Veterans History Project Collection
Collection
Identifier: MS 015
The Veterans History Project at Fort Hays State University was conducted as a joint project between the Leadership Studies and History departments. Beginning in the Fall of 2016, four Leadership Studies students enrolled in LDRS 310: Field Work in Leadership Studies. These students spearheaded the project and recruited History students and veterans for interviews.
This project was completed as part of the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress. For more information about this project on a national scale, and other interviews available please visit https://www.loc.gov/programs/veterans-history-project/about-this-program/ or use the link below.
Library of Congress Program - Veterans History Project
This project was completed as part of the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress. For more information about this project on a national scale, and other interviews available please visit https://www.loc.gov/programs/veterans-history-project/about-this-program/ or use the link below.
Library of Congress Program - Veterans History Project
Dates
- 2016
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
Extent
.25 Cubic Feet
Reasons for Project
"Project Veteran aims to capture the stories of all veterans for younger generations to understand the history of those who served their country with pride in America. It has been a collaboration project between the Department of Leadership Studies and the Department of History at Fort Hays State University.
This project is aimed mainly towards WWII veterans in hopes to capture their stories during the war as they are getting older, losing their memories and are dying. I also want to include the veterans of other wars too because their stories are just important and valuable to the world and it provides insight about the history of why and what they were fighting for.
As a team, Project Veteran has gained community support through interviews, photos, and letters even from veterans who have already passed. We thank them for their service. Every recorded interview will be submitted to the Library of Congress along with pictures and other memorabilia.
Our hope for this project is to provide a way for students, family and community members, and fellow veterans to involve themselves in these living moments of history and be able to look back on those trying but triumphant times."
[Courtesy Veterans History Project]
This project is aimed mainly towards WWII veterans in hopes to capture their stories during the war as they are getting older, losing their memories and are dying. I also want to include the veterans of other wars too because their stories are just important and valuable to the world and it provides insight about the history of why and what they were fighting for.
As a team, Project Veteran has gained community support through interviews, photos, and letters even from veterans who have already passed. We thank them for their service. Every recorded interview will be submitted to the Library of Congress along with pictures and other memorabilia.
Our hope for this project is to provide a way for students, family and community members, and fellow veterans to involve themselves in these living moments of history and be able to look back on those trying but triumphant times."
[Courtesy Veterans History Project]
Historical Context
American Wars
The United States has been a part of many different wars, in our country and in foreign places. Each war had its own reasons to be fought; independence, the ending of slavery and the expansion of national boundaries. Below are a list of wars that took place involving the US.
'The Revolutionary War, also known as the American Revolution, took place in 1775-1783. This war was a colonial revolt that took place against the British. The conflict really kicked off between the British troops and the militiaman in Lexington and Concord. Shortly after, the rebels were in a full blown war for their independence. In 1778 France entered the war, siding with colonists. The American war went from a civil war straight into an international war. The war ended in 1783 when Great Britain recognized the independence of the US in the Treaty of Paris.
War of 1812 took place when the United States declared war on the British. This war was started when the British tried to block US trade and Americas desire to expend the US territory. The primary causes of the War of 1812 was the British attempts to restrict US trade and Americas desire to expand its territory. During this time, the nations capital, Washington D.C. was captured and burned. The American troops pushed back in New York, Baltimore and New Orleans gaining the American confidence back to keep fighting. The war ended in 1815 with the Treaty of Ghent.
Mexican - American War took place in 1846-1848. This war took place when Mexico refused to recognize the annexation of Texas. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.
American Civil War took place from 1861-1865. The American Civil War was fought by 11 of the southern states best known as the Confederacy and Union States. This was one of the deadliest wars in American History. The Union did win with the Confederates surrender in 1865. This war ended slavery.
