Collecting The Stories Of Local Vietnam Veterans

Rochester, N.Y. – Travis Piper sat down with two St. John Fisher College students to share his story of serving in the Vietnam War.

“How I got to Vietnam, what things were like over there,” he said. “It’s a part of our American history that is kind of different from other wars.”

The students recorded his words for an audio database called the Vietnam-Era Veterans Oral History Project. The Rochester Public Library, Vietnams Veterans of America Chapter 20, and St. John Fisher and Nazareth colleges are collaborating on the project.

The database will eventually be online. It will have the stories of more than 70 veterans.

“This is our own words and they never can take that away from us, so people can hear it in our words,” said Vietnam Veteran Rich Isaman.

Approximately 28,000 people from the Rochester area served in Vietnam and 280 were killed.

“Everyone’s tour wasn’t the same and it’s good to get different point of views,” said Fisher student Patrick Zimmerman.

“I think any historian, anyone interested history, what better way than to get it straight from the horse’s mouth?” said Fisher student John LaDelfa.

Students were struck by the reception the veterans received when they returned home.

“These men did not receive the homecoming that veterans are getting now. I feel this is giving back to them,” said Kristina Morris, a Nazareth student. “We’re giving them a chance to tell their story when before others didn’t want to hear their story.”

The project is looking for more veterans to participate, especially women and minorities. To get more information, contact Chapter 20 or call the library at 428-8095. You can also email christine.ridarsky@libraryweb.org.