Share Your Story
Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project (VHP) collected and preserved the remembrances of American war veterans and civilian workers who supported them. This project was created by the United States Congress in 2000 and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.
In support of this effort, the Peabody Public Library interviewed a number of veterans either at the library itself or at other designated locations.
These collections of first-hand accounts are made available to researchers and the general public, online via this website, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., in the Indiana Room at the Peabody Public Library and via the Veterans History Project website. Please note that the hard copies in the Indiana Room cannot be checked out and are only accessible during library hours.
All Veterans History videos are now available on YouTube. View and subscribe to our oral history channel here.
If you would like to share your valuable stories please contact us at (260) 244-5541 or e-mail us with your request.
Whitley County Oral History
The goals of this project are to preserve historical and personal memories of Whitley County, Indiana and to make them accessible to all who wish to know Whitley County history.
Much of the “old” Whitley County has disappeared: downtown businesses, landmark buildings, farms and schools. Younger people and newcomers to the county like to know what was here before they came. This project is also intended to aid genealogists and family historians.
We feel that this is an important project and that it will be of service to the community, so any assistance would be greatly appreciated. We can come to you, or you may be interviewed at the library – wherever you feel the most comfortable. We can do individual or group interviews. The process is really simple and painless; just talk to us the way you would talk to friends or family, passing on “stories”.
Please note that this project is not just for Columbia City; we would like interviews from all over Whitley County – Churubusco, South Whitley, Collins, Laud, Collamer – just anywhere in Whitley County.
Feel free to call us at (260)244-5541 or e-mail us if you need additional information on this project or if you are interested in setting up an interview.
Watch Our Interviews Online
All Oral History videos are available on YouTube. View and subscribe to our oral history channel here.
Interviews by Category
WWII: 1941 – 1945
| Narrator | Branch & Location of Service | Service Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Brown, Charles | U.S. Army: Ft. Richardson, Alaska | 1941-1946 |
| Brown, Frances | Military Wife: Alabama | WWII era |
| Brown, Lewis | Merchant Marines: Atlantic – Pacific | 1944-1945 |
| Byer, Gerald Eugene | U.S. Naval Reserve: Boston, New York, Pacific, Portland | 1942-1946 |
| Cassell, Robert | U.S. Army: Europe | 1942-1945 |
| Cornmesser, Robert | U.S. Navy: USA, South Pacific, Philippines, Subic Bay, Mindonau, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, Rome, Naples, Malta | 1944-1946, 1950-1952 |
| Coverstone, George | U.S. Navy: Atlantic & Pacific | 1943-1946 |
| Gipe, Dick | U.S. Army: France, Belgium, Holland, Germany | 1944-1947 |
| Goudy, Dewey | U.S. Army Air Force: Italy | 1943-1945 |
| Hammer, Janice | Military Wife (WWII and Korea) | 1942-1968 |
| Haworth, Richard | U.S. Air Corp: Florida, Indiana, Texas | 1942-1945 |
| Herr, John Benjamin | U.S. Army: Omaha Beach [He was also a POW in Germany] | 1942-1945 |
| Keuneke, Arnold | Signal Corp of Air Force—Army: Mostly N. Africa & Italy | 1942-1945 |
| Marsh, Howard | U.S. Army: France & Germany | 1944-1946 |
| Mercer, Frank | U.S. Army: South Pacific – New Guinea | 1943-1945 |
| Meyers, Edward | Air Corps, U.S. Air Force: Texas, Kansas, Florida, Africa, Italy, Arizona | 1943-1945 |
| Mitchell, Clarice | U.S. Navy: Pacific Ocean Theater | 1943-1945 |
| Nowling, Arthur | U.S. Army: Japan, Asiatic Pacific Theatre | 1945-1946 |
| Perry, Clifford | U.S. Army: West Coast | 1942-1945 |
| Pittenger, Talbert | U.S. Navy: Pacific Area | 1943-1945 |
| Pontzius, Wilma | WAVES (U.S. Navy): San Diego, Great Lakes IN, Chicago | 1944-1946, 1950-1952 |
