carter was a supply officer in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He served in north Africa and the Mediterranean. More>>
Swayze Walton enlisted in Army Aviation in 1967. He would serve in Vietnam 9 1/2 months. More>>
Carlos Corley was a senior in high school when he got the draft call for World War II. He served with the Navy Seebees in the Pacific. More>>
Buddy Wilson was a Navy man in the South Pacific, during World War II. He shares his story of life aboard the USS Conyngham. More>>
Cary Salter served in the European Theater during World War II. He shares his stories from the Army Air Corp. More>>
JW Ragsdale served in the Pacific theater of operations during World War Two. He was a gunner in the Army's 77th Division, 306th Infantry. More>>
After catching Malaria twice while serving his country, Robert Dean is proudest of helping to end Communism. More>>
Susan Rawls was in the Navy WAVES program during world war two. She was part of select group of women in the service at that time. More>>
Paul Harvey began three decades of military service in 1959 when he joined the Air Force. He would serve in Vietnam for a year and move on to the White House for other duties. More>>
We continue our 2-part series with veteran Miller Dent. The former marine spent 38 years in service to our country.
More>>
Miller Dent shares his experiences in Guam during WWII in the 1st of a 2 part series. More>>
Rhoden Hallman not only risked his life when he joined the military, he risked a courtmartial by enlisting underage. He would serve in Korea and Vietnam and go on to retire before he was even 40 years old. More>>
Leroy Jones had to leave his wife and one-year-old daughter to serve his country during World War II. He now says, he tips his hat to the veterans of today. More>>
It's been almost 40 years since Ottis Brown went to Vietnam, but he is still haunted by his time there. More>>
Elton Tucker was newly married when he was drafted in to World War II. He served in the European Theater, from the beaches of Normandy, through Belgium and Germany. More>>
The bombing of Pearl Harbor was one of the defining moments in American history. Walter Gafford was there and shares his firsthand account. More>>
Jake Smith was drafted into the Army during Vietnam. He shares his memories. More>>
George Mitchell did not fight in a war. But his years of service in the Navy left a lasting impression on his body and spirit. More>>
It was July of 1943 when Harrell Byrd, 18-years-old at the time, was drafted into the Army. An injury nearly cost him his life. But later surviving that injury lead him to the path of future President Dwight and First Lady Maime Eisenhower.
More>>
We've met several veterans from World War Two but tonight's vet is a little bit different. Frances DeBra Brown served as part of the Women's Army Corp. More>>
John Colonias did not serve in the American military. He was in the Greek army, but he served alongside American troops in Korea. More>>
Hugh Wardlaw was a senior in high school when he joined the National Guard in 1936. He stayed with the military as he went to college, honing his skills with the ROTC. More>>
Michael Crews served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and remains in the Army Reserves. More>>
Gary Benton began his career in the Air Force assigned to life support. He learned to survive the harshest conditions and teach others how to do the same. More>>
Harold Crain has dedicated his life to the military. He joined the army during World War II and was a full colonel when he retired more than 30 years later. Now he continues his commitment to the armed forces as a volunteer. More>>
Hunter Gates was a B-17 gunner in the Air Force during World War II. He was shot down during the bombing of Dresden and spent two months as a prisoner of war. More>>
Troy Ricks was a professional basketball player when he was drafted into World War Two. He served with army's the 128th Infantry, 32nd Division. More>>
For Henry King, a love of the medical profession and a drive to help others was cut short by the horrors of Vietnam. More>>
Landres Cheeks was a career serviceman. He was in the army for 30 years and served in two wars. More>>
Sid Spiro earned a purple heart, a bronze star, and a combat infantry badge from his service in World War II. He shares the story of how he survived the sinking of a Belgian sub. More>>
Howard Cleland was an elementary school principal in Missouri when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The attack prompted him to apply for officer training school and join the Navy. More>>
Roney Charleston was drafted into the army in 1968. 40 years later, he doesn't just remember the war in Vietnam, but at times, feels like he's still there. More>>
Billy Byrd received a presidential citation for his service in World War Two. He shares his experiences from the Battle of Iwo Jima. More>>
Veteran Charles Williams earned the Bronze Star, a presidential citation and many other honors for his service during World War Two. For more than five months, Williams was a prisoner of war shuffled from camp to camp. More>>
He served our country in the Army, the Navy, and the National Guard. Our Veterans History Project continues with Vietnam veteran David Ogle of Vicksburg. More>>
Clarence Davis is a veteran of WWII. He shares his memories from the Navy, including suicide bombing in Okinowa and the mission that earned his Bronze Star. More>>
James Newman was a student at Mississippi College in the mid-1960s. He ended up flying a Cobra gunship in Vietnam trying to protect the soldiers on the ground. More>>
John Rhemann learned to fly cropdusters in Texas when he was 12 years old. He went on to serve his country in three wars. More>>
Joseph Richard of Sunset, Louisiana, just wanted to find work. He found it in April 1941 in the U.S. Navy at the age of 16. More>>
Did you remember to:
Want to send your support to a soldier in harm's way, but have no idea of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it? AnySoldier.com can help. More>>
The Veteran’s History Project officially launches on May 16, 2008, at the Trail of Honor in Jackson, Mississippi. More>>
Compelling accounts of wartime service from men and women, civilian and military, representing many ranks, jobs and branches of service. Their stories teach, amuse, inspire and sometimes sadden us, with tales of lost lives and lost time, all in service to our country. More>>
Click here to learn how to participate in the Veterans History Project. More>>
The Women In Military Service For America Memorial, at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, is the only major national memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history. More>>
The Veteran's History Project will officially kick off on May 17, 2008. It is a project about our veterans, those who have made such a sacrifice. It's about preserving their stories... More>>
 |
Veterans History Project Veteran Sign-Up |
| ARE YOU A VETERAN OF A PAST OR CURRENT WAR? WLBT wants to hear from you. As part of the Veterans History Project, we are interviewing Mississippi Veterans, as they reminisce and tell WLBT viewers about their time spent in the military. Do you have an encouraging or emotional story? What's on your mind?
Fill out the form below to nominate a vet or to set-up an appoint to be interviewed yourself.
|
