Military History

The Veterans History Project

The Veterans History Project (VHP) collected and preserved the remembrances of American war veterans and civilian workers who supported them.  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 also made available to all here at the library in the Indiana Room.  Please note that the hard copies in the Indiana Room cannot be checked out and are only accessible during library hours.  If you would like to share your valuable stories please contact us at (260) 244-5541 or e-mail us with your request.

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World War II – Sep 01, 1939 – Sep 02, 1945

World War II Oral History

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 – Jun 25, 1950 – Jul 27, 1953

Korean War Oral History

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 – Nov 1, 1955 – Apr 30, 1975

Vietnam Oral History

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