Walker, Alford (Interview outline and video), 2008
Oral history
Veterans History Project (U.S.)
United States--History, Military
Michigan--History, Military
Veterans
United States. Army
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
African-American soldiers
Video recordings
Alford Walker, of Pontiac, Michigan, was drafted into the Army in 1967. Before being drafted, he remembers business greatly slowing down and much protesting and civil unrest. Al went to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training, and then to New Jersey, Washington, and then Alaska before going overseas. While in Vietnam, Al went on many reconnaissance missions at night and also worked with the underground tunnel network built by the Vietnamese. After his time in the service, Al worked for the Pontiac Police Force.
Walker, Alford
Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)
Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
In Copyright
Wall, William (Interview transcript and video), 2017
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
William Wall was born in Hope, Michigan, in 1924, and later moved with his family to nearby Midland. He was drafted into the Navy shortly after he finished high school.in 1943. He trained at Great Lakes, Illinois, and was assigned to San Clemente Island, off the coast near San Diego, and worked as a carpenter. The island had a rifle range and some other training facilities, and housed a few seaplanes and a radar station, but was mostly out of the way of the war. With little war work to do, Mr. Wall built things such as picture frames, suitcases, and lobster traps. He also ran a small bowling alley on the base, played a lot of poker, helped tend the lobster traps, and took trips to the mainland when he could. He enjoyed his life there, and turned down opportunities to transfer elsewhere, and stayed at San Clemente until his discharge in 1946.
Wall, William
Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan
Wallace, Harold (Interview outline and video), 2013
United States. Navy
Harold was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania on April 28, 1927. After he graduated high school, he attended Allegheny College and later joined the United States Navy in April 1945. He was sent to Bainbridge, Maryland for basic training. Hank was stationed on the USS Pavlik in the Pacific and Japan and served as a supply and disbursing clerk.
Wallace, Harold
Forest Hills Eastern High School (Ada, Mich.)
COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-2020
Epidemics
Grand Valley State University
College students
Personal narratives
Journal from GVSU student Megan Wallace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes "What I have experienced at home and after leaving school."
Wallace, Megan
University Archives. COVID-19 Journaling Project
Grand Valley State University University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives.
Wallace, Robert (Interview outline and video), 2011
Bob Wallace was born in Plattsburgh, New York and studied at a Jr. College in the state as well as University of Michigan. Mr. Wallace spent two years in Nigeria through the Peace Corps before finishing his degree. He got drafted in April of 1968. He received basic training and AIT at Ft. Dix, and then went to OCS at Ft. Benning, Georgia and Ft. Polk, Louisiana. He also went to Jungle School in Panama. He was assigned to Charlie Company as 1st platoon leader, 2/506 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Throughout his time in Vietnam, Mr. Wallace collected things such as branches from trees and it made the situation enjoyable. He did not experience many bad fire fights; they sometimes went 2-3 weeks without being shot at. Mr. Wallace's company went to Firebase Ripcord for a month and helped build its defenses. He had a rear job after 7-8 months in the field in which he communicated with every battalion and company regarding supplies.
Wallace, Robert
College students talking outside Coral Gables
Michigan
Saugatuck (Mich.)
Allegan County (Mich.)
Summer
Automobiles
Photograph of a trio of young adults having a conversation outside Coral Gables in downtown Saugatuck. They appear to be college students as one of them is wearing a WMU sweatshirt and they are surrounding a parked convertible. The handwriting on the back of the photograph is partially illegible, listing "Saugatuck, Colleen James, Dick's friend, Dick Fosdick."
Walsh, Jerri
Digital file contributed by Jerri Walsh as part of the Stories of Summer project.
Copyright Undetermined
College students smiling outside Coral Gables
Photograph of a trio of young adults enjoying each other's company outside Coral Gables in downtown Saugatuck. They appear to be college students as one of them is wearing a WMU sweatshirt and they are surrounding a parked convertible while smiling at the camera.
Young woman on a dock overlooking the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River (Mich.)
