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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Dayton Codebreaker Highlights Pride in Contribution to WWII

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

For some who serve in the military, their work is top secret, and the contribution they make to national security may never be publicly known. The WYSO Veterans' Voices series tells the story of Army veteran John Harshman who, unbeknownst to him, helped crack the code of the German Enigma machines. Those machines were used to encrypt secret messages during World War II.
Different Generations of Veterans on Learning to Share their Stories

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

Jeremy Dobbins served four years as an infantry rifleman in Afghanistan, and when he got out in 2012 he found it difficult to talk to people about his military experience. But when he was ready, he chose to tell his stories to an old family friend from Springfield named Charlie Dyke. Jeremy had joined the Marine Corps at age 17. Charlie enlisted during World War II shortly after his 18th birthday. Both men returned to Springfield after their service ended to raise families and begin new lives.
Finding Direction through Deployment

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

Veteran Harold Wright found direction in life as a result of his military service. During the Korean War, Harold was stationed in Japan. During his time there, Harold fell in love with the language and culture. Today, Wright is an award-winning poet and translator of the Japanese language.
Parenting During Deployment

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

One of most challenging times for young children in military families is the deployment of a parent. The Veterans' Voices series examines a doctor’s separation from her newborn daughter, and the unique challenges she faced as a mother in the military.
Post 9-11 Veterans Reflect on their Call To Service

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

Many veterans joined the military in the days and years following September 11, 2001. Several are returning to civilian life. For some it’s an easy transition. For others, it’s far more complicated.
Presidential Ceremonial Guards Members Serve Prestigious, Somber Occasions

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

There’s a small group of statuesque men and women we always see at this country’s most prestigious military ceremonies. In the Navy, they’re called the Presidential Ceremonial Guard. This elite team is carefully chosen for their appearance and fortitude. Corey Yoder, Navy veteran, speaks about his experience with the Guard.
Pride and Protest: A Veteran and An Activist Discuss the American Flag

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

When President-elect Donald Trump visited Vandalia earlier this year, a young man named Tommy DiMassimo rushed the stage. He was arrested and sentenced to one year’s probation. This month, a Federal judge ended that probation early without objection from the Department of Justice. Tommy DiMassimo is an activist, and before the Trump incident, he participated in a march at Wright State University protesting racism and police brutality where he stood on an American flag. Many veterans were outraged. Marine Corp veteran and Wright State student Jeremy Dobbins of Springfield was there, and upset by the demonstration. Our Veterans’ Voices series continues with a conversation between Jeremy and Tommy, who despite their differences, agreed to talk about that contentious day.
Two Generations of Marine Corps Veterans Discuss Race in the Military

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

The Veterans’ Voices series continues with a cross-generational conversation about racism. For some recruits, the military is the first time they have to confront their own prejudices, and live and work with people different from themselves. Here’s Marine Corps veteran and Wright State student Jeremy Dobbins of Springfield, and Marine Corps and Vietnam veteran, Jay Blunt of Dayton.
Veterans Gain Clarity, Control Over PTSD through Adventure Sport

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

The Veterans’ Voices series concludes with a conversation about the therapeutic benefits of adventure sports. Marines Corp veteran and Wright State student Jeremy Dobbins of Springfield spoke to fellow Marines Corp veteran C. Michael Fairman about coping with PTSD, and climbing the world's tallest mountain.
Veterans, War Correspondents Find Common Ground

Jeremy Dobbins and Will Davis

This story begins Season 3 of Veterans Voices’, stories about local military veterans produced by student veterans at Wright State University. Last year, NPR Veterans Correspondent Quil Lawrence visited Wright State to talk to students about his experiences as a war correspondent. He spoke to Marine Corps veteran, and Wright State student Jeremy Dobbins of Springfield about what they have in common.
Bruce Dodds Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Bruce Dodds and Ericka Carter

Bruce Dodds enlisted in the United States Air Force January 1969. Mr. Dodds served in Thailand at Nakhon Phanom during the Vietnam War where he loaded bombs and munitions onto A-1 and F-4 aircraft. He left the Air Force in 1972 holding the rank of E-4.
Dalvin Donovan Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Dalvin Donovan and David Berry