| Ramp, Richard | Army Air Force: Olk., Cal, Idaho, Ft. Myers FL, Norwich England | 1942-1945 |
| Shaw, Clarence | Army Air Force? (Artillery): Europe | 1942-1945 |
| Strouse, Edgar John | U.S. Air Corps: Basic Miss, Johnson Island | 1944-1951 |
| Tarleton, William | U.S. Navy: Pacific | 1943-1945, 1947-1952 |
| Walker, Robert | U.S. Air Force Reserves: Kessler, Miss – San Antonio Tex – Training etc. | 1942-1945 |
| Waterfall, Clark | U.S. Army, Veterinary Corp: ASTP Michigan State University, Ft. Bnj Harrison, Indianapolis, Manch & Durmstadt Germany | 1944-1947 |
Korean War: 1950 – 1953
| Narrator | Branch & Location of Service | Service Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cornmesser, Robert | U.S. Navy: USA, Manus Island, the Philippines, Subic Bay, Mindonau, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, Rome, Naples, Malta | 1944-1946, 1950-1952 |
| Coulter, Leroy | U.S. Air Force: USA, England, Vietnam | 1950-1970 |
| Daniel, Daniel | U.S. Navy and Reserves: Great Lakes, IL; Norfolk and Little Creek, VA | 1951-1955, 1955-1959 |
| Easter, Benjamin | U.S. Army: Muchen, Germany | 1953-1955 |
| Forrester, Richard | U.S. Air Force: Texas, Japan, Korea, Florida | 1951-1952 |
| Frey, Franklin | U.S. Army: Europe, Japan, Korea | 1951-1953 |
| Gates, Paul | U.S. Army: USA, Germany | 1950-1952 |
| Hammer, Janice | Military Wife (WWII and Korea) | 1942-1968 |
| Heinbaugh, William | U.S. Navy: USA, Port Huneme, Kwajalein, M3-Naval Amphibious base, Coronado | 1948-1952, 1958-1959 |
| Henley, Keith | U.S. Air Force: Germany, Norway, Pentagon, Alaska, Recruiting Duty | 1951-1973 |
| Kissinger, Keith | U.S. Army: Germany | 1951-1952 |
| Klingaman, Lynn | U.S. Army: USA, France, Germany | 1952-1955 |
| Leas, Robert | U.S. Army: Japan, Korea | 1953-1954 |
| *Loy, Grant | U.S. Marine Corps: USA & Japan | 1957-1960 |
| Pontzius, Wilma | WAVES (U.S. Navy) : San Diego, Great Lakes IN, Chicago | 1944-1946, 1950-1952 |
| Rohrer, Gene | U.S. Marine Corps: USA & Korea | 1950-1953 |
| Schrader, Jack | U.S. Marine Corps: Korea | 1951-1954 |
| Shaw, James | U.S. Navy: USS Titania KA13, Anchorage Alaska A099 [Aog9?], USS Cavalier APA-37, Hawaii, Yokohama, Sasebo, Japan & Korea | 1952-1955 |
| Strouse, Edgar John | U.S. Air Corps: Basic Miss, Johnson Island | 1944-1951 |
| Tarleton, William | U.S. Navy: Pacific | 1943-1945, 1947-1952 |
| Wilson, Ray | U.S. Marine Corps Reserves: Miami Fl, Cherry Point NC | 1948-1952 |
| Yaney, James | U.S. Army Medical Corps: Korea, Japan | 1953-1961 |
*Served between the Korean War and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War: 1961 – 1975
| Narrator | Branch & Location of Service | Service Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Alspaugh, James | U.S. Army: Ft. Knox Kentucky, Ft. Polk, Louisiana, Ft. Hood, Texas | 1966-1968 |
| Chivers, Craig | U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air National Guard: SC, NC, Cuban Missile Crisis, South Vietnam | 1961-2003 |
| Coulter, Leroy | U.S. Air Force: USA, England, Vietnam | 1950-1970 |
| Crabill, Roger | U.S. Army: USA, Vietnam | 1967-1969 |
| Davis, Larry | U.S. Marine Corps: Okinawa, Japan, Caribbean, Panama & Cuba | 1969-1972 |
| Davis, Tim | U.S. Marine Corps: Vietnam, DaNang | 1967-1968 |
| Disbrow, Charles | U.S. Air Force: Texas, Japan, Pakistan | 1962-1970 |
| Eckert, Richard | U.S. Air Force: Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Thailand, New Jersey | 1966-1970 |
| Hayes, Julia | Military Wife: France, Florida, Illinois, NY, Colorado, Puerto Rico, Indiana | 1960-1978 |
| Hayes, Michael | U.S. Air Force: U.S., France, Korea, Puerto Rico | 1958-1978 |
| Henley, Keith | U.S. Air Force: Germany, Norway, Pentagon, Alaska, Recruiting Duty | 1951-1973 |
| Hess, Richard | U.S. Army/Reserves: Ft. Knox, KY, Ft. Carson, CO., Vietnam | 1964-1969 |
| Hicks, William | U.S. Army: CONUS, S.E.A. USAREUR | 1966-1986 |
| Johnson, Ronald | U.S. Army: Korea | 1969-1970 |
| Koch, Richard | U.S. Air Force: Biloxi, Ms, Arkansas, and Crete Lubbock, Tx | 1964-1968 |
| Lehman, Harold | U.S. Army: Ft. Polk, Ft. Eustis, Qui Nhon RVN, Ft. Wayne; ANG USAF: Middle East, Africa, Panama | 1966-1972, 1973-2005 |
| Nowling, John | U.S. Army: An Khe, Vietnam, Ft. Campbell, KY | 1966-1968 |