Spanish - American War took place in 1898. This war started when Spain declared war on the US because the US supported the Cubans struggles to become independent. When Spain declared war, they had not readied their army or its navy for the distant war with the US. The US naval squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in two hours before pausing to have a second breakfast. The US lost fewer than 10 American seamen while the Spanish last were around 370 seaman. The Treaty of Paris was established on December 10, 1898 and had ended the Spanish-American War.
World War I began in 1914 and ended in 1918. This war took place between the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, the Empire of Japan, Italy, and the US. New nations were formed during this war. This war saw unprecedented levels of destruction. When the war finally was over, there were more than 16 million people, civilians and soldiers, who lost their lives.
World War II took place during 1939-1945. WWII took place two decades after WWI. WWI set the set the tone for the international conflict, WWII. Adolf Hitler, a member of the Nazi Party, was rising to power during an unstable time for Germany. Hitler signed different strategic treaties with Italy and Japan to further his ideas of world domination. WWII began when Hitler invaded Poland which in return caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany. In the six years that WWII happened, more lives, property and land were lost to the devastation of the war. 45-60 million people were killed and among them, 6 million of them were the Jews that murdered at Nazi concentration camps.
Korean War took place in 1950 and ended in 1953. The Korean War was a war against the forces of international communism. This was the first military action of the Cold War.
Vietnam War took place during 1959-1975. This war was a long, costly and divisive war that brought the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its ally the US. This war became more intense by the ongoing Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. More than 3 million people, 58,000 of those being Americans, were killed during the Vietnam War. More than half of those killed were Vietnamese civilians. The opposition to the war divided the US and communist forces ended the war by taking control of South Vietnam. The country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam a year after the war ended.
Gulf War took place during 1990-1991. During this war, the president of Iraqi ordered the invasion of their neighbor, Kuwait. Saudi Arabia and Egypt called on the US and other Western Nations to intervene. When the Iraqi president refused the demands of the United Nations Security Council, the Persian Gulf War began with the US leading an air offensive, Desert Storm. There was 42 days of attacks by the allied coalition on the ground and in the air. US president, George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire. By the time the US president made the announcement, most of the Iraqi forces had surrendered and fled.
War in Afghanistan is currently still taking place. It began in 2001 when the US invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban from power. The Taliban was hosting al-Qaeda terrorists and camps, who were also suspects during the September 11 attacks. Approximately 3000 people were killing during the 9/11 terrorist attack. When the US invaded Afghanistan, more than 1000 soldiers were on the ground at a time with their numbers growing and reaching more than 10,000 soldiers by 2003. In 2017 there are less than 9000 US soldiers in Afghanistan as they have all returned home. Today, the Taliban has expanded and strengthened their military in other parts of the country. President Trump sent 3,000 US troops back to Afghanistan and has stepped up the air raids that have resulted in an increase of civilian casualties.
Iraq War began in 2003 when the US and the coalition forces from the United Kingdom initiated war on Iraq. The US was had set out to free the people of Iraq that were being bombed and to protect the world from danger. Saddam Hussein, the dictator, possessed and was in the process of building weapons of mass destruction.
References:
“Civil War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war.
History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Korean War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/korea/korean-war
History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Persian Gulf War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/persian-gulf-war
History.com Editors. “Revolutionary War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history.
History.com Editors. “War of 1812.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812/war-of-1812.
War in Afghanistan. (2018, August 21). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/tag/war-in-afghanistan
War in Iraq Begins. (2009, November 24). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/war-in-iraq-begins
History.com Editors. “Spanish-American War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 May 2010, www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/spanish-american-war.
History.com Editors. “World War I.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history.
History.com Editors. “World War II.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history.
“Mexican-American War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war.
“HISTORY | Watch Full Episodes of Your Favorite Shows.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/.
[Courtesy Veterans History Project]
The United States has been a part of many different wars, in our country and in foreign places. Each war had its own reasons to be fought; independence, the ending of slavery and the expansion of national boundaries. Below are a list of wars that took place involving the US.
