VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT CLIPS
Scroll down to see edited video clips of full movies about these veterans
that are stored at the Library of Congress.
SGT. DON ELVERD...
Dr. Don Elverd, a licensed psychologist who works exclusively with veterans addicted to alcohol or other drugs, started out as a middle class kid from Iowa who, as a young infantry sergeant, experienced the life-wrenching forces of combat at the height of the Vietnam War. His story is compelling because he survived wounds that kept him in a hospital 22 months after he left the battlefield, and now he uses this experience to help others cope and thrive.
1stLT BOB WEINER...
Bob Weiner was a farm boy from Minnesota who fell in love with flying airplanes after an exhilarating ride as a 16 year old with a barnstorming pilot who landed a Jenny bi-plane once near his farm. When he was old enough, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps (the predecessor of the Air Force) and found himself preparing for the invasion of Japan toward the end of World War II. His exploits as a pilot during the occupation taught him leadership skills that he used throughout his life as a chemist working for a large corporation.
CRPL JACK ZEIPEN...
Jack Zeipen was a young man in Minnesota who volunteered for service in the US Army just as World War II broke out and America was gearing up for a two-front war. He became a clerk immediately upon entering service and went through North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Belgium taking care of the administrative needs of the men in his anti-aircraft unit. Jack used his skills as a "people person" to continue his contact with many of his comrades after the war and served in positions of leadership in the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations to help with veterans' adjustments to civilian life.
Pvt David Chastain...
David Chastain, a professor where I also teach, is an odd addition to the Veterans History Project work...He was a Conscientious Objector.
David enlisted into the US Army as a young man without a clear idea as to what he wanted to do with his life. He felt pressure from his family to do so, but he also bought into the idea the recruiter was telling him the truth that he wouldn't have to go into a war zone and try to kill the enemy. David was opposed to that. The Vietnam War was raging in the early 1970s when he went into the process of becoming a soldier. But, soon after he got into basic training he realized that not only was this life not for him, but that his recruiter had lied to him...he was destined for an infantry position and sure to go to Vietnam. The rest is in his story here.
It's only an audio file, and it is about an hour long...so sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy.