Most of the veterans represented within the Veterans History Project survived their time in the military, returning home safely to be reunited with their friends and family. Some collections, however, tell different stories—of lives lost too early and loved ones left to cope with these tragic losses. In honor of Memorial Day 2024, we present 15 collections of fallen servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Each of these collections narrates the experiences of an individual who died during their service. Some of these stories are told through personal correspondence, diaries, and photographs. Other collections include oral history interviews collected under the auspices of the Gold Star Families Voices Act, which offers surviving immediate family members the opportunity to share the story of their loved one with the Veterans History Project. No matter the medium, these collections honor and illuminate the lives and memories of the fallen, ensuring that their legacies will endure long after their deaths.
John Wesley Barbee Collection
Sergeant, Marine Corps, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Vietnam; Parris Island, South Carolina; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Mediterranean Sea; Okinawa, Japan.
Contributor:
Barbee, John Wesley - 50th Public Affairs Detachment - Greaves, Jason
Mark Ryan Black Collection
Lance Corporal, Marine Corps, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - San Diego, California; Camp Pendleton, California; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Philippines; Cam Lo, Vietnam; Dong Ha, Vietnam; Hue, Vietnam.
Contributor:
Black, Mark Ryan - Lugar, Richard - Black, Paul - U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Contributor:
Library of Congress - Ward, Kerry - Veterans History Project - Christmas, Todd Tyler
Date:2001
personal narrative
William E. Cordero Collection
Major, Air Force, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Oxnard Air Force Base, California; Clark Air Force Base, Philippines; Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
Contributor:
Shannon Mast - Cordero, William E. - Farrar, Mike - American Red Cross, Greater Long Beach Chapter
Edwin Daniel Groce Collection
Sergeant, Army Air Forces/Corps, World War, 1939-1945 - Camp Upton, New York; Miami Beach, Florida; Tyndall Field, Florida; Sheppard Field, Texas; Washington; Santa Ana Army Air Base, California; Ellington Field, Texas; Lincoln,…
Contributor:
Groce, Edwin Daniel - Groce, Nancy
Date:1943
personal narrative
Marisol Heredia Collection
Specialist, Army, Iraq War, 2003-2011 - Fort Hood, Texas; Baghdad, Iraq; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Lee, Virginia.
Contributor:
Veterans History Project - Library of Congress - Ward, Kerry - Heredia, Marisol
Robert Harlan Horr Collection
Flight Officer, Army Air Forces/Corps, World War, 1939-1945 - Stuttgart Army Air Field, Arkansas; Crookston, North Dakota; Okmulgee, Oklahoma; South Plains Army Air Field, Lubbock, Texas; Bowman Field, Louisville, Maxton Army Air…
Contributor:
Horr, Robert Harlan - Evans, Mary E. - Herbert Hoover Presidential Library
Date:1942
personal narrative
Dennis Keith Martin Collection
Corporal, Army, Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - Fort Polk, Louisiana; Oakland, California; Fire Base (FB) Patton, FB Devens, FB Jackson, FB Kon Tum, Sugar Mill, Cu Chi and Dau Tieng, Vietnam; Cambodia.
Contributor:
Martin, Dennis Keith - Martin, Barbara S.
Date:1969
personal narrative
George Washington Pearcy Collection
Second Lieutenant, Army, World War, 1939-1945 - Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Camp Robinson, Arkansas; Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippines; Clark Field, Philippines; Nichols Field, Philippines; Fort McKinley, Philippines; Cabanatuan, Philippines; Bilibid…
Contributor:
Pearcy, Glen - Pearcy, George Washington
David M. Tapper Collection
Petty Officer First Class, Navy, Afghan War, 2001- - Florida; San Diego, California; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Afghanistan; Australia; England; Taiwan; Puerto Rico. Navy, Iraq War, 2003-2011 - Iraq.
Contributor:
Pagano, Tom - Veteran Affairs of Camden County - Tapper, David M. - Klein, Adam
Contributor:
American Red Cross, Greater Long Beach Chapter - Wade, Ernest Marion - Farrar, Mike
Date:1931
personal narrative
Robert Barnes Ware Collection
Captain, Army, World War, 1939-1945 - Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia; Florida; England; Omaha Beach, Normandy, France.
Contributor:
Ware, Robert Barnes - Ware, Robert B.
