Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress

08/24/2026

Happy National Peach Pie Day! Did you know canned peaches were a sweet treat in Army rations?

Discover more peachy stories from veterans in the Veterans History Project Archive.
Grab a peach and check out this interesting blog here: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/08/ode-to-a-canned-peach/

08/24/2026

On September 10, 2026, the Library of Congress will host Mélange Dance Theater’s Love Letters of World War II, a dance and musical performance about love, longing and connection during wartime. Before the performance, visitors can stop by a special display of original World War II love letters from the Veterans History Project (VHP).

As part of our look at the production, VHP spoke with Adrienne Simmons, principal dancer for Love Letters of World War II, about her background in dance and theater, her connection to the character of Yvette, and what it means to bring real people's experiences to the stage.

Read more about Simmons' artistic background and experience on Folklife Today: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2026/08/love-letters-of-world-war-ii-an-interview-with-melange-dance-theaters-adrienne-simmons/

08/23/2026

"…My prayers are with my fellow brothers and sisters…"

What would make someone with 13 years of honorable military service volunteer to return to war?

Part of Patricia Seawalt’s collection (Seawalt pictured on the left) includes a single handwritten letter written in response to Congressman Shimkus in November 2001, describing her service in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War. Despite already earning an honorable discharge, she reenlisted and returned to conditions most people avoid like 105-degree heat, scarce food, unsanitary conditions, and the challenge of training doubtful cohorts in oil analysis. Her story shows a level of dedication that deserves to be remembered.

Peruse through more photos, and correspondence that illustrate her story: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.00949/

08/22/2026

"You forget their names, you remember the wounds. You remember what their injuries were. And you remember their faces." (34:46)

Eager to do her part for the war effort, Katherine Nolan hoped to become a flight nurse. Alas, the Army Air Forces informed Nolan that the Army Nurse Corps had a greater need, so she pivoted and served with the 53rd Field Hospital as a nurse. Working in a field hospital across Europe included long days, harsh conditions, and witnessing the brutal effects of war on soldiers and civilians, most notably during the Battle of the Bulge. Despite her constant exposure to suffering, Nolan and her fellow medical staff were able to keep going because they felt privileged to provide medical care to servicemen in need, as they were the buffer between them and the enemy.

Listen to Katherine's story here: https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge/item/afc2001001.63598/

08/21/2026

"And the worst words I've ever heard after 'Your husband's dead' [were] 'You're no longer a wife, you're a widow.'" (Video interview with Patricia Barbee, 19:57).

A native of Tennessee, John Wesley Barbee joined the Marines to escape the wrath of local white supremacists angered by his civil rights activism. Stationed aboard the USS Wasp, the lead recovery ship for the Gemini moon landings, Barbee took part in multiple "splashdowns," helping to rescue astronauts from the ocean after they arrived back on Earth. After a stint aboard the USS Chilton, he departed for Vietnam, where he was killed in action in August 1968--a mere two years after marrying his wife, Patricia. In her oral history interview, Patricia Barbee discusses her husband's life and military career, their love story, and how she endured after his death. Listen to Patricia tell John's story here: https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/impact-of-service/in-memoriam-honoring-the-fallen/item/afc2001001.118385/

08/20/2026

The Veterans History Project will be at the National Book Festival this Saturday, August 22! Be sure to stop by our table to learn more about the Project and how you can get involved.

ICYMI: The full 2026 National Book Festival schedule is out so you can get started on planning your day! We hope to see you at the Washington Convention Center on August 22nd!

PLEASE NOTE: For the first time this year, free tickets will be required for festival entry, but not for individual programs within the festival. Tickets can be reserved at loc.gov/bookfest, which is also where you can go to learn more about the lineup!

08/19/2026

"I've always had a feeling that I couldn't let my friends down. And right away these guys in B Company of the 517th were my friends, and of course this one guy saved my life. And you just can't let those kinds of people down." (Video interview, 49:10)

Melvin Earl Biddle was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 23-24, 1944, when his unit was in combat near Soy, Belgium. Over the course of these two days during the Battle of the Bulge, Biddle singlehandedly destroyed two enemy positions and successfully avoided capture despite being trapped behind enemy lines. Despite the heroic nature of his actions, in his oral history interview Biddle maintains a sense of quiet humility and kindness that belie the violent nature of his experiences. He focuses on his feelings of gratitude for those he served with as well as gratitude for his family and his life with them since the war.

08/18/2026

Did you know that we have sample interview questions on our website to help you facilitate an interview of the veteran in your life? While these questions are not meant to be used as a script, you are certainly welcomed to use them as a roadmap to capture the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of any U.S. veteran. Check them out!https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/veterans-history-project/documents/sample-interview-questions.pdf

08/17/2026

Nestled between the epic cataclysm that was World War II and the roiling controversy that was Vietnam, Korea is too often referred to as the forgotten war. The 5.7 million American men and women who served in that war each have their own memories, whether they were on the battle lines, in the air, or in support of those whose lives were at risk. The war lasted just over three years, but nearly 60 years after the guns fell silent, Americans in uniform still maintain the peace along the 38th Parallel, the border between North and South.

Learn more about the Korean War by taking a look through this curated set of veteran stories: https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/korean-war/korean-war-not-forgotten/

Photo from the Mary L. Hester collection: https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/korean-war/korean-war-not-forgotten/korean-war-in-support/item/afc2001001.32449/

08/15/2026

When Hector Garcia became a doctor, he was the only Mexican-American to graduate medical school in the entire state of Texas that year. He joined the Army, but because of his heritage, he was not allowed to be an Army doctor. Undaunted, he worked his way up from Corpsman to commander of a surgical unit in Italy, where he took this photo of himself. After the war, Garcia founded the American GI Forum, and advised every President on veterans issues from Kennedy to Clinton. Hear the rest of Dr. Garcia’s incredible story at: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.103905/