Veterans' Voices

The Veterans' Voices Project is a combined effort by Wright State University’s Veteran and Military Center and local NPR station WYSO. Wright State Veteran students record video interviews of Veterans ranging from World War II to the current conflicts. These interviews are then stored in both The Library of Congress and Wright State University archives. All of the interviews are available for viewing at the Library of Congress and Wright State archives. Some of these interviews will be viewable on The Library of Congress website.

Another aspect to this project is our partnership with the local NPR affiliate WYSO. WYSO will be airing pieces for the national project known as “Veterans Coming Home.” These pieces will be about transitions and struggles that Veterans in the Dayton area have faced and overcome.

This project is conducted by Veterans, for Veterans. Many military service members have never told their story, this is their chance to do it. Recording and archiving these stories preserves them for future generations.

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Floyd Taylor Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Floyd Taylor and Adrian Hill

Floyd Taylor enlisted in the United States Air Force on October 13, 1982. Taylor served in Qatar, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and Turkey during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Provide Comfort. He was awarded two Air Force Commendation Medals, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Air Force Training Ribbon. Taylor left the Air Force on June 9, 1992 at the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Vince Taylor Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Verne Vincent Taylor and Adrian Hill

Verne Vincent (Vince) Taylor enlisted in the Army on March 2, 2005. He served with the 437th Military Police Battalion with the Ohio National Guard, the 2-4 Field Artillery Battalion, and the 214th Field Artillery Battle Damage Assessment (BDA). Taylor was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and won two Army Achievement Medals for his service. He attended Officer Candidate School after basic training. Taylor left the Army as a captain on January 10, 2014, but remains in the Ohio National Guard.
Arthur Teran Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Arthur Teran and Ericka Carter

Arthur Teran enlisted in the United States Air Force in August 1968. Mr. Teran served during the Vietnam War in Thailand and at Kincheloe Air Force Base in Michigan. Mr. Teran left the Air Force in 1972 with the rank of E-7.
Herbert Textor Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Herbert Textor Sr. and David Berry

Herbert Textor, Sr. enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1945. He worked in the machine shop on the USS Whitney, USS Jason, and the USS Kermit Roosevelt. He achieved the rank of Private 2nd Class. During his service he traveled to Tsingtao China, Philippines, and Hawaii.
A Veteran Reflects on Honor, Inclusion in the Era of Don't Ask Don't Tell

Jeremy L. Tkach

In the Air Force, there’s no higher enlisted level than what’s called E-9, and those who achieve E-9 are honored with their loved ones at a lavish ceremony. But for many LGBTQ service members and their partners, the military has not been inclusive.
To Cope with PTSD, One Veteran Focuses on Passion for Outdoor Living, Entrepreneurship

Jeremy L. Tkach

Today on Veterans Voices we hear from a Beavercreek Air Force veteran, Jason Evatt. He’s the founder of a web store called Airborne Outfitters, which makes and sells camping supplies. Evatt’s business grew out of his determination to overcome PTSD.
Rick Tober Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Rick Tober and David Berry

Richard “Rick” Tober enlisted in the United States Air Force in September 1966. Mr. Tober served with the 56th USAF Dispensary in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand during the Vietnam War. Mr. Tober left the Air Force in 1970 with the rank of Sergeant.
Pamela Toliver Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Pamela A. Toliver and Keturah Edwards

Pamela A. Toliver enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1980. She served during both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Toliver received the Air Force Commendation Medal. She was discharged with the rank of E-6 in 1994.
Michael Trantanella Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Michael Doyle Augustine Trantanella and Eric Wiete

Michael (Mike) Doyle Augustine Trantanella enlisted in the Army on October 11, 1980. He attended basic training at Ft. Leonard wood in Missouri, and was stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, Fort Riley in Kansas, and Camp Casey in Korea. Trantanella served with the 26C Ground Surveillance Radar Repair Unit, the First Infantry Division, and the Second Infantry Division. He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Drivers Badge. Trantanella left the Army as an E-4 on November 12, 1984.
Steven Umland Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Steven Umland and Ericka Carter

Steven Umland enlisted in the United States Air Force in April 1969. Mr. Umland served Task Force Alpha in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Mr. Umland left the Air Force in 1972 with the rank of Sergeant.
George A. Uribe Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

George A. Uribe and Amber Meyer

George A. Uribe was drafted into the United States Army in February 1966. He served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Mr. Uribe was based in Cam Ranh Bay where he drove a 5 ton truck. He left military service in 1967 as Specialist 4.
Michael Vanderveen Interview for Veterans' Voices Project

Michael Vanderveen and Ericka Carter

Michael Vanderveen enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on February 1968. Mr. Vanderveen served in the Vietnam War as an infantry rifleman with Alpha Company 1st Battalion 5th Marines. He was wounded several times during his service and received two purple hearts. After being severely wounded in combat Mr. Vanderveen was discharged from the Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal in November 1969.
Dan Ray Van Fossen Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Dan Ray Van Fossen and Jeniffer Seavey

Dan Ray Van Foss was drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He was part of the 101st Airborne Division and the 506th Infantry Regiment. He was discharged in 1988 having attained the rank of E5.
Clifford Wayne Waibel Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Clifford Wayne Waibel and Eric Wiete

Clifford Wayne Waibel enlisted in the United State Navy on July 28, 1943. He served on the SS San Antonio, the SS John Murray Forbes, and the SS Fleetwood as part of Convoy Duty in both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean during World War II. Waibel was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was discharged from the Navy on April 16, 1946 at the rank of Seaman (1C).
Charles ‘Pete’ Wallace Interview for Veterans' Voices Project

Charles Pete Wallace and Jeremy L. Tkach

Charles ‘Pete’ Wallace enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in may of 2000. He was deployed to Iraq and served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. After leaving the Marines Mr. Wallace joined the United States Air Force stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
James Wandell Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

James Wandell and Katie Bradshaw

James Wandell enlisted in the United States Army in September 1962. Mr. Wandell served with the Army Security Agency in Korea until 1965 where he achieved the rank of E-5. He then served in the U. S. Army Reserves until leaving in 1978 with the rank of CWO2.
James Ward Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

James Ward and Ericka Carter

James H. Ward was drafted into the United States Navy in 1944. Mr. Ward served during World War 2 aboard the USS Alhena during the Battle of Saipan and at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Mr. Ward was discharged from the Navy in 1945.
Edward Weaver Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Edward Weaver and Jeremy L. Tkach

Edward "Eddie" Weaver joined the United States Air Force in January 2006 as a commissioned officer. He achieved the rank of Captain. Weaver served during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Deep Water Horizon, and EUCOM Campaign. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal (2), Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal (2). During Weaver’s service, he was stationed at San Angelo, TX; Maxwell Air Force Base; Spokane, WA; Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan; Germany; and Dayton, OH. He left the military in September 2012.
Robert Weisgarber Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Robert L. Weisgarber and David Berry

Robert L. Weisgarber enlisted in the United States Army on September 5, 1970. He was stationed in South Korea; Valley Forge, PA; Indian Head, MD; and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He achieved the rank of Specialist 5 (E5) and was a member of two Explosive Ordnance Disposal Units. He received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He left military service on April 5, 1973.
Joe Weist Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Joe Weist and Adrian Hill

Joe Weist enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard. He served in Ohio and Fort Campbell, KY. He achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Edward Wheat II Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Edward Wheat II and Ericka Carter

Edward Wheat enlisted in the United States Army in 1962. Mr. Wheat served primarily in Kanghwa-Do, Korea with the 266^th and 508^th U. S. Army Security Agency group during the early years of the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Mr. Wheat left the Army in 1964 having achieved the rank of specialist E-5.
Dorian White Interview for Veterans' Voices Project

Dorian White and Jeremy Tkach

Dorian White enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2001. He served in Germany, Korea, Wyoming and Iraq. He became a Phoenix Raven, trained as an Air Marshall and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. White left active duty in 2009 and joined the Reserves. He reclassified into military intelligence in 2013.
Dennis Wince Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Dennis M. Wince and David L. Morse

Dennis Wince joined the United States Army in May 1988 as a commissioned officer after graduating from the United States Military Academy. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Wince served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. He retired from the military in October 2010.
Edward Witt Jr. Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Edward Witt Jr. and David L. Morse

Edward J. Witt Jr. enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1956. Mr. Witt served in Adak, Alaska, Japan, Guam and Nakhon Phanom, Thailand during the Vietnam War. He earned many medals and service awards over the course of his long career. Mr. Witt retired from the United States Navy in July 1986 having achieved the rank of Master Chief Aircraft Maintenance man.
Chuck Worm Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Chuck M. Worm and Eric Wiete

Charles (Chuck) M. Worm, served in the Air Force from July 29, 1962 to October 31, 1988. He served with the Strategic Air Command 305th Bomb Wing, the 3rd Air Division (Guam), the 305th Air Refueling Wing, a Reconnaissance AK wing, the Aircraft Engineering Division, and the Air Force Coordination Office for Logistics. He was stationed at Grissom AFB, Anderson AFB, Eielson AFB, Offutt AFB, and Wright-Patterson AFB. Worm retired from the Air Force with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.