Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Joe Ponds

Vietnam | 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 121st Assault Helicopter Company,

Enlisting in the ROTC program at his college, Joe Ponds got his introduction to military service. At the time, race relations made it difficult for African-Americans to succeed, so he found himself especially sharp on his training. After he graduated with his pilot's license, Joe Ponds went into flight school. (8:50)
Departing for Vietnam for the first time, Joe Ponds received his orders over the Mekong Delta in 4 Corps. Being prepared for any sort of combat environment was always essential for his company due to the surprise nature of the conflict. (8:32)
While flying a Huey over the Mekong Delta, Joe Ponds was called into reinforce the ground troops who had come across a large group of VC. Facing heavy fire, he had to work hard to maintain a level head and make sure his guys got out alive. (8:28)
After getting new orders to fly a combat helicopter designed to draw enemy fire, Joe Ponds started to patrol the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Later in life, he found out that his patrols may have led to intel that resulted in the invasion of Cambodia. (5:40)
After returning home, Joe Ponds found a pretty hostile response for his fellow soldiers. They even had to deal with some increased problems because American politicians took actions that harmed their position. The purpose of a war needed to be a devoted commitment to something, which he feels was not in place during the Vietnam War. (6:39)
Joe Wyche

WWII | U.S. Army

Joe Wyche recalls how the poor economic times of the Great Depression led him to join the Army in the late 1930s. (1:35)
John B. Hulsey

WWII | Special Task Air Group (STAG) One

John Hulsey, a Navy pilot, recalls following orders to report to a desert air base for training with a mysterious new weapon. (6:30)
John B. Hulsey remembers a surprise visit from a Japanese soldier while his unit was watching a movie at their camp in the Pacific. (1:01)
John Black

WWII | 9th Air Force

While in school at Virginia Tech, John Black joined the Air Corps to avoid being drafted. During training and pre-deployment, he got lucky with his placement and avoided the dangers of Italy and instead was sent to England. (7:15)
On board the C-47, John Black and his squadron accompanied a variety of important figures associated with the Allies. On D-Day, he assisted the paratroopers that would be landing in Normandy to get to their launch points. (7:48)