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Collection Veterans History Project Collection

Wars in Iraq (2003-2011) and Afghanistan (2001-2021)

Though the Iraq War and the Afghan War had not yet occurred when the Veterans History Project was created in 2000, over the last 20 years, veterans of these wars have contributed a significant number of collections to our archives. The following curated presentations feature collections from veterans who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our Research Guides, StoryMaps, and blog posts (Afghan War and Iraq War) provide additional ways to explore the collections.

20 Years of Service: Post-9/11 Veterans The Veterans History Project collections highlighted here provide insight into the personal and individual experiences of American service members during an era defined by memories of 9/11, multiple overseas deployments, and the constant struggle to adapt technology and techniques to uncertain environments.
21st Century Conflicts: Afghanistan and Iraq In this presentation, we turn our eye to those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While these 21st century veterans have navigated unforeseen challenges, their stories also illustrate the constants of the universal military experience, and give voice to today’s human experience of war.