Dalvin E. Donovan was drafted into the United States Army Air Corps and served as a Crew Navigator in the 39th Bomb Group. All of his missions flew out of Guam. He served during World War II and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant.
George Downing Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

George Downing and David Berry

George Downing joined the United States Navy in 1963. He served in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan. He was discharged 1969.
Herbert E. Dregalla, Jr. Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Herbert E. Dregalla Jr. and Adrian Hill

Herbert E. Dregalla, Jr. enlisted in the Army in 1969. He served in the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, NY. He left the army in December 1971 after achieving the rank of Specialist 5.
Henry Drexler Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Henry Drexler and Adrian Hill

Henry Drexler entered the United States Navy on January 10, 1951. He served as a fireman and with the maintenance crew as part of the Command Submarine Force Pacific while stationed at Pearl Harbor, HI. Drexler left the Navy on October 10, 1952, after achieving the rank of MEGFN.
William Duffy Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

William Duffy and Katie Bradshaw

William Duffy enlisted in the United States Air Force in March 1966. Mr. Duffy served with the 301^st Air Refueling Wing at Lackland Air Base in Texas and in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Mr. Duffy left the Air Force in 1970 with the rank of Airman E-4.
Roger Durant Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Roger Durant and David Morse

Roger Durant enlisted in the United States Air Force in July 1966. Mr. Durant served with the 23^rd Tactical Air Support Squadron in Thailand and with the 366^th Gunfighters in Đà Nẵng during the Vietnam War. Mr. Durant left the Air Force in 1970 having achieved the rank of Sergeant.
James Dwyer Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

James Dwyer and Ericka Carter

James Dwyer was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1970. Mr. Dwyer served at Chʻing-chʻüan Kang Air Base in Taiwan where he flew missions during the Vietnam War from 1971 through 1975. He then served in Japan, Los Angeles and the Philippines. Mr. Dwyer retired from the Air Force in 1992 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Keturah Edwards Interview for Veterans' Voices Project

Keturah Edwards, Ericka Carter, and Jeremy L. Tkach

Keturah Elaine Natividad Edwards enlisted in the United States Navy in February 2010. She served aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) and the USS Boxer (LHD-4). Ms. Edwards left the Navy in August 2015.
Robert "Bob" Eisenach Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Robert "Bob" Eisenach, James C. Mitchell Jr., and Jeffrey D. Briggs

Robert "Bob" Eisenach accepted a commission in the United States Navy on November 11, 1942. He was assigned to the 7th Amphibious Fleet as a Deck Officer on an LST 245 ship in New Guinea and the Philippines. Eisenach participated in the Battle of Corregidor in May 1945, and was part of the Invasion of Japan in October 1945. Robert Eisenach was discharged in July 1946 at the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Tammie Ellerbe Interview for Veterans' Voices Project

Tammie Ellerbe and Ericka Carter

Tammie Nicole Ellerbe was commissioned into the United States Air Force in November 1996. She served at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona and Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Ms. Ellerbe was deployed to Al-Udeid Air Force Base in Qatar as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. She retired from the Air Force in 2018.
Thomas Eubanks Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Thomas Eubanks and David Berry

Thomas Eubanks was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 and transferred to the Army Air Force several months later. He achieved the rank of Staff Sargent E-6. Eubanks served as a tail gunner in the Army Air Force during World War II. He was a member of the 388^th Bomb Group, 562^nd Squadron. He left military service in November 1945.
Jim Fincher Interview for Veterans' Voices Project

Jim Fincher and Jeniffer Seavey

James C. Fincher was commissioned into The United States Air Force in January 1965. Mr. Fincher was in medical service in various locations including Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. He retired from the Air Force in 1989.
John Foltz Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

John Foltz and Ericka Carter

John Foltz enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 1965. Mr. Foltz served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War where he was involved in counter insurgency operations, operation canyon and the Tet Offensive. Mr. Foltz left the Marine Corps in 1968 having achieved the rank of Colonel.
Marylyn Fortson Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project

Marylyn Fortson and Ericka Carter

Marylyn Fortson enlisted in the United States Air Force in April 1975. Ms. Fortson served at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, working in air traffic control and eventually in legal services. Ms. Fortson served at Alconbury in the United Kingdom, Yokota Air Base in Japan and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Ms. Fortson retired from the Air Force in 1997 having achieved the rank of Master Sergeant.