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.
Mayrock Harald - German WWII VeteranWWII Veteran Harald Mayrock was interviewed in Lima, Peru on February 10, 2015. Gefreiter Mayrock was a German Paratrooper who served in a heavy mortar platoon with the 7th Paratrooper Division, 1st Company of the Luftwaffe. Harald was born in Lima, Peru to German parents. As fate would have it, Harald was sent to a prestigious school in Germany when WWII broke out and was drafted into the Luftwaffe. Harald ends his story with how he was captured and was able to finally make his way back to Lima to reunite with his family.
Merritt Rock - WWII Veteran Interview (First)WWII Veteran Kenneth Rock Merritt was interviewed in La Fiere, Normandy, France on June 5, 2014. This is the very first interview by the MakingHistoryProject, and it took place the day before Rock was honored by President Obama at the 70th D-Day Ceremony at Omaha Beach. SGT 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 and is a member of the 82nd Airborne Hall of Fame.
Merritt Rock - WWII Veteran (Second Interview)WWII Veteran Kenneth Rock Merritt was interviewed for a second time in Dallas, Texas on October 16, 2014. SGT 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 and is a member of the 82nd Airborne Hall of Fame.
Montgomery William - WWII VeteranWWII Veteran, William Montgomery, was interviewed on April 24, 2015, in Lutz, Florida. During World War II, PFC Montgomery served with the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division of the U.S. Marines. PFC Montgomery participated in the initial invasion of Iwo Jima and served there for 37 days as a scout and sniper. PFC Montgomery received the Presidential Unit Citation for his service.
Nichols Anthony - Iraq War VeteranIraq War Veteran, Anthony Nichols, was interviewed on August 12, 2021 in Manhattan, Kansas. LTC Nichols was an Army officer, cavalry scout, and combat advisor in both Iraq and Afghanistan. LTC Nichols received the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service that spanned from 1990 through 2013, including Operation Desert Storm.
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.