| Robertson, Mike | U.S. Marine Corps: Okinawa, Vietnam, Pakistan | 1970-1974 |
| Tagtmeyer, Jeanne | U.S. Air Force: Chanute AFB, Cam Ranh Bay, SV, Cannon AFB, NM, Shaw AFB, SC, CCK AB, Taiwan | 1968-1975 |
Other Conflicts
| Narrator | Conflict, Branch & Location of Service | Video Length |
|---|---|---|
| Chivers, Craig | Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War; U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air National Guard: USA, Cuba, South Vietnam, England | 1961-196?, 198?-2003 |
| Cook, Chris | Operation Just Cause; U.S. Army: Ft. Ord, CA | 1989-1992 |
| Lehman, Harold C. | Vietnam War, Middle East, Africa and Panama | 1966-1972, 1973-2005 |
| McKown, Jason | Iraqi Freedom; U.S. Marine Corps: Kings Bay, GA, Camp Lejune, NC | 1999-2003 |
| Wentworth, Robert | Global War on Terror; U.S. Army Reserves: Ft. Wayne, IN, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan | 2000-2008 |
Whitley County Oral History
| Narrator | Area Discussed | Date Recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson, Betty | Larwill, Tri-Lakes | 10/1/2009 |
| Bailey, Ralph | Columbia City, WCCS | 9/22/2009 |
| Boardman, Tom | Coesse | 2/11/2010 |
| Bollinger, Marian | South Whitley | 11/16/2009 |
| Brittain, Robert | Columbia City | 3/23/2009 |
| Brown, Frances | Thorncreek, Columbia City | 5/5/2010 |
| Cassell, Robert | Columbia City, Larwill, S. Whitley | 8/6/2008 |
| City Hall of Columbia City | Told by Mayor Ryan Daniel | 12/12/2018 |
| Coyle, Rosie | City Clerk of Columbia City, Coesse | 12/13/2018 |
| Daniel, Daniel L. | Columbia City | 10/8/2008 |
| Fleck, Jim | Columbia City | 11/2/2011 |
| Geist, Joe | Tunker, Peabody, Columbia City | 1/26/2010 |
| Haworth, Dick | Whitley County Agriculture | 11/5/2009 |
| Heckman, Gene | Tri-Lakes, Thorncreek Township | 3/9/2010 |
| Heinley, Elmer & Helen | Columbia City | 9/17/2009 |
| Hively, Jeanie | Columbia City | 3/20/2012 |
| Hockemeyer, Gregg | Columbia City Legal Community | 12/21/2018 |
| Jefferson Home Extension Club | Churubusco, Columbia City, Laud | 3/5/2009 |
| Johnson, Bonnie | Columbia City, Laud | 11/19/2008 |
| Klingaman, Lynn | Rural Whitley County/Ag Museum | 9/8/2009 |
| Mathieu, Chuck | Churubusco | 12/1/2009 |
| McNagny, Patricia | Columbia City | 11/12/2009 |
| Metzger, Roger | Columbia City Basketball/Newspapers | 12/10/2009 |
| Myers, Mary J. | Collins, Churubusco | 4/29/2010 |
| Oliver, Jayne | Columbia City | 4/15/2013 |
| Overdeer, Bill | Columbia City, County Council | 4/15/2010 |
| Parker, Mark | Columbia City | 12/6/2018 |
| Parliamentary Law & Literary Club | Told by Marge Pence | 4/5/2010 |
| Passages, Inc | Told by Tom O’Neal and Alice Anderson, Columbia City | 3/7/2011 |
| Pontzius, Jon | Columbia City | 12/17/2009 |
| Pugh, Mary Alice | Columbia City | 8/27/2009 |
| Ramp, Richard & Viola | Columbia City | 9/25/2008 |
| Reed, Max | Columbia City | 3/16/2010 |
| Rosenberger, Janice | Laud, Jefferson Township | 2/16/2010 |
| Rothert, Dulanna | Tri-Lakes | 7/24/2008 |
| Rush, Mike | Whitley County Judicial System | 12/7/2018 |
| Schneider, Alice | Columbia City | 5/16/2016 |
| Schuman, Billie | Ormas, Etna, Columbia City | 10/8/2009 |
| Sexton, Roy | Columbia City | 11/24/2012 |
| Sexton, Susie | Columbia City | 10/4/2012 |
| Smith, C. Taron | Smith and Sons Funeral Home | 11/19/2018 |
| Smith, Nathan | Collamer | 3/23/2010 |
| Strouse, Mary Louise | Columbia City | 10/29/2009 |
| Tawasi Home Extension Club | Churubusco, Collins, Columbia City, Etna, Larwill, Tri-Lakes | 4/27/2009 |
| Trier, Vernon | Columbia City | 8/31/2009 |
| Wagner, Scott | Donated paintings | 5/24/2012 |
| Waterfall, Clark | Columbia City | 11/12/2008 |
| Whitley County Chamber of Commerce | Told by Jennifer Zartman Romano | 12/5/2018 |
| Whitley County Community Foundation | Told by September McConnell | 11/27/2018 |
| Whitley County Courthouse | Told by Bev Henley | 12/12/2018 |
| Whitley County Economic Development Corporation | Told by Jon Myers | 12/7/2018 |
| Whitley County Historical Museum | Annex (with Dani Tippmann) | 11/13/2018 |
| Whitley County Historical Museum | Marshall House (with Angie Maley) | 3/11/2010 |
| Whitley County Veteran’s Marathon | Told by Gary Bird | 11/29/2018 |
| Wineland, Don | Columbia City, Tri-Lakes | 10/22/2009 |