The Veterans’ Oral History Project began with the unanimous support of Public Law 106-380 in both the United States House of Representatives and Senate. The legislation was signed into law by President Clinton on October 27, 2000.
The Veterans’ Oral History Act gave the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress the authority to create a program to collect and preserve the personal stories of American war veterans. Since the enactment of Public Law 106-380, volunteers, groups, and agencies throughout the United States have been interviewing veterans and recording their stories through audio and videotapes.
In Fall 2005, Southeastern Community College (SCC) formed a committee to plan and develop a program for recording the oral histories of Columbus County and SCC veterans. Mr. James Fowler, Dean of Students at SCC at the time, conducted the first interview in February 2006. A copy of the videotaped interview and Biographical Data Form for each veteran is given to the Williamson Library and Library of Congress. Sharing the information provides local and nationwide access to veterans’ military experiences.
The local Veterans History Project Collection is on reserve at the Circulation Desk in the Williamson Library. Patrons may view the taped interviews in the Library or online through the Library of Congress Veterans History Project site.
The following list gives the name of each veteran with his/her branch of service, dates of service, and a link to his/her collection and interview. Search the list by name, or sort by branch of service or date.
For more information about the ongoing Veterans History Project, call Bill Maultsby.
| Name | Branch | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cutler, Kendall Lee | Army Reserve | March 1970-March 1976 |
| Fowler, James Frederick | Air Force | 1968-1972 |
| Lyons, Corey M. | Army | February 4, 1996-March 23, 2005 |
| Strickland, Jack Ronald | Army | May 14, 1969-November 11, 1971 |
| Hansen, Dennis Paul | Army, Air Force | September 1960-May 1993 |
| Hatcher, Jr., Fredrick D. | Army | September 17, 1985-September 30, 2005 |
| Guzman, Helen Gale | Navy | June 1975-May 1980< |
| Bianchini, John Maurice | Navy | July 1972-May 1979 |
| Blackburn, Glen M. | Army | October 1961-September 1964 |
| Nealon, Jon Arthur | Air Force | September 1968-February 1997 |
| Miller, Alvin R. | Army | 1945-1946 |
| Edwards, Jr., Oscar | Army | May 25, 1948-May 1952< |
| Edwards, Robert D. | Army | June 1957-June 1961 |
| Braman, William Matthias | Army | July 1969-June 1975 |
| West, III, William | Army | February 17, 1967-March 16, 1969 |
| Barber, Sr., Robert Benjamin | Army | August 1964-July 1966 |
| St. George, John D. | Navy | 1940-1953 |
| Faison, Michael Ardell | Navy | September 1974-October 1994 |
| Hammond, Larry Ronald | Coast Guard | May 9, 1968-August 31, 1993 |
| Peacock, Danny | Air Corps | October 1943-1946 |
| McQueen, Kenneth | Navy | June 1982-March 2004 |
| Phillips, Jr., Alvin B. | Army Reserve | June 23, 1969-November 6, 2006 |
| Kendall, Marjorie Helen Stiles | Army | 1943-1945 |
| Angelova, Reni B. | Air Force | March 2004-2008 |
| Allen, Danny Ray | Marine Corps | June 1972-July 2002 |
| Maultsby, William Devane | Army | April 21, 1985-Present |
| Simmons, Torrence P. | Navy | April 19, 1990-June 30, 2010 |
| Stone, Louise Reed Bolster | Army | March 8, 1944-January 7, 1946 |
| Biggs, Jr. Chester Maxwell | Marine Corps | 1939-1959 |
| Dees, Phillip Randolph | Marine Corps | 1965-1969 |
| Blake, Sr., John Milton Mills | Navy | August 1943-May 1946< |
| Herring, William Norman | Army | 1951-1976 |
| Morgan, Lloyd Henry | Air Force | February 3, 1960-March 3, 1980 |
| Charles, Melvin Alan | Army | February 23, 1966-January 8,1969 |
| Boykin, Kenneth Stuart | Air Force | February 1966-May 1996 |