Interviews with more than 50 veterans of conflicts from World War II through Iraq and Afghanistan were presented on Dec. 9 to the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno as part of the Central California War Veterans Oral History Project.

The veterans and the 28 mass communication and journalism students of Dr. Gary Rice’s class who interviewed them gathered for a reception in the Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room of the library.

At the ceremony, Charlie Waters, state judge advocate of the American Legion, praised the project for bringing together veterans and students.

It was the second semester for the project, following the collection of 80 interviews researched by Rice’s first class in spring 2010. The new interviews will be added to the first group, already cataloged and available to scholars, researchers and the public in the library’s Special Collections Research Center.

The project will continue next semester, involving mass communication students as well as 15 students from the Smittcamp Family Honors College.

The oral histories – transcripts and audio recordings that meet accepted historical standards and guidelines – will be kept permanently in a special collection at the library.

The project gives veterans an opportunity to preserve their stories in their own words while students learn history from the people who made it, said Rice, who directs the project. Journalism lecturer Alice Daniel is the co-director.

Veterans include survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack and the Battle of the Bulge and a bomber crew member, who was one of the first Americans to fly against a German-built jet during World War II. Other interviews are with former prisoners of war; participants in Korean War events like the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge and the POW riots at Koje-do; a Vietnam War bugler and soldiers involved in fierce fighting during theTet Offensive; and several recent veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

“Every veteran has a story to tell, and our students are doing their part to ensure the stories get told,” Rice said.

“Students who do the oral histories will be leaving behind at their alma mater an original piece of historical research that they someday can show their kids and grandkids when they bring them to campus,” Rice added.

Aly Kennett, a senior public relations major from Rosamond, said doing the oral histories gave her a new perspective on history. “History classes can be kind of boring,” Kennett said. “But listening to first-hand accounts made it all come to life. “

Chelsea Cushing, a senior agricultural communications major from Pixley, has done four interviews – two with Vietnam vets and one each with veterans of Korea and World War II military service.

“Being able to share a piece of each of these veterans’ lives has been very rewarding to me as a student,” Cushing said. “It has helped me gain a greater appreciation for our armed forces. I feel this has helped me grow as an individual. I am very fortunate to be able to be a part of this project.”

For more information contact: Rice at 559.278.2026 or garyrice07@yahoo.com.

(Pictured in photo: Robert Aguilar, a senior digital media major, with veteran Ralph Johnson. Aguilar interviewed Ralph Johnson, who was a bombardier with the Army Air Force in World War II and the Air Force during the Korean War.)