Below are the Veteran oral history interviews from the Making History Project. Our Veteran oral history interviews seek to cover Veterans from all eras, including World War II, Korea, Cold War, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the present. No story is too small or unimportant. Our mission is to leave no Veteran behind.
We regularly upload new oral history interviews so please check back frequently to see more. You can also subscribe to the Making History YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new interviews are uploaded.
To preserve these memories for the future, the Making History Project will archive the Veteran oral history interviews with the United States Library of Congress and the University of Florida Samuel Proctor Oral History Program.
If you are a Veteran, or know of a Veteran, who would be interested in providing an oral history interview and receiving a digital copy of the same, please contact us.
Merritt Kenneth Rock - WWII Veteran (First Interview)WWII Veteran Kenneth Rock Merritt was interviewed in La Fiere, Normandy, France on June 5, 2014. Sergeant Rock Merritt is an American Paratrooper from the 508 P.I.R. of the 82nd Airborne who jumped into Normandy during WWII for the D-Day invasion. Rock commanded a heavy machine gun squad during WWII and also jumped for Operation Market Garden. Rock became the honorary Command Sergeant Major for the 82nd Airborne.
Merritt Kenneth Rock - WWII Interview (Second Interview)WWII Veteran Kenneth Rock Merritt was interviewed in Dallas, Texas on October 16, 2014. Sergeant Rock Merrit was an American paratrooper from the 508 P.I.R. of the 82nd Airborne who commanded a heavy machine gun squad during WWII. This interview focuses on his experiences during Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. Rock became the honorary Command Sergeant Major for the 82nd Airborne.
Pinkston Duane - WWII VeteranWorld War II Veteran, Duane Pinkston, was interviewed on April 24, 2015, in Largo, Florida. SSG Pinkston was a combat medic with the 82nd Airborne, 505 P.I.R., 1st Battalion, C Company, during World War II. SSG Pinkston served in Normandy, France, Holland, Belgium (Battle of the Bulge), Luxembourg, and Germany (Battle of Rhineland). SSG Pinkston received the Combat Medic Badge, Purple Hearth (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), ETO Medal, Dutch Lanyard, French & Belgium Fotogeire, and the French Legion of Honor.
Saltz, Stanley - WWII VeteranWWII Veteran, Stanley Saltz, was interviewed on June 18, 2016, in Delray Beach, Florida. PFC Saltz served in the 291st Infantry Regiment where he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, Colmar, and the Crossing of the Rhine. PFC Saltz received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Shelato Robert - WWII VeteranWWII Veteran Robert Shelato, an American Combat Engineer from the 249th Engineer Combat Battalion, was interviewed in St. Mere Eglise, Normandy, France on June 4, 2014. Sergeant Shelato reflects upon his experience as a combat engineer in Normandy, France during WWII.
Shenkle George - WWII VeteranWWII Veteran, George Shenkle, was interviewed on October 18, 2014, in Dallas, Texas. CPL Shenkle was a paratrooper and radio operator with E Company, 508 P.I.R., of the 82nd Airborne during World War II. CPL Shenkle participated in D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Making History Project – Veteran Oral History Preserving Veterans’ Stories