'The Revolutionary War, also known as the American Revolution, took place in 1775-1783. This war was a colonial revolt that took place against the British. The conflict really kicked off between the British troops and the militiaman in Lexington and Concord. Shortly after, the rebels were in a full blown war for their independence. In 1778 France entered the war, siding with colonists. The American war went from a civil war straight into an international war. The war ended in 1783 when Great Britain recognized the independence of the US in the Treaty of Paris.
War of 1812 took place when the United States declared war on the British. This war was started when the British tried to block US trade and Americas desire to expend the US territory. The primary causes of the War of 1812 was the British attempts to restrict US trade and Americas desire to expand its territory. During this time, the nations capital, Washington D.C. was captured and burned. The American troops pushed back in New York, Baltimore and New Orleans gaining the American confidence back to keep fighting. The war ended in 1815 with the Treaty of Ghent.
Mexican - American War took place in 1846-1848. This war took place when Mexico refused to recognize the annexation of Texas. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.
American Civil War took place from 1861-1865. The American Civil War was fought by 11 of the southern states best known as the Confederacy and Union States. This was one of the deadliest wars in American History. The Union did win with the Confederates surrender in 1865. This war ended slavery.
Spanish - American War took place in 1898. This war started when Spain declared war on the US because the US supported the Cubans struggles to become independent. When Spain declared war, they had not readied their army or its navy for the distant war with the US. The US naval squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in two hours before pausing to have a second breakfast. The US lost fewer than 10 American seamen while the Spanish last were around 370 seaman. The Treaty of Paris was established on December 10, 1898 and had ended the Spanish-American War.
World War I began in 1914 and ended in 1918. This war took place between the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, the Empire of Japan, Italy, and the US. New nations were formed during this war. This war saw unprecedented levels of destruction. When the war finally was over, there were more than 16 million people, civilians and soldiers, who lost their lives.
World War II took place during 1939-1945. WWII took place two decades after WWI. WWI set the set the tone for the international conflict, WWII. Adolf Hitler, a member of the Nazi Party, was rising to power during an unstable time for Germany. Hitler signed different strategic treaties with Italy and Japan to further his ideas of world domination. WWII began when Hitler invaded Poland which in return caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany. In the six years that WWII happened, more lives, property and land were lost to the devastation of the war. 45-60 million people were killed and among them, 6 million of them were the Jews that murdered at Nazi concentration camps.
Korean War took place in 1950 and ended in 1953. The Korean War was a war against the forces of international communism. This was the first military action of the Cold War.
Vietnam War took place during 1959-1975. This war was a long, costly and divisive war that brought the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its ally the US. This war became more intense by the ongoing Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. More than 3 million people, 58,000 of those being Americans, were killed during the Vietnam War. More than half of those killed were Vietnamese civilians. The opposition to the war divided the US and communist forces ended the war by taking control of South Vietnam. The country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam a year after the war ended.
Gulf War took place during 1990-1991. During this war, the president of Iraqi ordered the invasion of their neighbor, Kuwait. Saudi Arabia and Egypt called on the US and other Western Nations to intervene. When the Iraqi president refused the demands of the United Nations Security Council, the Persian Gulf War began with the US leading an air offensive, Desert Storm. There was 42 days of attacks by the allied coalition on the ground and in the air. US president, George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire. By the time the US president made the announcement, most of the Iraqi forces had surrendered and fled.
War in Afghanistan is currently still taking place. It began in 2001 when the US invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban from power. The Taliban was hosting al-Qaeda terrorists and camps, who were also suspects during the September 11 attacks. Approximately 3000 people were killing during the 9/11 terrorist attack. When the US invaded Afghanistan, more than 1000 soldiers were on the ground at a time with their numbers growing and reaching more than 10,000 soldiers by 2003. In 2017 there are less than 9000 US soldiers in Afghanistan as they have all returned home. Today, the Taliban has expanded and strengthened their military in other parts of the country. President Trump sent 3,000 US troops back to Afghanistan and has stepped up the air raids that have resulted in an increase of civilian casualties.
