Prisoner of War Medal (left), Purple Heart (right)
Over 4 million American soldiers served during WWI. Today, only three U.S. WWI veterans remain. One is 106-year-old Frank Woodruff Buckles, who lives in Charles Town, W.Va. Underage but eager to join up, he lied about how young he was so he could go to war. He was only 16 years old but was undeterred after being turned away by many recruiters. After some fast talking, he convinced an Army recruiter to let him sign up.
WWI Veteran Frank Woodruff Buckles
I found and interviewed five veterans from WWI to the
current Iraq War. I wanted to learn about their experiences from different points of view -- men,
a woman, white, African-American, Latino. It was such an honor to spend time with these veterans, listen to their
heart-felt personal stories and see their war-time photographs.
I was struck by the number of veterans I interviewed who said the main reason they enlisted was to see more of the world. Something I learned that really struck me, was why servicemen and women are issued two dog tags. I guess all veterans know the reason, but it was sobering information to hear.
All veterans endured
hardships and faced danger. What does their service mean to you?
I compiled their stories in a handful of multimedia vignettes, using video, audio and still photos to tell their stories. Check it out, and let me
know what you think: Veterans Reflect on Service.
- Dave
- Dave
3 comments:
I too enlisted in the Navy when I was 17 in early 1945.Icould`nt wait for my Mother to sign for me. Though I did`nt see any action, I served my 12 weeks at
Sampson Naval Base,2 months in Boston,11 months in and out of Norfolk Va,
and 18 months in the Atlantic,North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. I was proud
to serve my time, and never regretted a minute. Tom Carey
Dave, this is an absolutely beautiful collection of veterans to focus on. My husbands and son all served in the Army in different time periods and I am very proud of their service.
I thoroughly enjoyed these recollections. Well done!
God Bless them all, I cannot imagine the amount of bravery and commitment it takes to do what they do. Lets not forget the brave men and women that are at this moment protecting our way of life and our freedoms.
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