Guide to the Veterans History Project Collection
Record Group 024
Project Organizational Sketch:
In 2000, Congress, recognizing that 1500 veterans died per day, directed the Library of Congress to initiate a nationwide project to collect the stories of veterans, family members, defense-industry workers, and similar individuals who had participated in conjunction with the United State's military in the 20th century. The Library of Congress assigned this task to its American Folklife Center, which dubbed the resulting program the "Veterans History Project" (VHP).
The The Wiregrass Archives became an official partner in the VHP in 2002, collecting oral history interviews, artifacts, documents, and photographs from veterans and others in the Wiregrass Region. This is a long-term, ongoing project of the The Wiregrass Archives. A variety of interviewers have contributed to the VHP Collection: Archives Director Dr. Martin Olliff has conducted many of the interviews; some veterans have turned in self-interviews, and ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé--Dothan Campus students have participated.
American History classes at Wicksburg High School, Dothan High School, and Houston Academy have contributed to the VHP, though their work is separated into distinct collections. See the list of "Related Collections" below.
Scope / Content Note:
As of May 13, 2005, the VHP Collection contained more than 40 hours of interviews with 28 narrators who served or lived during World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. Narrators come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from combat servicemen to those who grew up under wartime conditions. The Wiregrass Archives VHP interviewers have made a special effort to secure oral histories of those on the home front, particularly during World War 2.
Each interview packet consists of the audiotaped or videotaped interview, biographical information sheets, and releases. Some contain topical indices of the interview and associated artifacts, photographs, or documents.
Arranged alphabetically by Narrator's last name.
Date processed: 5-13-2005
Processed By: M. Olliff
Collection Inventory
Narrator Name Allen, A. C. (Archie)
Service Branch USN / USMC Aviation
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials Bolo Knife
Narrator Name Babcock, Ira
Service Branch USMC / Enlisted Naval Aviation Pilots
Unit Designation VMSB-244, VMO-2/6
Highest Rank Colonel
Conflict or Service WW2; Korea
Service Location(s) Pacific Theater; Korea; US
Interviewer Name self
Collateral Materials Enlisted Naval Aviation Pilots (Turner Publishing, 1995)
Narrator Name Barr, Michael D.
Service Branch USAF, then Army
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service Vietnam Era
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name George Martin, student
Collateral Materials
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Narrator Name Bivins, Marjorie
Service Branch Civilian
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials
Notes Wife of Rex Bivins
Narrator Name Bivins, Rex
Service Branch USAAF
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2, North Africa & Italy
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Bivins, Rex, Jr.
Collateral Materials Pathe film, "Battle of Tunisia" on video
Notes Bivins deceased. Pathe film from Grinberg Worldwide Images, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Narrator Name Butler, Harlan Joe
Service Branch National Guard
Unit Designation 115th AC&W Squadron
Highest Rank A2C
Conflict or Service Vietnam Era
Service Location(s) South Alabama. Unmobilized Guard service: 2 weekends per month, 2 weeks per year.
Interviewer Name Jeremy Sizemore, student
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Narrator Name Clements, Earl W.
Service Branch Army
Unit Designation 88th Infantry Division
Highest Rank PFC
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s) North Africa, Italy
Interviewer Name Fondren , Kenny (US History Teacher, Wicksburg High School)
Collateral Materials Photo of Clement w/ medals. Possesses field maps.
Narrator Name Daniels, Wilson
Service Branch National Guard
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service Vietnam
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Roberts, William (Student)
Collateral Materials
Notes Interview part of class assignment at TSUD, HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003
Narrator Name Fischer, Mark
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation 4th Inf. Div, 196th inf. Brig.
Highest Rank Sgt, E-5
Conflict or Service Vietnam
Service Location(s)Vietnam
Interviewer Name Karabin, Bernard (Student)
Collateral Materials
Notes Interview was conducted as a class assignment for TDUS HIS 4170, Oral History, Summer 2003
Narrator Name Floyd, Mary Lucy
Service Branch Civilian
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2; Korea
Service Location(s) Various, mostly Dothan Alabama
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials small scrapbook of photos to scan and return
Notes Wife of William Jefferson (Bill) Floyd
Narrator Name Floyd, William Jefferson (Bill)
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2 and Korea
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials copies of some photos and a 750-word autobiography
Notes Husband of Mary Lucy Floyd . Collection includes photo and copy of short autobiography of her brother, William Campbell, US Army, WW2
Narrator Name Hart, Lamar
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Flowers, George (Student at Birmingham-Southern College)
Collateral Materials none
Notes Hart was a POW captured in Battle of the Bulge. Flowers, Atty in Huntsville, interviewed his uncles Hart and Adm. Dub Johnson as a class assignment at Birmingham-Southern Univ.