Iraq War began in 2003 when the US and the coalition forces from the United Kingdom initiated war on Iraq. The US was had set out to free the people of Iraq that were being bombed and to protect the world from danger. Saddam Hussein, the dictator, possessed and was in the process of building weapons of mass destruction.
References:
“Civil War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war.
History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Korean War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/korea/korean-war
History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Persian Gulf War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/persian-gulf-war
History.com Editors. “Revolutionary War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history.
History.com Editors. “War of 1812.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812/war-of-1812.
War in Afghanistan. (2018, August 21). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/tag/war-in-afghanistan
War in Iraq Begins. (2009, November 24). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/war-in-iraq-begins
History.com Editors. “Spanish-American War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 May 2010, www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/spanish-american-war.
History.com Editors. “World War I.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history.
History.com Editors. “World War II.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history.
“Mexican-American War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war.
“HISTORY | Watch Full Episodes of Your Favorite Shows.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/.
[Courtesy Veterans History Project]
Interviewers
Evolution of the Veterans History Project...
Naomi is a junior majoring in Organizational Leadership from Spearville, Kansas. "Doing this project has made me appreciate the sacrifices Americans before me made."
Payton is a senior majoring in Organizational Leadership from Spearville, Kansas.
Kaylie is a senior majoring in Organizational Leadership from Wichita, Kansas. "Working with veterans who have experienced so much life has humbled me to realizing that life comes quickly and to appreciate the day, freedom, and safety that has been given to me."
Lucas is a sophomore majoring in Organizational Leadership from Goodland, Kansas.
Project Veteran was started in the Fall semester of 2016 by a team of four in Field Work of Leadership Studies. The previous teams project consisted of networking with community members to obtain WWII interviews. We express our deepest gratitude to the veterans willing to share their experiences.
I was able to take over their project for my internship by adding to the website and by getting the opportunity to meet with many veterans of the different wars that took place. It has been such a rewarding experience for me. To be able to sit down with a veteran and listen to their stories of the war, the friendships they had, the way they communicated with family back home and how they felt being able to finally go home is such a powerful moment.
Hearing how they coped with loss of their war buddies and how they came to the terms that may not be going home is heartbreaking. Being a part of WWII or Vietnam made a huge impact on the lives of the veterans and their loved ones. -Cheyenne Harding, senior majoring in Organizational Leadership
[Courtesy Veterans History Project]
Naomi is a junior majoring in Organizational Leadership from Spearville, Kansas. "Doing this project has made me appreciate the sacrifices Americans before me made."
Payton is a senior majoring in Organizational Leadership from Spearville, Kansas.
Kaylie is a senior majoring in Organizational Leadership from Wichita, Kansas. "Working with veterans who have experienced so much life has humbled me to realizing that life comes quickly and to appreciate the day, freedom, and safety that has been given to me."
Lucas is a sophomore majoring in Organizational Leadership from Goodland, Kansas.
Project Veteran was started in the Fall semester of 2016 by a team of four in Field Work of Leadership Studies. The previous teams project consisted of networking with community members to obtain WWII interviews. We express our deepest gratitude to the veterans willing to share their experiences.
I was able to take over their project for my internship by adding to the website and by getting the opportunity to meet with many veterans of the different wars that took place. It has been such a rewarding experience for me. To be able to sit down with a veteran and listen to their stories of the war, the friendships they had, the way they communicated with family back home and how they felt being able to finally go home is such a powerful moment.
Hearing how they coped with loss of their war buddies and how they came to the terms that may not be going home is heartbreaking. Being a part of WWII or Vietnam made a huge impact on the lives of the veterans and their loved ones. -Cheyenne Harding, senior majoring in Organizational Leadership
[Courtesy Veterans History Project]
- Title
- Veterans History Project Collection
- Author
- Samantha L. Harper
- Date
- 2023-04-19
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Fort Hays State University Special Collections Repository