a preservation legacy inc. 501(C)3 initiative

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Interview with US Army Vietnam Veteran, Leonard "Doc" Brooks, Combat Medic. 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Bn. 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds) C.R.I.P. Combined Reconnaissance Intelligence Platoon 1967-68. Served in USARMY 1961-1975. Visit Brooks' website honoring "The Mighty 10",  ten soldiers K.I.A. on February 11, 1968. (USArmy records KIA date of February 12, 1968.) Lt. Michael W. Embody; Sgt. Bruce G.  Howerter; Sgt. Donnie Joe Malar; SP4 Ralph E. Peters; SP4 Robert L. Hughes; SP4 Ulysses Stewart; SP4 William F. Joiner; SP4 Robert M. Nix; SP4 Gerald A. Tucker.

Listen to : "Doc" Leonard Brooks, November 4, 2024 special guest on ArtXfm radio program, Voices of Valor. www.artxfm.com/vets

Interviewed on 01/30/2022 in Austin, Texas for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.  Interviewer: Susan Caolo

https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.121744/

Michael Lambert III served in USMC from June 1966 to June 1972. Hue was hit by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops at 2:00am January 31st, 1968. Lambert and his two rifle squads were guarding two bridges, essential resupply routes, on National Route 1 south of the Pay Bai combat base. The enemy opened up their attack with mortars and a ground assault. The Marines held both bridges. The TET OFFENSIVE had begun for Hotel Company 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in spades! On February 2nd, their new assignment was to saddle up and move into Hue. Lambert shares his detailed account of intense, continuous street fighting and being wounded by schrapnel from an 82 mm round. Lambert and two other wounded officers, the Skipper, Captain Ron Christmas and Platoon Commander, Ken Kromer were med-evaced to the Navy Hospital at Phi Bai. Christmas and Kromer were transferred to hospitals out of the country. When Hotel Company First Sergeant Uriegas informed Lambert that he was the only remaining officer in country and that Hotel was still engaged in heavy fighting in Hue, he checked out of the hospital, rejoined his company and continued intense urban fighting. Listen to hear more of Lambert's vivid account of this major battle.  

Susan Caolo conducted interview on October 7, 2022 . All interview materials are archived and accessible at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Washington, DC. 

Michael Lambert is a member of Chapter 576 Military Order of the Purple Heart. Visit: https://www.purpleheart.org ; Michael and his wife, Peggy, have six children and twenty-eight grandchildren.

Interview with Jim Mathis, USMC veteran conducted on 12-13-2017 for NPS Kennesaw Mtn. National Battlefield Park and Library of Congress Veterans History Project.Lebanon Operation 1958. 54 minutes. In Memoriam. Interviewer: Susan Caolo

Veterans History Project Interview with Charles "Chuck" Cape, Vietnam US Army Veteran. interviewed 01-15-2020. (see Audio section above, Part 1, audio only)

Part 2, video and audio recorded June 3, 2020 during Covid via Zoom for the Library of Congress Veterans' History Project.  The CHARLES "CHUCK" CAPE COLLECTION at Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.120100/#item-service_history

Interviewer: Susan Caolo, ethnographer / anthropologist

Interview USMC BERNARD "BERNIE" EVELER, 1ST LT - 1953-1973 054VHP: Interview with Vietnam veteran, BERNARD "BERNIE" EVELER , U.S. MARINE CORPS. Bernie Eveler served in the USMC from 3rd Battalion; 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division and numerous other units.  EVELER served duty as Embassy Guard, Istanbul, Turkey; Marine Baracks, Morocco; MCAS Beaufort, SC. Drill Instructor at Parris Island; 2nd Battalion 5th Marine RVN; 2n Battalion, 23rd Marine, CA; 4th LaamBn, 29 Palms; Marine Baracks San Francisco, CA. Commissioned under the Outstanding Leadership Program.   Battles/Campaigns: Starlight; Utah; Texas; Prairie RVN 1965-1966. Medals: Combat Action Ribbon; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; Drill Instructor Ribbon; Embassy Guard Ribbon.  

Bernie remains active with Marine Veterans organizations and is newsletter editor for the L/CPL Squire "Skip" Wells Marine Corps League Detachment 647 in Marietta GA. Visit: https://mcl647.org/index.html

Interview conducted by Susan Caolo, ethnographer/oral historian, December 5th, 2023 in Hiram, Georgia. Additional clip recorded January 6th, 2024. All interview materials are archived and accessible at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Washington, DC. Visit: www.loc.gov/vets

050VHP: Interview with WWII and Korean War Veteran, RICHARD P. STROUD SR., LT. JG; Richard served in the USNAVY from Oct. 6, 1947 to June 30, 1961. He volunteered at age 17, went through GUNNERY school, got his combat aircrew wings and was getting on an aircraft carrier just as WWII ended. Then signed up for the HOLLAWAY V5 Program;  Flight training at Pensacola, FL; got his GOLD WINGS as Ensin. Went to VS-32 AIR ANTI SUBMARINE SQUADRON 32 at Norfolk, VA. was scheduled to go to Korea in 1950, but then FBI selected him for a COVERT MISSIONS on US East Coast where Russian Submarines were violating the 12 mile International Zone. STROUD's 24 plane squadron flew 24/7. Richard flew from aircraft carrier 100+ Take Offs and Landings and 500 nights,  searched 950,000 miles.    Interview conducted by SUSAN CAOLO on Friday, April 21, 2023 in Acworth Georgia and contributed to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Washington D.C.  Link to R. Stroud's Collection: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.125243/#item-service_history

(addl.: Operation Song produced "Good Co Pilot"  on YouTube, to honor STROUD'S miraculous landing on his aircraft carrier during a Category Four Hurricane. https://youtu.be/lV3r2Mg3QEA

038VHP: Interview with Vietnam War veteran, ANTHONY "Tony" GASPER, Captain, U.S. MARINE CORPS. Tony served in the USMC from Dec. 21, 1968 to May 31, 1975.  

Dec. 1968 to July 1969:The Basic School, Class 6-69 ( Hotel Company) Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA. July 1969-Oct. 1969 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (Platoon Commander), 1st Marine Division, Republic of Vietnam.  Feb. 1970-Oct. 1970: Headquarters Company (S-3 Watch Officer), 1st Marines Division, Republic of Vietnam. Oct. 1970-Dec. 1972: Officer Candidate School (Staff officer), Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA.  Dec. 1972 -Nov. 1974: 3rd Battalion (Company Commander twice, then S-4), 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC. Nov. 1974-May 1975: 2nd Motor Transport Battalion (Company Commander), 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC. 

Tony is an active member of The Marine Corps League - L/CPL SQUIRE "SKIP" WELLS Detachment #647 in Marietta, Georgia ( www.mcl647.org ) Renamed to honor L/Cpl Squire "Skip" Wells who was a native of Cobb County, Georgia. He was one of the 5 servicemen killed in the terrorist attack on the reserve center in Chattanooga, TN on July 16, 2015.   Tony and his wife, Betty, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Their son is a USMC veteran who served two tours in the Iraq War.  Their grandson is currently serving in the USMC. 

Interview was conducted by Susan Caolo on April 18, 2023 in Marietta, Georgia and is archived and accessible at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Washington, DC. 

(Interview 2 of 2) 042VHP VINCENT "VINNIE" ESPOSITO, U.S. MARINE CORPS, KOREAN WAR. February 6, 1951-March 1952. Areas of Service: Korea; Albany, Georgia. Rank: Sergeant. Medals / Awards: Korean Service Medal; National Defense Service; Korean Defense Service; Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation; United Nations Service Medal; Republic of Korea War Service. Birthplace: St. Albans, New York. 

Interview conducted by Susan Caolo, April 21, 2023 in Acworth, Georgia. Interview contributed to the Library of Congress  Veterans History Project in Washington D.C. for current and future generations. Visit: www. loc.gov/vets 

028VHP  EARL PORTER III, US ARMY,  Captain / Ranger / 1st - 64th Combined Arms Battalion; 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Operation Iraqi Freedom (2010); Operation Enduring Freedom (2012); Locations: Mosul, Iraq; Kandahar, Afghanistan; Ft. Benning, Ga.; Ft. Steward, GA.   Medals / Service Awards: Afghan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star; Bronze Star; Army Commendation Medal (3x)/ Global War on Terrorism / Iraqi Campaign Medal/ Overseas Service Ribbon/ Nato Medal. Special Duties: Rifle Platoon Leader; Ranger Tab; Parachutist Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Scout Platoon Leader (AFG); Senior Platoon Trainer Post-military, Porter established a non-profit organization, Something Outta Nothing to raise support and awareness about veterans suicide. Visit: www.son.vet  This interview was conducted by Susan Caolo at the Library of Congress on December 2nd, 2021 and archived at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Washington, DC.  Visit: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.120666/ , www.loc.gov/vets   

BE SURE TO READ EARL'S IMPORTANT  ARTICLE : https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2023/06/one-way-to-mitigate-the-risk-of-post-traumatic-stress/

Paul Hampton West, USARMY, 1st Lt.;  Korean War; Heartbreak Ridge; 

Company E, 14th Infantry Regiment; 25th Infantry Brigade

Interview Excerpt 14 minutes with daughter, Myra Cox: Interview with Paul Hampton West Jr., US Army, Korean War. Conducted on 03/06/2020 in Acworth, Georgia for the Library of Congress Veteran's History Project. Visit: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.120094/

 Interviewer: Susan Caolo

Library of Congress Veterans History Project: www.loc.gov/vets