From Home Front to War Front: Documenting Veterans’ Experiences

Declaration and FlagI am proud to be an American, and on this Veterans Day, I am humbly reminded of the sacrifices that my fellow countrymen and women have made to ensure that the United States of America remains “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states: “The … observance of Veterans Day [on] November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date [the Armistice of WWI on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month], but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good” (for more information on the history of Veterans Day, visit http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp).

Living in southeastern North Carolina, I am surrounded by a U.S. military presence. The area is home to Camp LeJeune (Marines), Fort Bragg (Army), Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and U.S. Coast Guard stations. In the Wilmington area, a variety of landmarks also serve as visual reminders of the valor and selflessness of the nations’ veterans throughout history: Moore’s Creek National Battlefield preserves the significant Revolutionary War battle that occurred there, Fort Fisher and the Wilmington National Cemetery memorialize the Civil War engagements that dealt a critical blow to Southern supply lines, the majestic battleship U.S.S. North Carolina welcomes visitors aboard to learn about her crew’s impressive campaigns during WWII, and the frequent docking of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Diligence along the Cape Fear River represents our country’s continued protection of our coastal waters.

Yet on Veterans Day, it seems appropriate to take time to reflect on the service members themselves rather than on their general presence or the tours that the historical landmarks offer. As a personal historian, I am especially interested in individual experiences – not just what happened, but also what thoughts and emotions were intertwined with the events.

My father served in the Army National Guard for many years. I wish that he were here today so that I could ask him about his experiences at boot camp and the relief/assistance missions that he participated in here in the States. As it is, I am left with a few childhood memories of him teaching me how to march while chanting the cadence (“I don’t know but I’ve been told! … Sound off [1,2], Sound off [3,4]…”), showing me his bivouac gear and rations, and me proudly watching him as he marched with our town’s American Legion post in various parades. On a few occasions, he took me to “the Legion” – it was a treat for me because although I participated in the American Legion Little League program, I was typically only allowed on the ball fields, not inside the building itself. I loved to listen in on the adult conversations as I nibbled on french-fries and sipped a soft drink.

Today, my love of listening to, and reading about, others’ stories has not waned. I am intrigued by reading the diaries and love letters of soldiers (see http://www.teacheroz.com/WWII_Oral_History.htm for a great list) and I have been honored to help preserve the Air Force experiences of one of my clients.

If you possess a box filled with a relative’s war correspondence or journals, I encourage you to preserve them and make them accessible to other family members and the public in general. Photocopy the originals (if they are fragile or are showing signs of wear, first consult with a professional to avoid potential damage caused by the scanning process) and transcribe them into a Word document, which will make it easy to send to family members via email or to print multiple copies. Then contact your local historical society and library and offer to provide them with copies.

If you are fortunate enough to still be able to visit with a veteran, particularly one who is a family member, consider conducting a recorded oral interview (or a series of interviews). These recordings can also be transcribed into a written work, if so desired. Interviews are fun to do, and the result is priceless. The Veterans History Project is a fantastic resource to help you in this endeavor, plus it results in the preservation of your veteran’s experience within the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center (for more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/).

To any veterans reading this post, I want to say “thank you.” These two words seem so small, but they contain heartfelt gratitude for your willingness to defend this amazing country and its citizens.

A Case for Old-Fashioned Interaction
old photo album

Source: Creative Commons

There’s something special about blowing the dust off the lid of a faded box and slowly removing its contents. Immediately, you are transported back in time as you decipher handwritten letters, gaze at black-and-white photographs, and carefully inspect random memorabilia. It is even more rewarding to look through those treasures with loved ones as they reflect on their past experiences. The problem is that such moments are themselves becoming things of the past in our fast-paced, technological and far-flung world.

In today’s society, rather than taking the time to pen handwritten letters and cards, we opt to share our life experiences via social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter and send e-Cards. Instead of ordering double prints and painstakingly labeling the back of each photo before mailing them to friends and family, we digitally upload and share our pictures on photo storage sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly. It’s instantaneous and, many might argue, still reflects the same amount of consideration toward the recipient.

However, looking at something through a screen is a far cry from the sensory experience of actually holding an item in your hands. Take an old diary or journal, for example. Not only can you look at it closely at varying angles in order to decipher the handwriting, but you can touch it. You can feel the smoothness of the worn leather cover and the brittleness of the yellowing, stained pages. You can hear the gentle crinkle of the pages as they are turned and the soft whisper of an old photo or theater ticket as it falls to the floor. Depending on where the journal was stored or how old it is, you might detect the distinct smell of aging paper or even a trace scent of flowers from an old sachet.

It is undeniable that the Internet and technology offer us much in the way of communication, but we all crave face-to-face interaction occasionally. This is especially true for the oldest members of our society. Oftentimes, seniors wish to talk about their experiences and share their learned lessons with loved ones, but this actually only takes place, if at all, at holidays or other family get-togethers. These tend to be stressful times when many are distracted by the meal preparations, the big game on TV and exuberant children on a sugar rush.

It should come as no surprise, then, that my clients enjoy the dedicated one and two-hour intervals that we sit together; a time where they get to discuss, at length and uninterrupted, on the topics of their life experiences. Frequently, they get so excited about the process that they jot down notes in preparation for the next interview session, not wanting to overlook an important, amusing, or insightful event.

If you are fortunate enough to still have living grandparents and/or aging parents, try to take the time to sit and listen to them. You may need to ask a few questions to get them started, but you will soon discover how easily they relax and begin to engage you in their stories. Take notes, record the session and enjoy the experience. It will be treasured by each of you, as well as your descendants.