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MUNCIE, Ill. I11/10/2011) -- Ball State University staff members
and history students honored 20 soldiers from the 4th Maneuver
Enhancement Brigade by inviting them to participate in the Cantigny
1st Infantry Division Oral History Project III. The university,
located in Muncie, Indiana, conducted two previous projects, one in
2008 and the second in 2009.
4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade soldiers pose for a group photo at the onset of the Ball State University Cantigny 1st Infantry Division Oral History Project III, Nov. 7,
2011. BSU has been involved in recording the history of 1ID veterans and active duty soldiers to provide information since 2008, when the first project was completed.
Courtesy Photo |
Dr. Michael W. Doyle, the university's chief oral
historian, is project director, and was also involved in the
first two projects. Doyle selected a group of history
students, allowed them several months to research and
formulate a series of relevant questions, then coached their
interviewing skills. The actual interviews took place at the
university, Nov. 8.
The purpose for this endeavor is
to record the personal and professional experiences of 1st
ID soldiers who have been deployed to a combat zone, said
Doyle. We dedicate long hours to record this history for the
sake of posterity.
The university had several faculty
involved in the project. Dr. Kevin Smith, chairman of the
history department, says this session of the oral history
project is different from the past two sessions. The
previous groups of interviewees were either World War II or
Vietnam veterans, said Smith. This is the first session
where active duty makes up the entire panel which makes this
iteration very exciting.
Thanks to Smith, a past
participant was present at the project's introduction,
allowing the 4th MEB soldiers the opportunity to meet and
speak with him. John Mann is currently a local business
owner, native of Centerville, Indiana, and a Vietnam
veteran. As BSU alum, Mann was invited to be part of the
first oral history project completed in 2008, and says the
experience changed his life.
“I feel a lot better
about my military service than I did having gone through
this experience,” said Mann.
In 1968, Mann enlisted
in the Army to become a commissioned officer. His tour in
Vietnam was from Nov. 1969 to March 1970. A little more than
a year later, in April 1971, he did not opt to extend his
enlistment, and returned to civilian life.
The lack
of acceptance for veterans and personal blame for the war by
the American people was very disturbing, said Mann. His
military service even prevented him from getting several
jobs. It's nothing like it is today.
Having never
been interviewed about his combat time before he was not
completely sure about opening up when invited to join the
project in 2008, said Mann. He now seeks out opportunities
to tell his story and is grateful when he meets new people
who were also in Vietnam.
The more he gave of himself
and his past the better he felt, said Mann. He even took a
class to become more knowledgeable about the politics of the
Vietnam War. Regardless of what he learned in that class, it
didn't change his mind about the patriotic cause he
supported.
Patriotic causes continue to be supported
by today's Army in many ways.
Participating soldiers
from 4th MEB possess a vast array of military occupational
specialties, and also have a wide range of years of service.
“It was a good experience,” said Sgt. 1st Class Albert
Craven, platoon sergeant, Distribution Company, 193rd
Brigade Support Battalion, 4th MEB.
Craven has been
in the Army more than 20 years.
Staff Sgt. Kevin
Frantz, platoon sergeant, 512th Military Police Company,
92nd Military Police Battalion, 4th MEB, said the experience
was interesting.
“I would do this again,” said
Frantz.
Dr. Kevin Smith spoke of the project's
importance and positive contribution to our society during
the project reception.
“Becoming a historian is much
more than just reading books,” said Smith.
The
tradition of the 1st ID and BSU teaming up for the sake of
military history will continue next year as another group of
4th MEB soldiers volunteer to be interviewed, while another
project team of history students complete research. These
two groups will then engage in the documentation of military
history.
By Army Spc. Kelly Malone
4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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