Photograph of a young woman walking on a dock overlooking the Kalamazoo River. She is wearing a light brown jacket with her back turned to the camera and there are boats docked nearby with people standing just ahead of her. In the background, the Mount Baldhead radar tower can be seen from a distance.
Beaches
Outdoor recreation
Fourth of July
Photograph of a large crowd standing on the beach and gathering in anticipation. On the reverse, an inscription reads "Saugatuck, 4th of July Weekend '66, circled is Terry Darling's friend Dick Criuse."
Michigan, Lake
Photograph of a large crowd of people sunbathing on the beach. The sky appears to be foggy and the lake is barely visible in the distance.
Photograph of a busy beach with many people sunbathing, standing on the beach and in Lake Michigan. In the distance there is a bigger boat as well as some smaller boats with people joining in on the fun.
Crowded beach with boats in the distance
Photograph of a crowded Lake Michigan beach with boats in the background. Many people are lying down on beach towels sunbathing while others are gathered in the water. Circa summer 1966
View of a crowded beach and Lake Michigan
Photograph of a crowded Lake Michigan beach as seen from a distance. The foreground features sand fencing in front of a gathering crowd of beachgoers and boats in the background. Circa summer 1966
Paddleboards and people enjoying the beach
Photograph of an active beach featuring people sunbathing, swimming, and a large red container labeled "Paddleboards" in the midst of the excitement. The sky appears to be a dark blue-grey color making the lake and sky nearly indistinguishable. Circa summer 1966
Sand dunes
Photograph of a few groups of people sitting on towels while talking and sunbathing at the beach. There is a rusty barrel located behind the group at the forefront of the photograph and young men can be seen running near the dunegrass in the background. Circa summer 1966
Photograph featuring groups of young people sunbathing on the beach and having conversations among the dunes. The inscription on the back reads "Saugatuck, 4th of July '66 Weekend, Me, Colleen James, Dick Fosdick, Marietta, Dick's friend." Circa Fourth of July weekend 1966
Photograph of a couple smiling and sitting together on the beach. Towels are spread throughout the area and the dunes are located in the background. Circa summer 1966
Photograph of a young woman seated on the beach and smiling at the photographer. She is squinting while wearing a white shirt and white sunglasses perched on her head. Beach towels and dunegrass are featured in the background. Circa summer 1966
Snow
Photograph of snow-covered sand among Saugatuck's dunes. The photograph appears to be taken in the area near the original lighthouse, among the dunes just north of Oval Beach. Developed circa April 1967
Ponds
Easter
Photograph of "Old Mill Pond" surrounded by snow. The pond is the focal point of the photograph, with trees in the background that are barren and patches of snow on the ground. The description on the back of the photograph reads: "Wed. March, 22/67. Easter, Saugatuck. 'The Old MIll Pond' Jerry, Kelly."
Stairs
Photograph of Lake Michigan and its neighboring beach and sand dunes covered in snow. A staircase is seen cascading down to the beach and dunegrass is sprouting above the snow.
Lighthouses
Cottages
Photograph of the old lighthouse cottage located among the snow-covered dunes between Lake Michigan and Oxbow Lagoon. It was previously the site of the original Kalamazoo River Light and was rebuilt as a "lighthouse-style" summer home for the Deam family following an extensive restoration of the building and property. The image shows the house in the distance and appears to be bleak, as the sky is gray, the grass is overgrown, and the trees are barren. Handwriting reads: "Wed., March 22, '67. Easter, Saugatuck. 'The Old Light-Housekeeper's House' where he hung himself. Jerry Kelly."
Snow-covered sand dunes overlooking the Kalamazoo River
Photograph featuring snow-covered dunes surrounding the Kalamazoo River in the area that appears to be Oxbow Lagoon. The sky is gray and trees are in the distance. . The handwriting on the back of the photograph reads: "Wed., March 22, '67. Easter, Saugatuck. Lake Behind The Lighthousekeeper's house. Jerry Kelly."
Photograph of the old lighthouse cottage located among the snow-covered dunes in Saugatuck, Michigan. It was previously the site of the original Kalamazoo River Light and was rebuilt as a "lighthouse-style" summer home for the Deam family.