Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Doug Heckman

Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) | 5th Special Forces Group

The logistical problems were monumental, but a few hundred Americans from a range of units and agencies ran the effort in Northern Afghanistan from a former Soviet air base in Uzbekistan. Doug Heckman describes the challenges the team faced in supporting the Northern Alliance and remembers Johnny Spann, the first American to lose his life in the war. (5:28)
Doug Heckman had been part of the initial Special Forces leadership in Afghanistan and in 2005 he volunteered for Iraq. He and his men got their combat badges the very first day when an IED hit their convoy. He says the Iraqi people are like people anywhere and were very hospitable to him. (9:13)
The surge was succeeding but at a price. Doug Heckman liked riding in the lead vehicle but was in the second one the day Captain Shawn English had the lead and took the brunt of the blast from an IED. This altered his view of how high the bar should be set for military commitment. (9:12)
Doug Heckman returned for a second Iraq tour and chipped a golf ball into Saddam's lake at the Grand Palace on his birthday. This was the wrap up to a great career and he reflects on that and on the relationship between Americans and their warriors. (6:07)
Doug Huggins

WWII | USS St. Louis

Doug Huggins describes a few instances of sailors who could not handle the stress of being under surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. (3:14)
Doug Huggins shares the stories behind a few of the luxuries he and his fellow sailors "acquired" while serving in the Pacific. (7:38)
Doug Huggins recalls a few chance events which had a great impact on his life in the Navy. (1:55)
Doug Huggins walks us through his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. (11:42)
Dr. C.B. Skelton

WWII | 538th Quartermaster Group, 3rd Field Command, Graves Registration Service

C.B. Skelton was studying to become a physician when he was drafted late in 1944. He was sent to Officer Candidate school, but while he was waiting, he was put in charge of quarters and had to solve a very difficult problem when a recruit was threatening suicide. After OCS, he was training for the invasion of Japan. (This interview made possible with the support of DONALD FAWCETT (Capt.) R) (5:24)
Before new 2nd Lieutenant C.B. Skelton could ship out to the Pacific, the atomic bomb ended the war. He was reassigned to the Graves Registration Service and they trained him to investigate and deal with American bodies scattered across Europe. When he got there, he found an unbelievably dysfunctional unit. (This interview made possible with the support of DONALD FAWCETT (Capt.) R) (4:26)