Dispatches from the Veterans History Project

Independence—Dispatch July 2, 2009

Independence is perhaps most appreciated by those who have lived in captivity.

Rhonda Cornum served in the brief and lopsided Persian Gulf War. It may be surprising that there were actually American prisoners of war, but Cornum was one. She served with an Attack Helicopter Battalion as a medical officer, went down in a helicopter crash, and was held by the Iraqis for seven days. She drew on her training as both a soldier and doctor to survive her brief but painful ordeal.

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets.

Born on the Fourth of July—Dispatch July 4, 2009

As we mark July 4th as a day to celebrate our independence, we invite you to listen to the story of WWII veteran Warren Tsuneishi.

Warren Tsuneishi was born on July 4, 1921, to Japanese immigrants. After Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered World War II, his family was evacuated to Heart Mountain, a Japanese internment facility in Wyoming. But Tsuneishi craved freedom and the chance to serve his country, in spite of his family's confinement. He volunteered for the Military Intelligence Service Language School and served in the Pacific, translating captured documents that gave U.S. forces a big advantage in securing the Philippines and Okinawa.

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets.

Tears in the Darkness - Dispatch June 23, 2009

Book Talk at the Library of Congress on Friday, June 26, 2009, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM.

Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath is about World War II, in the tradition of All Quiet on the Western Front and Hiroshima.

Authors Michael and Elizabeth Norman will discuss their powerfully original book about the battle for the tiny Philippine peninsula of Bataan.

Interested parties in or near Washington, DC, are invited to join us in the West Dining Room, 6th Floor of the James Madison Building (101 Independence Ave., SE). The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations required.

Sponsored by the Asian Division Friends Society, Embassy of the Philippines, Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, and the Library of Congress Professional Association Veterans Forum.

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets.

D-Day: 65th Anniversary--Dispatch June 5, 2009

As the 65th anniversary of D-Day approaches, we invite you to listen to some of the personal accounts of those who were there.

Next to December 7, 1941, the most memorable date in the history of World War II is June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. Thanks to German miscalculations, the invasion met much less resistance than thought possible. D-Day marked the beginning of the end of the war in Europe, though it would rage on for another 11 months. Here are stories of men who stormed those beaches, who directed the landings, who sailed or flew in support of the invasion, who parachuted or piloted gliders into France on the night of June 5, and who arrived in the days after June 6 (D-Day Plus 1, etc.) to continue the perilous work of pushing back and defeating the German Army.

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets.

Unhealed Wounds - Dispatch May 22, 2009

To start the Memorial Day weekend, the Veterans History Project launches its latest Experiencing War presentation, “Disabled Veterans: The Unhealed Wounds.”

Among the stories featured is that of Connie Spinks, who served in Iraq with a U.S. Army civil affairs battalion. A suicide bomber set off his charge next to her armored vehicle, and the explosion ejected, severely injuring her and burning her face. She spent four months in a wheelchair before she could walk on her own. Spinks received her Purple Heart from a very special fan of the military-movie star Denzel Washington. More stories like this at www.loc.gov/vets

The GI Film Festival - Dispatch May 14, 2009

Two Films recently screened at the Library of Congress will be part of the GI Film Festival.

The Wars We Fought is a documentary produced by Congressman Ed Perlmutter and the Community College of Aurora, which features interviews of veterans from ColoradoÃ¢ÂÂs 7th District.

Lioness is the story of the first group of women soldiers in US history to be sent into direct ground combat.

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets.

Tracy Sugarman Lecture and Book Signing-Dispatch May 1, 2009

The Library of Congress American Folklife Center presents the Benjamin Botkin Folklife Lecture Series, an Acquisitions & Preservations Project.

Tracy Sugarman (WWII veteran who recorded his personal story of military experience for the Veterans History Project) will talk about and sign his latest book.

We Had Sneakers, They Had Guns: The Kids Who Fought for Civil Rights in Mississippi.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 12:00-1:00 PM
WHERE: Mumford Room Sixth Floor, James Madison Memorial Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave, SE

Those in the DC Metropolitan area on May 5th are encouraged to attend.

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets.