In October 2000, motivated by a desire to honor our Nation?s War Veterans for their service and to collect their stories while they are still among us, the United States Congress created the Veterans History Project. The project is co-sponsored by the Library of Congress, American Folk life Center and AARP. Richard Doughty and I are Marine Corps veterans and are involved in the project through our membership in AARP and the Marine Corps League and are motivated by our desire to help preserve these stories.
The project covers World War I, World War II, the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. We are losing approximately 1500 Veterans per day. It is essential that this live and personal history be recorded before it is forever lost. These are stories of the young men and women who were there and participated in making the history of our nation. History books tell about events but it is so much more accurate and meaningful when those who made the history relate the real story.
The Men and Women we see in these interviews are generally in their seventies and eighties. It is important to realize that you are hearing memories from the youth of these people. Most were in their teens. Some lied about their age and enlisted at sixteen and seventeen years of age. Most of them had never been very far from home. They were from farms, cities and communities across the country. They were sent to basic training far from home under the authority of a strict military structure. This structure housed them with people from all over the country who were as scared and worried as they were, and required them to follow orders from people they didn't know. They were homesick, scared, worried and concerned.
They made the transition from young carefree youth to men and women who were willing to put their life on the line to defend our country. They were shipped to the battlefields of countries and islands they had never seen and rarely heard of. For the first time in their lives they were involved in a contest with other human beings with either death or victory being the prize. The stories you will see and hear are of those who came back. They left many friends and buddies on the battlefields.
We owe these TRUE AMERICAN HEROES OUR GRATITUDE AND THANKS FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE SO WE CAN LIVE IN A COUNTRY WITH THE FEEEDOMS WE ENJOY TODAY.
It has been our privilege to interview more than ninety Veterans. We will continue with this project as long as we can find veterans to interview. We are sure you will find these interviews to be a very enlightening adventure.
We thank The Marine Corps League and the City of Winchester who have been wonderful supporters. We have been permitted to use the City?s equipment and the City Council Chambers for our interviews.
Don Rose and Richard Doughty
The following letter was written by Mr. Don Rose and Mr. Richard Doughty on behalf of the Winchester Veterans. As Marine Corps veterans themselves, their words and voices presented here give testament to their thoughts and feelings concerning this project and towards you, the reader. We are very grateful for their support and ask their continual guidance concerning the stories and experiences each one shares; for it is their lives and experiences we strive to share.
Introduction
Campaigns
The Warriors
Women in War
World War II and Kentuckians: Voices of a Generation
The Homefront
The Enemy