Narrator Name Herndon, Rena
Service Branch Civilian
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Van Scyoc, Stacy (Student)
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview conducted as class assignment for TSUD HIS 4471, Oral History, Summer 2003
Narrator Name Hubbard, John
Service Branch Civilian
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service World War 2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials
Notes Cross-reference to the John Hubbard Papers, RG022, at The Wiregrass Archives. Mr. Hubbard owned and operated radio stations in the ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé and Dothan areas during World War 2.
Narrator Name Johnson, Dub
Service Branch US Navy
Unit Designation
Highest Rank Admiral,
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Flowers, George (Student at Birmingham-Southern College)
Collateral Materials none
Notes Johnson was a POW captured by Japanese after his airplane crashed. George Flowers, Atty in Huntsville, interviewed his uncles Johnson and Hart for a class assignment at Birmingham-Southern Univ. The Johnson interview is on the Hart tape.
Narrator Name Koch, William
Service Branch USMC
Unit Designation 2nd Combat Eng. Bn.
Highest Rank Gunnery Sgt., E-7
Conflict or Service Persian Gulf War, 1991
Service Location(s) Camp Lejune, NC; Okinawa, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
Interviewer Name Sizemore, Jeremy (Student )
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Narrator Name LeBaron, Robert
Service Branch US Navy, Sub Service
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service Vietnam Era
Service Location(s) North Atlantic/Med,
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials 90+ scanned images
Notes Nine hours of taped interviews taken in three sittings, June--July 2003
Narrator Name Mayo, Harland Francis
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation 14th Inf. Rgt, 25th Inf. Div.
Highest Rank Master Sgt (MSG, E-8)
Conflict or Service Korea, Vietnam
Service Location(s) U.S., Korea, France, Germany, Vietnam
Interviewer Name Karabin, Bernard (Student)
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview conducted as part of class assignment, TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003
Narrator Name McCall, Ursula
Service Branch German Civilian Child
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Whorley , Barbara (Student)
Collateral Materials
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Narrator Name McGee, Val
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2, Korea
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Searcy, Jason (Student))
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview conducted as part of class assignment, TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003
Narrator Name Meeker, Francis
Service Branch US Army,
Unit Designation 6th Armored Div.
Highest Rank Sgt
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials Digital copies of substantial correspondence & photo album
Notes Tape 2 = Elsie and Francis Meeker about life before and after World War 2.
Narrator Name Napier, John
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service Korea
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials Argosy article about Napier's Unit capture and imprisonment written by one of the unit's officers; ca. 20 digitized photographs of capture local taken by former Napier comrade, ca. 1990s.
Notes POW in Korea
Narrator Name Rose, Sherman
Service Branch US Army Air Forces / Tuskegee Airmen
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Jessica Price w/ Sydney Smith
Collateral Materials Class presentation materials created by Ms. Price
Notes Ms. Price interviewed Mr. Rose for a class project in her social studies class at Carver Magnet School, Dothan, AL, in 2007. Mr. Rose died in 2008. He was a local celebrity who is memorialized in one of Dothan's downtown murals (corner Main and St. Andrews Streets).
Narrator Name Smith, Charles Wells
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation C-501st; 101st Airborne; 214th Res.
Highest Rank SSG, E-6
Conflict or Service Vietnam; Canal Zone; Desert Storm
Service Location(s) Vietnam; United States; Panama; Persian Gulf
Interviewer Name Roberts, William (Student)
Collateral Materials 2 current photographs
Notes Interview conducted as part of class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003 Birthdate 1942.
Narrator Name Smith, Patrick, H. II
Service Branch USAF and Reserves
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service Vietnam and after
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Martin, George (Student )
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Narrator Name Stanphill, O'Dell
Service Branch USAAF
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2, ETO
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Searcy, Jason (Student)
Collateral Materials Self-published memoir, "A Little Bit of World War II," 1995
Notes Interview was part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003 Mr. Stanphill was a POW during WW2.
Narrator Name Stovall, Thomas B.
Service Branch USAAF
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2, Korea (Japan)
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials
Notes Stovall was a POW at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, Poland (Stalag of "Great Escape" fame). First interview on 8-22-2003.
Narrator Name Sutton, Robert
Service Branch US Army
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2, Korea
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Van Scyoc, Stacy (Student)
Collateral Materials none
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Narrator Name Tuttle, Otis
Service Branch US Navy SeaBees
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2 , Pacific Theater
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Olliff, Martin
Collateral Materials
Notes Mr. Tuttle has offered his small collection of photographs, unit yearbooks, unit newspapers, etc. to the The Wiregrass Archives. Follow-up letter should include acknowledgement of this offer.
Narrator Name Williamson, Erna
Service Branch German Civilian Young Adult
Unit Designation
Highest Rank
Conflict or Service WW2
Service Location(s)
Interviewer Name Whorley , Barbara (Student)
Collateral Materials
Notes Interview was a part of a class assignment for TSUD HIS 4470, Oral History, Summer 2003.
Contact Us
Wiregrass Archives
ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu