Bucy, Ken (Interview outline and video), 2016
Oral history
Veterans History Project (U.S.)
United States--History, Military
Veterans
Video recordings
Iraq War, 2003-2011--Personal narratives, American
United States. Army
Ken Bucy was born in Anderson, Indiana, on April 25, 1947. He enlisted in the Indiana National Guard and was assigned to D Company of the 151st Infantry Regiment of the 38th Infantry Division. Upon completion of basic training and advanced infantry training, the 151st became a Ranger unit. He received more training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was deployed to Vietnam after Christmas 1968. They conducted long-range reconnaissance patrols out of a base north of Long Binh. After returning to the United States, he was placed in the inactive reserve and studied at Arizona State. He joined the Arizona National Guard after graduating from college and served in a National Guard band for a total of 17 years. After 12 years in the National Guard, he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and became a chaplain assistant in the 2nd Brigade of the 49th Armored Division. He served with them for 3 1/2 years, then served as an Army Reserve instructor for 12 years. He returned to the National Guard band in Arizona and served with them until he volunteered for service in Iraq in 2003. Ken served in Iraq as a chaplain assistant in a Louisiana infantry brigade. He retired from military service in 2007.
Bucy, Ken
Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan
In Copyright
Beyrle, Joseph R (Interview outline and video), 2015
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Joey Beyrle was born on August 25, 1923 in Muskegon, Michigan. On September 17, 1942 he enlisted in the Army, applied for the paratroopers, and was approved for that unit. He trained at Camp Toccoa and Fort Benning, Georgia receiving Airborne Training and training with radios and demolitions. He joined I Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. He and the rest of the unit left the United States and went to England arriving there on September 17, 1943. He participated in two, secret OSS missions in occupied France prior to the invasion of France. On June 6, 1944 he parachuted into France and was subsequently captured by German forces, twice. He was interred at Stalag IV-B then at Stalag III-C where he escaped. He was recaptured in Berlin and returned to Stalag III-C. He escaped again and linked up with the Red Army. He traveled with them for 30 days before getting wounded. Once he recovered he went to the American embassy in Moscow and returned to the United States by way of Odessa.
Beyrle, Joseph R.
Berra, Louis (Interview outline and video), 2015
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
United States. Air Force
Louis Berra was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1942. He attended the University of Detroit and was part of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) there. He received his Officer Candidate School training at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio and received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant in August 1965. In June 1966 he received orders for Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming where he served as a staff officer and the chief of operations until 1969. He was transferred to Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay in Canada where he helped with base operations until 1970. From 1971 to 1995 he served in the Air Force Reserve at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, various bases all over the continental United States, and at NATO bases in Europe. From 1990 to 1995 he served in the Office of Civil Engineers in the Pentagon and reached the rank of colonel.
Berra, Louis
Bailey, Joseph (Interview outline and video), 2016
United States. Navy
Joseph Bailey was born in Prescott, Arizona, in 1922. He enlisted in the Navy in early 1941. He received his basic training and attended Metalsmith School at San Diego, and was assigned to the USS Whitney (AD-4). He survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and shortly thereafter was assigned to the USS Thomas Jefferson (APA-30). After an abortive attempt to bring supplies to American forces on the Philippines, he was transferred to the USS Annoy (AM-84) and participated in the liberation of the Aleutian Islands and subsequent patrols around those islands. He was then reassigned to the USS Impeccable (AM-320) and witnessed the liberation of the Marianas Islands, the invasion of Iwo Jima, and the invasion of Okinawa. His active duty ended in 1947 and he was placed in the inactive reserve. He was called up for duty in September 1950 due to the Korean War and was assigned to the USS Moctobi (ATF-105). He was then transferred to an oiler. For six months they refueled ships at Kwajalein before sailing to Sasebo, Japan, to continue refueling operations. He was discharged in 1952.
Bailey, Joseph
Anton, Gust J (Interview outline and video), 2017
Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American
Gust Anton was born in Chicago on December 17, 1928. He was drafted in December 1951 and reported for duty in January 1952. He went to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for his basic training and mechanic training, then went to Fort Lewis, Washington, to wait for his deployment to Korea. He sailed to Korea aboard the USNS General Simon B. Buckner, and after a brief stop at Camp Drake, Japan, arrived in Korea at Inchon in early December 1952. Gust was assigned to the 84th Engineer Battalion near the 38th Parallel, and due to prior photography experience was made a photographer in that unit. He not only documented equipment damage, but also photographed the dead and wounded. He witnessed the Battle of Outpost Vegas on March 26, 1953, and another major fight on May 28, 1953. Gust also photographed Seoul and the people living in the city during the war. After the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, he served as the company PX clerk (Army general store) until returning to the United States in December 1953. He was discharged at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, on December 25, 1953.
Anton, Gust J.
Acker, Raymond A (Interview outline and video), 2016
Raymond Acker first served in the Army as a radio operator with the 549th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. He attended Philadelphia Bible College, the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, and the Dall Theological Seminary and was commissioned in the Army as a staff specialist. He received his 1st lieutenant chaplain commission at Fort Wadsworth, New York, in 1964. He started serving at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in July 1965 before going to Okinawa in 1966. He deployed to Vietnam in March 1969 and was attached to the 159th Transportation Battalion (Boat) out of Vung Tau. He conducted chaplaincy duties in the Mekong River Delta and aboard the USNS Corpus Christi Bay. After his tour in Vietnam he served at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 1st Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Acker, Raymond A.
Schmehil, James G (Interview outline), 2015
Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American
James Schmehil was born on February 25, 1963 in Virginia. He enlisted in the Air Force in October 1981. From 1982 to 1984 he served with a Titan II nuclear missile crew, and from 1983 to 1984 he studied at the Air Force Academy Prep School. In 1984 he attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated in 1988 with the rank of lieutenant. He received pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and served as an instructor there from 1989 to 1992 and at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In 1995 he was assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, where he flew C-130s, and from October 1996 to January 1997 he flew C-130s out of Saudi Arabia. In 1997 he served at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, teaching pilots how to be instructors and in 2000 began working on the T-6 Texan II trainer. From 2002 to 2003 he had a remote assignment to Honduras. Upon returning to the United States he continued working with the T-6 Texan II until his retirement in 2005.
Schmehil, James G. Jr.
Grand Valley State University Libraries, Allendale, Michigan
Powell, Merton E (Interview outline), 2016
Merton Powell was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1924. He grew up in Topeka and enlisted in the Navy in 1943. He received basic training in Chadron, Nebraska then went to Iowa for College Training before going to California for Flight Training. He was accepted into the Naval Aviation Program and was able receive flight training in the N2S Stearman. After the Second World War ended in September 1945 he was discharged from active duty. He remained in the Naval Reserve until 1947. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1949 and served briefly with them.
Powell, Merton E.
Tobias, Bryan L (Interview outline), 2015
Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988--Personal narratives, American
Bryan Tobias enlisted in the Air Force six months after he graduated from high school. He received basic training in San Antonio, Texas and received mechanical and material training in Rantoul, Illinois (most likely at Chanute Air Force Base). After training he spent eight years in Anchorage, Alaska (most likely at Elmendorf Air Force Base) and completed his service at Fort Walton Beach, Florida (most likely at Eglin Air Force Base).
Tobias, Bryan L.
Wieringa, Nicholas J (Interview outline), 2015
United States. ArmyOral history
Nicholas Wieringa was born in 1948 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was part of the Army infantry as a specialist 4th class. At Fort Knox, Kentucky he undertook basic training, and then had AIT training at Fort Louis, Washington. Nicholas was deployed to Vietnam at an especially hectic time of the War during which 18 firefights broke out. After his return to the US he served the remainder of his enlistment at Fort Knox before being discharged.
Wieringa, Nicholas J.
Robinson, Claude G (Interview outline), 2015
United States. Army Air ForcesOral history
Claude Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan. After Pearl Harbor he voluntarily enlisted in the military in 1943 and was sent to Jefferson Barracks Missouri for basic training. In Yuma Arizona he was assigned to fly patrols using the B-25, the squadron involved with bombing Japan. Later he would be re-assigned to fly on the B-29. When the War ended he was discharged from the Air Force on December 1st 1945 and put into the reserves. He was considered to join the Korean War in 1950 however his job as an engineer was considered too crucial to be sent overseas.
Robinson, Claude G.
Persico, Innocent Frank (Interview outline), 2005
Frank Persico was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from high school and then Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He registered for the draft and eventually got drafted and assigned to the Army Air Corps. He was processed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts then received basic training in Florida. He went to Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska for Aircraft Mechanic School then to Chanute Army Air Field, Illinois for Engine School. He was assigned to the 461st Bombardment Group in Salt Lake City, Utah and joined the unit at Wendover Field, Utah. He trained with them at Hammer Field, California and deployed to the European Theatre in February 1944. He was stationed in Italy for the duration of the war, and on May 7, 1945 he returned to the United States. He was stationed at Drew Field, Florida until Japan surrendered in August 1945. He was discharged after the war and returned to Boston.
Persico, Innocent Frank
Oudman, Edwin James (Interview outline), 2015
Jim Oudman was born in California, and now lives in Grand Rapids Michigan. When he turned 18 he was drafted into the Vietnam War, and received basic training at Fort Knox Kentucky where he was in the Fifth Tank battalion. At Fort Story, Virginia he put his skills to work on the rifle team during Advanced Individual Training. Thereafter, in 1965, he was sent to Cam Rahn Bay Vietnam on the USS Breckenridge. During his time he worked on a number of jobs for the Air Force and Navy such as affixing napalm wing tanks to F-4 Phantom planes. After a year in Vietnam he was discharged from the military in June of 1966.
Oudman, Edwin James
Moloney, Michael G (Interview outline), 2015
Other veterans & civilians--Personal narratives, American
Michael Moloney was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 15, 1967 and served in the United States Army as an artillery surveyor in the First Infantry Division. He joined the army in 1987 and trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Michael was sent to Germany in 1988 where he spent a period of two months playing war games. He recounts the people he met and the opportunities he had to visit historical locations from the Second World War. After his time in the service, Michael enrolled at Michigan State University.
Moloney, Michael G.
Johnson, Donald C (Interview outline), 2005
Donald C. Johnson was born in 1922 in Lindsay, Nebraska. Enlisted in the Army Air Force in summer 1942 and reported for duty on October 1, 1942. Received basic training at Rome Air Depot, New York and was classified as an Army Aircraft Mechanic (flight engineer and gunner) at Syracuse Army Air Base, New York. He received Gunner Training at Tyndall Field, Florida and Flight Engineer Training at Sheppard Field, Texas. Sent to Mountain Home Army Air Base, Idaho where he joined a B-24 crew in the 764th Squadron of the 461st Bombardment Group. He trained there then went to Hammer Field where they received more training. In mid-January 1944 they left the U.S. and arrived at Torretto Field, Italy in February 1944. They began flying missions in April 1944 bombing targets in northern Italy, southern Germany, Austria, southern France, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. He was discharged on August 30, 1945.
Johnson, Donald C.
Howard, Robert E (Interview outline), 2015
Robert Howard was born in 1942 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. His enlistment with the Army lasted from 1962 to 1965 while he was part of the Vietnam War. Robert was assigned to the 82nd airborne division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he undertook paratrooper training and ranger school. At Fort Sill, Oklahoma he would continue training in order to use a field artillery data computer. In Vietnam he was attached to a Special Forces team with the purpose to make maps where none yet existed. In the Dominican Republic he directed artillery fire as well as helped to distribute humanitarian aid. After his time there he was discharged from the Army.
Howard, Robert E.
Hanna, Timothy Lee (Interview outline), 2015
Timothy Hanna was born on November 20, 1965 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1984, he joined the United States Army and was sent to Germany as a welder in a motor pool. While in Germany, Timothy visited iconic locations from the Second World War. He recounts various events throughout his life such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Hanna, Timothy Lee
Doane, Daniel Edward (Interview outline), 2015
Daniel Doane was born on June 29, 1926 to a family of six children. He joined the army in September 1945 and was sent to Fort Sheridan Illinois. After spending several months in the United States, Daniel was sent to Chitose Air Base in Japan.
Doane, Daniel Edward
Becker, William Karl (Interview outline), 2015
Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American
United States. Marine CorpsOral history
William Becker was born on June 6, 1988 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. He joined the United States Marine Corps and worked as an observer. William served two tours in Afghanistan, both in the Helmand Province
his task was to observe firefights and call in mortar and naval gun support. The missions he took part in include Operation Cobra's Anger, which was the attack on the town of Nawzad, Afghanistan. During his second tour, William was stationed at Camp Leatherneck where he guarded detainees and continued his duties in fire support.
Becker, William Karl
Filko, Joseph James (Interview outline), 2015
Joseph Filko was born in 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His military career would span 20 years and three separate wars. The financial climate of the Great Depression drove him to enlist in the Marines in 1939 at age 17. He wound up at Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia where the sight of the USS Washington inspired him to join on for sea duty. In 1942 his aircraft carrier was attacked by kamikaze at Guadalcanal. Initially Joseph left the military in 1945 after WWII ended, however working for the State Police offered little pay and so he re-enlisted in 1948. In Korea he was stationed at the 38th parallel and lasted for 14 months. As if that weren't enough he was also sent to Vietnam in 1961. After a period of some time he was sent with a special unit to Okinawa. Finally he was discharged for the last time in 1962. Joseph was decorated with a variety of 16 medals and ribbons for his career. Later in life he worked for the US Post Office for 20 years before retiring.
Filko, Joseph James
Hollebeek, Dick David (Interview outline and video), 2015
Dick Hollebeek was born Iowa in 1924 but moved to Washington during his youth. He enlisted in the Army in March 1943 and was sent to Camp White Oregon for basic training. Dick became part of the 216th Salvage Repair Company, and his particular focus dealt with patching clothing, tents, and sewing material. When the time came he shipped out from Camp Shanks New York on the Queen Elizabeth. In England he would spend time at Seaforth Barracks near Liverpool, and witnessed a number of air raids. After D-Day his Company traveled to Utah beach in France where he was a rifle grenadier. After a grueling march they spent an extended time in Vivier Belgium, and later Gistoux. Finally their Company made it to Aachen Germany, and all the way to Hersfeld where the European portion of the War was called to a close. This included Buchenwald concentration camp as well. Post-war, Dick was eventually sent to Camp Boston in France where he waited to be sent home. After returning to the US, Dick was discharged from Camp Atturbury and stayed in Grand Rapids as his family had moved there to Michigan.
Hollebeek, Dick David
Zylstra, David B (Interview outline and video), 2015
David Zylstra was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1924. In August 1943 he received his draft notice. He was processed at Fort Custer, Michigan and accepted into the Army Specialized Training Program. He received basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and then went to Brooklyn College, New York for the ASTP engineering course. When the ASTP was cancelled he was sent to join the 75th Infantry Division on their maneuvres in Texas and Louisiana in spring 1944. He was assigned to M Company of the 291st Infantry Regiment and received heavy weapons training. The division left the United States in fall 1944 and arrived at Swansea, Wales on November 2, 1944. In December 1944 the 75th went to France and arrived at Le Havre on December 13, 1944. David saw action in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, in the Netherlands, and in the Ruhr Pocket during the advance into Germany in spring 1945. At the end of the war he was in Westphalia, Germany and Camp New York, France helping with the processing of GIs, German prisoners of war, and the Information and Education Office for the American Universities in England and France. He also attended the American University in Biarritz, France. He returned to the United States after nine months of occupation duty and got discharged on March 10, 1946 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
Zylstra, David B.
Yonts, David (Interview outline and video), 2015
David Yonts was born in February 1950 in West Virginia. He grew up in Kentucky and on August 31, 1969 he was drafted. He received basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and infantry training at Fort Ord, California. Due to his wife being pregnant he was allowed to serve at Fort Hood, Texas until May 6, 1970 when he received his orders for Vietnam. He was deployed to Vietnam and got to Phu Bai on July 1, 1970. He was assigned to Alpha Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division and served at Firebase Ripcord until the firebase fell on July 23, 1970. He served with Alpha Company until he left Vietnam in June 1971. Upon arrival in Washington in late June 1971 he was discharged.
Yonts, David
Wyatt, James E (Interview outline and video), 2015
James Wyatt was born in 1936. At the age of 22 he pre-empted an inevitable drafting by enlisting in 1960. During his military career his highest rank achieved was Specialist 4th class. Although his service was during the Vietnam War era, he was located in Mannheim, Germany in the time of the Berlin Wall Crisis. Wyatt was also sent to NATO school where he was able to train troops in the fundamentals. After being discharged he returned to the US and became a police officer.
Wyatt, James E.
Caledonia High School (Caledonia, Mich.)