Kansas Public Radio will be partnering with the Kansas Humanities Council (KHC) and eleven other Kansas organizations on a statewide oral history project that will collect the personal stories of Vietnam veterans. Collected oral histories and memoirs will be submitted to the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
“This is a project that will encourage Vietnam veterans in Kansas to share their voices to the national narrative,” said Julie Mulvihill, KHC executive director. “It’s been 50 years since the escalation of U.S. involvement in the war, and it’s important for us to consider how these experiences have shaped the people of our state.”
Kaye McIntyre, host and producer of KPR Presents, submitted a grant request to participate in the project. Her interest in the project stems from an interview she did with Vietnam veteran John Musgrave of Baldwin, Kan. In that interview, Musgrave mentioned the many Vietnam veterans in Kansas who, in his words, “deserve the chance to tell their stories.”
“When Musgrave spoke at Liberty Hall this fall, he asked the Vietnam vets in the audience to stand and be recognized. As I looked around the room, it really brought home that our community is full of veterans who deserve to be heard,” said McIntyre.
McIntyre is encouraging KPR listeners to get involved. Vietnam vets who would like to share their stories can get in touch with McIntyre by calling (785) 864-4530 or sending an email to contact@kansaspublicradio.org.
The 11 other project partners include the Mary Cotton Public Library, Sabetha; Do Good Productions, Leawood; the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene; the Emporia Public Library; the Jetmore Public Library; the Kansas Studies Institute at Johnson County Community College, Overland Park; the Mid-America All-Indian Center, Wichita; the Newton Public Library; the Onaga Historical Society; the Salina Public Library; and the Winfield Public Library.